Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-08-17

all sides by innumerable foes and that more
formidable enemy, the diseases of the climate,
exalt their devoted patriotism into the highest
heroism, and give them right to the profound
gratitude of their country and the admiration of
the world"
General Taylor was not a candidate when
this resolution was adopted. They thought,
perhaps, that General Taylor would not be nom
mated; but they did justice to the gallant vete
ran. And hone that at this moment the De-
mocracy Of the Union are prepared 10 unite with
the honorable gentleman from Mississippi in eu-
logums upon the public and private virtues of
General Taylor.
With regard to General Taylor's opinion on
the Wilmot proviso the Senator has the same
information that have. He knows what inter.
probation ought to be put upon the Allison let
ter, and hope Gen. Taylor may never assume
the attitude of sectional or geographical can
didate. Suffer me to say for myself that altho'
acting in the spirit OF the request of the Lcgis-
lature of Delaware, my colleague and myself,
the representatives of a slaveholdng State, vo-
ted for the extension of the ordinance of 1897
over the territories of the United States to pre-
vent the acquisition of any more slave territory,
yet we do rot intend ever to connect ourselves
with any geographical party upon such an issue.
We abhor such an issue in the party struggles
Of the day, as leading to the most fatal conse
sequences. We look upon the introduction of
geographical party upon such principle, as
tending directly to the destruction of the Union
of these States; and there is not one State with.
in this contederacy that loves the Union more
than the smallest in population among them all
whose lofty patriotism has become proverb,
and whose proudcst boast is, that she was the
first to adopt the American Constitution, and
VIII be the last to desert it. No sir. The men of
Delaware will connect themselves with no such
geographical movement. Most of us entertain the
opinion that when the action of Congress is in
voked, free soil should remain free, and that
slave territory ought to remain such. The doc
trlne prevailed among us 1T the time of the Miss.
ouri compromise, and still prevails, that Congress
should leave the territory as they found it. We
desire TO abide by the compromises of the Con-
sttution; in that spirit we hold that slavery
should be projected, where it exists under the
@gis Of The Constitution, but ought not be car.
ried by us where it never existed. But, repeat,
| am not prepared to call that political ques-
ton, and deny that you can call either this or
the opposite doctrine mere Wing doctrine. No
man has right to say that the Wlmol proviso
is Wing principle, or that its opposite is a
Wing principle. We rcpudiae the question al
together as political question; and | say that
whenever the members Of the great Taylor Re-
publican party, which hold at this moment to
be the great majority of the country, shall de-
scend SO low as to make geographical party
out of this Wilmot proviso, with view to Pres
ident-making or getting offices and power in the
country, they will lose my respect, and think
that Of every honest man. An attempt is now
being made to force this upon us as party ques-
ton by the extreme partizans of the North and
the South. But neither the one side or the other
of the question forms any part of our platform !;
and hope there will be patriotism enough a
mong the American people to keep the question
apart from party politics forever For myself,
am free to say that, although | voted in obedi-
ence 10 the request of the State I in part repre-
sent yet so dear is the Union of these States to
me and nine, that if this become geographical
question, shall resort to the remedy adopted by
the men OF Delaware in another crisis and in
other days-l shall act in the spirit of the men
VINO made the Constitution and compromise the
question II can, on terms equally fair and hon
orable, both for the North and the South.
Mr.. FOOTE.-Do | understand the. Senator
as saying that he is not prepared to inform us
whether General Taylor would veto the Wilmot
Proviso, as every, Wing print in New England
has said he would not?
Mr.. CLAYTON letter of Gen. TAYLOR
speaks for ITSELF and the gentleman from Mis-.
sissippi has precisely the same means that or
the Wings of New England have of forming an
opinion upon this subject. If Gen. Taylor will
write to me and tell me what he intends to do,
| will be able to inform the gentleman. But for
me to intrude my individual opinions on the SEN
ator, the public, or this august body, would be
folly. The Senator will please now in his turn
take the stand, and inform me what Gen. Cass
will do with respect to the Wimot proviso.
Mr.. FOOTE-No doubt he will veto it. lie
has announced his opinion that the Nlmot pro-
viso is unconstitutional, and declared that he
. in al IF m
constitutional laws.
Mr.. CLAY TON.-lf the Senator is right
then Gen. Cass stands before the country, as a
sectional candidate-the head of n geographical
party. hope General Taylor will decline that
honor. My hope is that he will never lend his
great name to either of these geographical par.
ties but retain the power to settle the question
without taking part with either
Among the proceedings of the Baltimore con
vention observe that Messrs Yancey, of Ala
bama, McGehee, of Florida, and Commander
Of 5. Carolina, reported the following resoIu
ton:
ReSolred, That the doctrine of non nterfer.
ence with the rights of properly of any portion
of the people of this country, be it in the States
or in The Territories by any other means thar
the parties interested in them, is the true Re.
publican doctrine recognized by this body"
!, Mr. Yancey desired this principle to be incor.
porated IN the Baltimore platform Now vii
t the Senator from Mississippi tell me whether
, Gen. Cass concurred in that report or not
Mr.. FOOTE.-I have no knowledge on the
f subject have stated what must be evident tc
the Senator, that Gen. Cass discussed the vii
mot provso in every aspect of it, in the PLANES
manner, and my impression is that his views wal
be sustained by the Democracy in every part o.
, the country, AS to Mr.. Yancey, have not par
ticuarly noticed his views, but think that his
/ course will meet the general reprobation of his
J party.
t Mr.. CLAYTON.-Ge Cass, then, repudia
ties Mr.. Yanceys sentiments?
Mr.. FOOTE.-l do not know.
Mr. CLAYTON.-l supposed that tho Sena
tor thoroughly understood all the opinions o
: General Cass. The honorable gentleman has
{ travelled with the candidate, and was said to bt
S part of his body guard.
. Mr. FOOTE.-That particular point was no
j started "a laugh.)
s Mr. CLAYTON.-Than here is another sub
n ject about which Gen. Cass has no platform
f Now all these doubts, and antiquities, and r
s reconcileable Inconsistencies come from tn
2 party which daily assails Gen. Taylor, because
us they say, he does not speak out" HE ha
+ no platform" So they spoke of Gen. Harrison
e until he beat them 10000 votes. They cale,
+ him "Genera Num- and now, as then, tn
j. complaint is made that those who nominated tn
@ Win nd idaia had mada % m nlatfnrtnO Sii