Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-01
VERMONT PHOENIX.
The Buffalo Platform and Mr. Van
Rnrpn.

On the goth June last, Mr. Van Buren,, in a
letter to the Utica Convention, expressed his
opinions on the question of slavery. The fol-
lowing is an extract;
Tho extent to which l have sustained it
Slavery in the various public stations which /
have occupied, is known to the country. l was
at that time aware that | went further in this
respect than my best friends could approve. But
deeply penetrated with the conviction that Slave
ry was the only subject which could endanger
our blessed Union, | was determined that no eff
fort on my part, within the pale of the Constitu-
ton, should be wanting to sustain its comprom-
ises as they were then understood, and Il is nOc
a source Of consolation TO me that I pursued he
course ! then adopted. . Whilst the
candidate of my friends for the Presidency, |
distinctly announced my opinion in favor of the
power of Congress to abolish slavery in the Dis.
trict of Columbia, although | was, for reasons
which tcere then, and stM are SATISFACTORY
10 my mind, DECIDEDLY OPPOSED TO
ITS EXERCISE THERE"
On the 9th August-nearly t,co months after
the above letter-thc Barnburner and Abolition
Convention at Buffalo, passed the following reso-
luton
"Resoired, That it is the duty of the federal
government to reiiere ITSELF from all responsible
in for the existence or continuance Of slavery,
tohererer that government possesses constitutional
authority 10 egisldte on the subject, and IS thus
responsible for its existence"
Dear reader, peruse carefully the above ex-
tracts, and compare them. You perceive that
on the goth June last, Van Buren, admits the
4" constitutional authority" Of Congress to abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia, hut emphat.
ically declares that he is "DEClDEDLY 0P.
POSED TO ITS EXERCISE THERE !" and
that on the 9th August-Less than tpo months If
iercdrds-the ring streaked and speckled Con
vention at Buffalo resolve that it is the duty Of
Government to abolish slavery "WHEREVEB
INVOLVEMENT POSSESSES CON.
STITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO LEGIS.
LATE"
What do you think, after this, Of the Buffalo
Convention selecting Van Buren, to carry ou
The principle of the resolution ? Is it not funny
Did you ever hear so rich a joke? Was thert
ever any thing so awfully sublime?
A mighty mass of patriots assemble at Bufalo
They come from all parts of the North, ant
many of them travel hundreds of miles. The.
come with banners flying, aud swelling hearts
They come together, .Gty thousand of them
They cone-volunteers to fight the battle Of free
dom-to choose a leader. Their only and nobl,
nominate a candidate who will IRE,
and how do you think they do in 40 tenn
pora! o Moses" They do il by selecting
leader who tells them to their face he is DECI
DEDLY OPPOSED TO It'll
All this mighty multitude, from every quartei
of the North, meet to nominate for President
man who is IN FAVOR of abolishing SLAYER,
trhererer Government has he potcer, and the,
nominate a man who tells them fatty he is or
POSED to it-and having done so, they Civ,
" nine screams for every body"
There was some apprehension that this dos
might choke the Abolition leaders, but we ar
happy to say they swallow it, without even
wry face.
The Burlington Gazette ticks over Van Burel
a little, after this fashion, to make him 60 dow
easy "f Mr. Van Buren, will come upon tn
platform-and Of course he must, il he accept
The nomination--it is all we ask of him, or an.
other man." The Gazette then swallows him, O
a gulp. 1t is no longer a marvel for a camel t
60 through the eye of a needle, The Abolitio
leaders can go through a smaller hole than tina