Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-12-28

throw one vote in a regular Convention. Sir,
this is matter not any better understood here
than in New Mexico Well, Sir, some parts Of
the country have more learning upon this sub
ject. In South Carolina, they could choose
man i'll two or three minutes to throw nine votes,
while they could not choose i'll New York thirty
six to cast one single vote.
Taking into consideration these facts, We might
exercise, it seems to met little leniency towards
the population ofNew Mexico. This is undoubt-
eddy the FIRST time they have undertaken to hold
Convention That may be the reason why it
is not so formally set out This may be the
Convention of the Free Soil party in New Mex
leo. 1t is possible it may be the Convention of
the Democratic party. 1t is not utterly mpossi-
bic that it is the Convention of the Wing party
for great part Of the wing party, in many parts
of the country, are opposed to the extension of
slavery and in favor of the restrction here sought
to be imposed If this matter of origin of this
petition is of so much consequence, it seems to
me select committee should be appointed for
the purpose Of Investigating the subject.
We should have Committee on Conventions,
so that if the origin of the thing is of so much
consequence, that point might he investigated
This is petition asking legislation on a most
ECiIOuo oupJCSt ouDlCCIJ OL3 uPOh 10
the Senator from Mississippi (NTr Foote) has
we'll said 1.-THE public mind has been greatly
agitaed," and will continue to lie agitated until
it is definitely settled, sir-not compromised. |
do not believe that compromise will answer in
this case Sir, it must be settled upon principle.
1t is to be met and met here, hope, Sir, that
those who believe that the people of this Terrific
nv are entitled to government, will be prepared
~, chic ouhiocf and IN rriva ~
now Besides Sir this petition puts US upon the
Democratic platform-the Nicholson letter. -
That letter declared that this matter should be
left to the people of the territories. Well, now,
Sir, the people have spoken. They have proba
bly, read the Nicholson letter. They have tho't
perhaps, that Congress, in its progressive march,
had got to the step indicated by that letter, if no
change had been going on in the public mind
They have taken it for granted that there was
no change and they have acted upon the Nichol.
son platform in petitoning Tor civil government
trust, Sir, that although the result Of the last
Presidential election was disastrous to the man
that built that platform, the principles Of it are
not so entirely demolished but that we may with
some confidence appeal to those who helped to
build it, and who stood on it and fought so man
fully, TO stand by its principles now, when there
Is an opportunity 10 give them PEaclical anu ELL
cient meaning
Now, for the first time, the people of the Ter
ritory have come to ask for Civil Government,
and they have come in the very spirit Of the
Nicholson letter. They ask us to give them the
first dose Of the Nicholson medicine. Aud shall
we, Sir who have been fighting SO nobly for this
great principle during the campaign, which has
Just closcd-shall we now belle our own sent-
ments and turn our backs upon the petitioners,
and kick over the platform upon which we stood
and fought somanfully? No sir 1 trust not; and
! trust that all those who have believed that the
Nicholson letter contained the true doctrine, who
have not had change going on in their minds
since, swillicame up on this occasion, and vote to
give Ahis people what they would have expected
10 have received II ihe abthor of the Nicholson
leslerswas at.ths head Of the government