The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-08-08

connect ourselves with Typographical party up
on such an issue. We abhor such an issue in the
party struggles of the day. as leading to the most
fatal consequences. We look upon the introduce
rion of a geographical party upon such princi-
pie rs tending directly TO the destruction of the
nnion of these States and there is not one State
within this Confederacy that loves the Union
more than the smallest in population among them
all-whose lofty patriotism has become proverb,
asd whose proudest boast Is that she the first
To adopt the American constitution, and will be
the last to desert il. No, sir. The men of Della
aware will connect themselves with no such geo.
graphical movement. Most of us entertain the o.
pinion that when the action of Congress is invok-
ed, free soil should remain free and that slave ter
ritoTv should remain such. The doctrine prevail
ed among us at the time of the Missouri com
promise, and sill prevails, that Congress should
leave the territory rs they found it. Wcdesire TO
abide by the compromises of the constitution; IN
that spirit we hold that slavery should be protect
cd where exists under the egis OF the constltu-
tim, but oaght not TO be carried by us where IT
never existed. But repeat, am not prepared
to call that political question, and deny that
YOU can call either this or the opposite doctrine
mere Wing doctrine. No man has a right to say
that the Willnot prOviso is Wing principle, or
that its opposite is Wing principle We repu-
diate the question altogether as political ques
ton; and | say thai, whenever the members of
the great Taylor Republican party, which hold
at this moment TO be the great majority of the
country, shall descend so low as TO make geo.
graphical party OUT of this Wilmot proviso, with
a view to president-making or getting Offices and
power in the country, they will lose my respect.
and think that of every honest man. An at
tempt is now being made TO force this upon us as
a party question by the extreme partisans of the
North and South. But neither the one side nor
the other of tie question forms any part Of our
platform and 1 hope there will be patriotism E.
nougb among the American people TO keep the
question apart from party politics forever. For
myself am free to say that, although l voted in
obedience to the request Of the State in paItrep
resent yet so dear is the union of these States TO
me and mine, that, if this become geographical
question, shall resort to the remedy adopted by
the men Of Delaware in another crisis and in 9TH
e- days-I shall act in the spirit of the men who
made the constitution, and compromise the ques-
iioE. if l can, on terms equally fair and honora-
be 10th FOX the North and the South.
Mr.. FOOTE. Do l understand the Senator
as saving that he is not prepared TO inform us
whether Gen. Taylor wonld veto the Wilmot pro-
viso as every Wing print in New England has
said he would
Mr. CLAYTON The letter of Gen. Taylor
speaks for itself, and The gentleman from Missis-
sipri has precisely the same means that or the
Wings of New England have of forming an opin-
ion upon this subject. If Gen Taylor will write
to me and tell me what he intends 10 do, | will
be able TO inform the gentleman but for ME to
intrudc my individual opinions on the Senator.
tie public, or this august body, would be folly
The Senator will please now in his turn take the
stand, aud inform me what Gen. Cass will do
with respect to the Wilmot proviso7
Mr.. FOOTE. No doubt he will veto it. He
has announced his opinion that the Wilmot pro-
yiso is unconstitutional and declared that he will
exercise tie veto power in all cases ofunconstitll
! iional laws
Mr.. CLAYTON. IF the Senator is right, then
Gen. Cas- stands before the country a sectional
caniidafe-ihc head of Il geographical party. L
hope Gen. TAYLOR will decline that honor Ny
hope is that he will never lend his great name TO
either of these geographical parties. but retain the
power to settle the question without taking part
with either.
TO Judge ofthe propriety OF Gen Taylors po-
sition, lei inquire how the Baltimore Conven-
lion met this question. They positively refused TO
adopt any resolution dcnouncing the Wilmot Pro-
riso. Other Democrats beside the BarDburners
when resolution TO repudiate the principle con-
ialned in it offered, threatened to dissolve the
party: the resolution was stifed. and the CONVEX
ton silent. The party expressed no opinion on
the dangerous subject they dared not do it,
The piat orn they adopted did not recognize this
pllitsii question hs q DtItN QueSDNn, ana
this is in precise accordance with Gen. Taylor's
position. The anli-proviso platform of Gen. Cass
was manufactured by himself, and lie is welcome
TO the position of chief of one Of chose geographic
cal factions with which Washington warned ey-
cry American TO have no connection.
Among the proceedings of the Baltimore Con-
vention observe that Mr.. Yancey, of Alabama,
Mr.. 3lcGehcc, Of Florida, and Mr.. Commander, of
South Carolina reported the following resolution
b,t.
with the rights of property of any portion of the
people of this country, be it in the States in the
Territories, by any others than the parties interes-
ted in them, is the true Republican doctrine re-
cognized by this party"
Mir. Yancey desired this principle TO be in
corporated in the Baltimore platform. Now,
viii the Senator from Mississippi tell me wheth-
er General Cass concurrcd in that report or
not ?
Mr.. FooTE. have no knowledge on the
subject. / have stated what must be evident
10 the Senator, that Gen. CaSs discussed the
Nilmot Proviso, in every aspect of it, in the
plsinest manner. and my impression Is that his
views will be sustained by the Democracy in
every Tart OF the country. As to Mr.. Yam
cey, have not particularly noticed his views,
but think that his course will meet the GEN
eral renrobation Of his party.
Mr. CLAYTON. Cen Cas-, then, repudi-
aieS Mr.. Yanccys sentiments?
Mr.. FooTE. | do not know
Mr.. CLAYTON. ! supposed that the Sena-
tor thoroughly understood all the opinions of
General Cas-. The honorable gentleman has
travelled with the candidate. ard was said to
be part Of his body-guard.
a!R. FooTE. That particular point was
not started. A laugh.
Mr.. CLAYTON. Then here is another sub
iect about which General Cass has no plat
form. Now all these doubts, and antiquities,
and irreconcileable inconsistencies come from
the party which daily assails General Taylor
because, as they say, " he does not speak out"
" He has no platform" So they spoke of
General Harrison until he beat them 146,-
600 votes. They called him General Mum,
and now, as then, the complaint is made that
those who nominated the Wing candidate had
made g no platform" Sir, they knew that
Washington Lad no platform, and they had
more respect for Gen. TAYLOR and for the in
telligence of the people than to put their can