Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-08-03

q. p. MARSH
Hon. S. FooT, for the State Whip Commit
tee of Vermont.
Cry OF WASHINGTON, July Ia, IS4S.
My DEAR Sir: Il regret much that nv
duties here forbid my being present at the
ensuing Wing Convention, to be held at
Woodstock on the 10Th inst II would be
extremely gratifying to meet my fellow cit-
zens of Vermont on such an occasion. But
the times demand that every man should be
at his post, whether that post be public
station, or the position of private citizen,
attached to and duly estimating our institu-
tions, and duly sensible of the great duty
of transmitting them unimpaired to poster
ity.
In common with the great mass of the
Wings of this Union, l have watched with
pain, with anxiety and alarm, the downward
course of affairs in our Republic, and the
misguided and infatuated policy of the par
ty now in power. We are all deeply sensi-
BILE ofthe indispensable necessity of change
in that policy, to the institutions, the honor.
prosperity, happiness, integrity of the coun-
try.
The grounds of this opinion need not be
enumerated. They are known to every in
telllgent Wing Of the Union. Recent events
have exhibited the tendency of the present
administration of affairs in its most appal-
ing aspect. The spirit of acquistion-of
military conquest, which is the prominent
feature of the policy of the present admin
lstration, and which seeks to bring into our
political family an incongruous population
of a bah
both political and religious, population
which can neither harmonize with us, nor
be made to understand our political systems,
and equally incompetent to carry out the
free principles of our Constitution as they
have proved to be to govern themselves I'M
der similar institutions, tends strongly to
weaken the bonds of our Union and hasten
its dissolution. Nor is this the worst. The
agitating and perplexing questions growing
out of these neutrality-suspicious. which
can neither be avoided nor adjusted
1t is to be feared, can neither be compro-
missed nor settled satisfactorily to all by
voice OF the ma ority, questions of endless
and angry discussion, involving on the one
hand considerations of deep moral convic-
ton which cannot be surrendered, and on
tts-other considerations in.s,,. - :. :.
very foundation of the social system Of
portion OF these States, and threAning its
very existence questions with respect to
winch one party cannot secede without an
abandonment of principle, nor the other
without hazard, as they think, to their whole
social neutrality-suspicious. fortified on one
side by principle, and on the other by coun-
tervailing and stringent necessitv-tbese
questions afford stronger ground for alarm
IN regard to the permanency of our institu
ions and our Union, than any and every
source of agitation and discussion which
has occurred since the formation of that I'm
ion. What is worse, this topic of Slavery,
involving a great moral question, is at the
same time Locat distinction, separating
different portions of our country by line
impossible with honor or consistency, as each
party seems to think, by itself at all events
This unfortunate controversy, involving
evils which transcend infinitely the advan-
tages which the most sanguine Imagination
can anticipate from our territorial acquisi-
tions, is one of the first fruits of this career
of acquisition and conquest which COM
menced with the annexation of Texas, and
is consummated. (if indeed it be vet COLI
summated) with the conquest of great por-
ton OF Mexico. 1t is greatly to be feared
that the spirit of acquisition is not satisfied.
II change is not effected IN the policy of
the Government, it will awake to new enter
prizes. And while it endangers the Union
by endeavoring TO combine under it hetero-
geneous and irreconcilable elements, it must
inevitably work, as it has done already, to
an alarming extent, radical change in the
Irrn, cl,,
1t is impossible to engraft upon the limited
powers of the executive magistrate of the
Constitution the powers of military con-
queror, without adding to the already dam
gerous power of that executive, and 10 that
ascendancy of executive power over the 9TH
er departments of Government which orig-
mated in the bold and infiexible character
of Andrew Jackson, and has gradually as
sumed a more alarming attitude from that
day to the present. The indscriminate
and reckless use of the Veto power to fur
Their the private or personal views of the
\ President, backed by the immense patron-
age at his command, a patronage immense
| ly increased by great military establish
ment and wide territorial possessions, has
already subjected the legislative power to an
| alarming extent to his control.
The executive has oflate assumed die
tatorial position from which Washington
and Jefferson and Madison shrunk. These
tendencies to the destroying of the balance
of the Constitution will be increased by
continuance of power in the now dominant
party, as the spirit of party becomes more
rabid by indulgence and more reckless with
an Increasing sense of security.
| say nothing of those measures of internal
policy so often and so fully discussed, with
respect to which the policy of the so-called
Democratic party is condemned by the great
Wing party Of the Union, and most emphati-
cally by the Wings of Vermont.
We are all sensible Of the necessity Of
change. But permit me to add we must be
equally sensible, if we would break the
sceptre Of that party which has so long ru-
led this country as with a rod of iron, of
the necessity on our part of union, harmony
and concerted action.
Discussions among our opponents--dis-
sessions not likely to be healed-now pre-
sent to the Wing party golden opportuni-