Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-05-19
The Burlington District Convention Of"the
Democracy"


Democracy
We have on several occasions, since the !
meeting of the late Locufoco Congressional Dis !
trict Convention at Burlington, attempted to
elicit from the organ of the party" the SENT.
mel, some information touching the position of
democracy hereabouts on the subject Of ex-
tending Slavery over territory Of this Union, now
free. We have respectfully enquired OF the
Sentinel, who regards the differences between
the Barnburners and Old Hunkers Of New York
as q ridiculous and disgusting" if the Barn
burners do not hold that the further extension
Of Slavery should be at once prevented. in OPP
position to the Old Hunkers, who will have no.
thing to do with the matter. We have exprcs-
sed natural surprise, and disappointment, that
District Convention of the party styling itself
the |" democratic" and arrogating to itself
large amount of special concern for the preva-
lence Of liberty and equality among the masses
Of mankind, should have assembled in District
so important as the Third Congressional of Yer.
mont, and for purposes exclusively of National
character and should have dissolved without eX
pressing any opinion whatever on subject that
now occupies large share of public attention in
the Union, and that threatens TO completely
break up and disorganize the great democratic
party" of New York. We have taken occasion
10 define the position of the Wing Party, of YER
mont at least, on the question of extending Sla-
very over new Territory, and to point to the uni
form and consistent action OF the Wing Party on
that ques,ion,-not, by any MEANS as a mat
ted for boastng, but simply to contrast that &C
ton with the shuilling non-committalism of
their opponents, who claim to be so very 50 de-
mOcrdtic."
But our efforts have been in vain. The Sen
ti,el has but condcsccnded to notice our
repeated calls for information, and then only to
reterate the customary and very silly twaddle
about the Wing Party's being in faver of Slave
holder for President; -as though the nconsis.
tency of the wing party, if proven, were just-
fcaton Of the abect servity Of the northern
wing of the Locofoco party to the pro-slavery
wing of the South!
But one declaration of the Sentinel is entitled
to a word or two of comment, because il evnces
either an extraordinary ignorance of the past
and present history OF its own party, or an I'M
worthy determination to mslead and deceive.
That paper says the l.ocoioco party share taken
erery proper measure 10 prerem the extension o.
Sldrery into territory nOm free - Can rampant
assurance 60 further that this Was the in
famous "gag resolution of locofoco Atherton o.
N. II. such a "measure ?" Was Mr. Pau
Dillingham; Jr's rote to admit Tcras into he
Union Wih a constitution that absolutely and for
erer PROHIBITED THE LEGISLATURE from abolish
iny Slavery in that Siaie, such "mensnre >
Was the annexation of Texas, brought about
wholly by union Of the pro-savery men OF the
South and the Locotocos of the North, such "A
"lneasure % Was the letter of Cen Cass, DE-
YyING THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY on Con-
GREss TO PROHIBIT THE EXTENSION OF SLAVERY
INTO FREE TERRITORY, such " measure !
Was the resolution, adopted by the Locoloco
District Convention at Plattsburgh, few days
ago, that the attempt to incorporate the vii.
mot Proviso doctrine into the democratic creed
is antamo,nt I" saying that the time has come
mhen the Democratic party ought 10 be disbanded,
was THIS such "measure p Is the declari
ton, imputed to Judge Woodbury., and no doub
correctly, that no Convention that should adop
the principle Of the Wilmot Proviso as a test
need nominate him for the Presidency, such
"measure 2"
We ask these questions because we wish tn
Sentinel, or any other Of the papers that are sup
posed TO represent the views and eXpound the
principles ofthc Democratic" party, to reconcile
If it can, the actions and declarations to which
they refer, with the broad assumption that tina
party shave taken any proper measure to proven
the extension of Slavery into territory now free.
If thesc questions are answered, as they mus
be, in the negative we would be glad to be in
formed of one or two of the proper measures
alluded to that have been taken by the demo
cratic" party to prevent the extension OF Slave
ry.
But we have mt yet quite done with the loco
foco District Convention. The organ of tn
party here steadily refuses to disclose, and W
must do il ourselves What will be thourh