The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-22
Tbe 1,ooofoco State Convention.

The Waterman gives the following notes
Of the proceedings of the Locotoco 9'"'e 1o''
vention held at Montpelier last week my
are decidedly ",ich'
This Convention came off formally on tues
day; but the battle began ut preliminary
meeting on Monday evening--a sec 'pu eu''
,iop IN miniature ofthe Baltimore ConVehtlot1
hardening very nearly at times upon genera
,o,, I'm short, for the first time in Vermont
there was public demonstration oil u'Nas'0"
in the democratic ranks--a recognition Oh '"0
democracies, called in New York by the Gu
nhonious MINES of Old Iunkers and Barn
burners Stephen S. Brown, of ST. AloohS'
e. D, Barber, Mddlebury, Lucius H. Ohl'leh'
den, of Burlington, and gentleman from NIL
ion. whose name we do not know, took strong
grounds for the Wilmot Proviso and denounc-
ed GEN. CAss. We did not hear Mr. Brown s
openinr, which was said to be very strong
Mr. Barber argued the matter well: he regard
cd the question to be simply this-whether the
Democracy must support CAss and sacrihce
all their principles in reference to the eX'en-
SION of Savery-or abandon Cass and SUCK 10
their principles. This was the issue forced
upon them by the South, and by General Cass
himself in the Nicholson letter. The Baltl'
more Convention might have avoided it; might
and in his judgment ought, TO have present.
ed a candidate unshackled, and left the ques'
ton to Congrcss-iust as the Wings have
done thought we: but they had forced a choice
between Cass and principle-and he was fo
sticking to principle. MIR b, was interrupted
in no friendly way; but it only stirred up the
fire within him, and elected fine pcroratior
which carried the house by storm,and brough
oat Il grand burst Of applause, even against the
prevailing under current of feeling, Mr. Chit
tenden spoke very handsomely, and argued
the Wilmot Proviso with great deal of abili
ty--e ffectvcly quoting and contrasting the o
pinions of men learned in constitutional Law
with the positions of tn Nicholson letter
The founders Of the Constitution, nearly al
our Presidents, aud iurists such as MARSHALL
KEHr, and STORY, all had affirmed the powe
of Congress to the fullest extent over fedora
territory; and it had remained for LeleiS Gas
to swallow his own speeches and announce
the entirely new discovery that Congress hat
no constitutional power to act at all, Iheh
said he, as an honest mnn-as man bound b.
the solemn sanctions Of his official oath-Lcw
is Cass as President would be bound to vet
any act prohibiting slavery in territory nov
free; and is the very man Of whom Mr. Dllling
ham in October last said and solcmnly invok
ed God to witness the declaration, that n
Northern Democrat could ever support him.
On the bunker side, Judge Villas Of Che
sea, Judge Cobb Of STAFFORD and Judge Noye
> of Morristown, were conspicuous. They con
tented the nlsolvss with ad,oe"t..s tl.s ..eOes
sity of adhcring to the party, and endeavore
as well as they could to dodge the SLAYER
: question, by snch stuff as is to be found in an
late number of the Patriot: but the spider
webs were demolished without mercy. TIL
speakers cndeavored to be courteous; and th
Chairman, MIR Kidder Of Orange County)trte
to keep ORDER but the Barnburners were gross
.lv insulted, particularly by Judge Cobb, VIII