Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-10-19
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.

We trust the people Of the Noah will care
fully weigh the views expressed in the following
article. Should the Van Buren, party so far pre-
vail in the North as 10 prevent an election by the
people, the election of President will devove
upon the lower House of Congress, and that of
Vice President upon the Senate. In the House,
the vote is by States, each State casting one vote
and the States stand 10 Wing, 10 Loco, and
tied 1t may be doubtful whether any election
OF President could be made by the House, though
the Speaker of that body (Hon r. C. Winthrop
of Mass has expressed the opinion that the elec-
no COMPROMISING corruption-on the part of
either side: then there will be no President e.
ected and the Vice President ,riH be the Presi-
dent. Who, then, will be Vice President, in case
of failure TO elect by the People and by Con-
gress? The answer Is clear: the Locos have
decided majority in the Senate, and WIN. o.
BUTLER of KY, the Savocratic candidate,
would be the man Butler the Shareholder, the
annexationlst, the war candidate, the contemner
OF the right of petition, and the man who voted
to expel Member Of Congress from his seat for
the offence of being an abolitonist. Do the
Free Soil men pray for such result? If they
do not why do they ,Dork for it? Come, let us
reason together.
But few men seem TO understand the vast i'm.
portahce which attaches, in the present state of
affairs, to the office of Vice President In the
adjustment of The questions which have arrayed
the North against the South, it Is not at all i'm
probable that strictly sectional vote will BE- cast
i'll the Senate.
In this event. as there are just fifteen Free,
and fifteen Slave States, the Vice President will
have the casting vote. This fact invests the
question whether the Vice President shall be for
freedom or slavery, wi the utmost importance.
Now, every one must see at glance, that
whether the Presidential election be decided by
the people or thrown into the House, the result
will be that either Willard Fillmore, the we'll
tried friend of freedom, or William o. Butler,
the slavery extenslonist must be elected. Just
look at it. II Cass be e.ected by the people,
Butler must lie also; for ffeasey ii7t samorvotes
that elect the one must cleo! the other They
are both on the same ticket, and they are insep-
arabic. 1t is precisely the same with Taylor and
Fillmore; and there are but few who entertain
the idea that Van Buren, and Adams stand the
least chance Of an election by the people,
Their only pretended hope is in throwing the
election into the House. But it must not be
forgotten that the Constitution provides in
that contingency, that the House shall elect The
President and Ike Senate The Vice President. The
Senate as now constituted, and it will remain the
same when the election takes place, has 81 Lo
cofocos, and "a Wings, making majority of ii
against us. Now what ground of hope have the
friends of MIR. Adams that he could be elected
He would probably receive the votes of Messrs.
Niles and Dix, and no others, and there will still
be majority of ten over Fillmore and Adams,
for Butler. On the suppostion then, that the
third party can elect as President any devoted
friend of Free Territory, even one whose whole
lie a.tesls his sincerity-what will it avail US,
provided man hold the Office of Vice Presi-
dent, who, by his casting vote, will prevent any
bill, prohibiting Slavery from the Territories,
from ever reaching the President for his sigma
ture?
The friends of Freedom must be doubly guar
ded on this great this momentous question:, this
question which in Importance overshadows all
others. They must have not only President
pledged not 10 Veio Free Territory Bill, but
also Vice President, who, if he be called upon
to do So will giue his casiing role in japor Of such
bill.
And no candid man will for a moment doubt
that Gen.Taylor is unequvocally pledged against
the exercise of the veto power in the case in
question. Such is the testimony of the Wash
ington Union, and of the entire Locofoco party
of the South who, as avowed Slavery extension
lists, object TO Gen. Taylor on this very ground.
And as to Fillmore, who doubts him? Not one !
Detraction itself dare not assert that this great
and good Northern Statesman, whose every word
and action throughout his public career, has been
for Freedom, would not vote on the question OF
slavery as the free North would most wish the
Vice President to vote.
Our only safety is in Taylor and Fillmore, and
they must and will be elected by the people,
Cleveland Herald