Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-08-18
MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST IA, 1913.
The Buffalo Convention has nominated MAR.

of Boston, as the candidates of the Free Soil
party for President and Vice President of the
United States In the selection of Mr.. Van
Buren,, it has simply followed the lead of the
Barnburncrs of New York, who met in Conven.
ton at Utica some weeks since. Whether that
party will return the compliment by adopting
Mr.. ADAMS as their candidate for the Vice Pres.
idency, remains to be seen. They are to hold
a Convention, for the purpose of deciding this
point, in September next.
Whatever we may thiuk of the nominations
it has made, we are glad the Buffalo Convention
has finished its work. 1t is useless to disguise
the fact that very many individuals in the Wing
party. being especially and justly sensitive in re-
gard TO the new issues now before the country
and being naturally jealous of the efforts made
to secure the asccndancy of Slavery in the fed
eral government, have been looking the action
of this Convention with good deal of interest
and anxiety. Feeling unwilling TO deach them
selves from the Wig par,y-which has always
hitherto proved the only party from which any
Thing favorable to freedom and to justice could
be expected and being especially unwilling to
TAX, any step which might aid directly or nd-
rectly, the election of one so thoroughly pledged
to the most ultra form of Southern pro.Slavcry
fanaticism, as is Leuis Cass at the present mo.
ment, they have been in doubt as to the course
they should pursue. Many Of them have hoped
that the Buffalo Cow ,ntion would indicate some
path Of safety,-some mode by which they might
IL, Oh Ia, ,,J
sincerely believed themselves 10 be involved
They have therefore awaited its action, mean
time holding themselves more or less aloof from
all parties and resolved to pursue such course,
after the Buffalo nomination should be known,
as they should deem most conducive to the pub.
lie good.
We are glad the time has come for their de-
csion. That in almost every case, it will be
honest, sincere and in accordance with the plain
dictates of common sense, we have no doubt. -
Indivi luals among them, more impetuous than
wise, nay have committed themselves SO far al
ready to third party movements, as to preclude
farther reflection and prevent the exercise Of
any judgment or thought upon the matter. But
Ell as to the course they should pursue,-who
have felt inclined to favor the Free Soil move
mcnt, and have yet doubted its wisdom,-will
now, we have no doubt carefully examine the
whole field, weigh all the chances and results of
action on every side. and then take such course
as shall tell most in the final issue, ON the side
of Justice and of right.
Can they vote, as true friends of the Free. Soil
principle, for Mr.. VAN buren, ?-Gran! that he
is perfectly reliable upon this question will
they, by voting for him, Go anything practically
to exclude Slavery from territory now free p
night But moments s rsscion m 1as, eon
vince every one that such a result is impossible.
Even if they could carry New York. Ohio, Mas
sachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode
lsland,-all the States that the most sanguine of
them claim, they would still lack more than fhy
electoral votes. tits utterly impossible that Mr..
VAN buren, should be elected. Votes given for
him will tell upon the result only as they are
withheld from one of the other candidates. Wing
votes cast for nim will be withdrawn from the
Wing ticket, and will thus tend directly to aid
the election of General Cass. All the States
claimed by the Free Soil party are Wing States.
If they should vote for Mr.. Van Buren,, they
would simply be lost to Gen. Taylor; and Cass
would reap the benefit. Every Wing vote cast
for Van Buren, will, in its effect aid The election
Of Cass.
And now suppose the Free Soil party do thus
aid and secure the election of Cass; what have
they to expect? They will then have Presi-
dent who is absolutely CERTAIN 10 Veto any bill
that Congress may pass. embodying the princi
pie o: the Wilmot Proviso. lie stands pledged
to doit. There can be no doubt whatever upon
that point Does the Free Soil party deem it
desirable to secure such result?
But. they reply, with Gen TAYLOR the chance
would be no better he also would Veto the
the Wilmot Proyso. Is quite certain that this
is so? Has Gen. Taylor ever pledgea himself to
Veto any bill that Congress might pass, embody-
ing this principle? On the contrary, Gen. TAY.
LoR says explicitly in his Alison letter, that the
Executive Veto should nerer be exercised ex-
cept in cases of clear relation of the Constitu-
/ toH anu tiIdt tIle action oil the various de-
partments of the government" is the proper au.
thority to decide on questions of Constitutional
power. Now all know that the principle of the
! Wilmot Provlso was embodied in the ordinance
OF 1887 that this was enacted by Congress
unanimously, with the entire acquiescence of
the people of the whole country,-both at the
North and at the South. Is not this equivalent
to a pledge,-is it not even better than pledge,
that Gen. TAYLOR will not Veto the principle
of the Wilmot Proviso, if enacted by the repre-
seulatives of the people?
There is, therefore, this wide distinction be-
tween he positions of Cass and Taylor upon
this subject:-if Congress enacts such law,
Cass Is sure to veto it, while Gen. TAYLOR, if
not equally certain, is infinitely more Hkely to
approve it. And now can any sincere friend
of the Free Soil principle, when he comes to
vote, justly or honestly disregard this difference
between the two men will he not be bound
to vote so as to aid the election of The one from
,chom The Free Soil principle has the most to hope?
The Democratic party has always hitherto
been the unfailing reliance of the ultra pro,
slavery men of the South, for such legislation
as they have desired. Mr.. VAN buren, was
! for long series of years, during the whole in
deed of his political life, the subservcnt tool
of the most ultra section of Southern Loco