The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-11-28
THE GALAXY.
MIDDLEBURY,VT.
Tuesday, November %, lS48.
Whig Jubilee.


The Festival in this place, on Tuesday eve
ming last, in honor of the election Of Taylor
and Fillmore, was not unworthy of the event
it celebrated, and will not soon be forgotten
by the hundreds who were present. To give
full and connected account of all the pro-
ceedings of the occasion is more than we
shall attempt, and will not be expected by our
readers. We cannot, however, pass over so
pleasant and joyous season altogether with
out notice-inadequate and meagre as our eff
fort at description must necessarily be.
Only one accident occurred, [and that at
the outset of the proceedings, as they had been
arranged,) to interrupt our rejoicings, and to
throw shadow, for moment, over ou fes-
tivities. In firing the several guns which were
to prscede the exercises Of the evening, Mr..
Lyman Huntington, while loading the can
non, was much injured by an accidental dis
ge-though not so severely, we are glad
to learn, as was at first apprehended.
AT an early hour in the evening, the Rough
and Ready Club met and organized at the
Town Room and the house was speedily filled
to Overlooking. Directly after the organiza-
ton. Ozias Seymour, Esq, being called for
by the audience, responded in an appropri-
ate manner, abiding happily to the occasion
of the present gathering and the reasons for
congratulation afforded by the present rela-
ton of the Wing party to the nation.
Hon. s. S. Phelps was then called for, and,
as he came forward, was greeted with that
spontaneous applause which his presence nev-
or fails to elicit.
Judge Phelps alluded, at some length, to
the obstacles we had been compelled to con-
tend against in the recent election, and 10
some of the particular sources of congratu-
lation in behalf Of our triumph.
First, we had had to contend against such
an organization as none but the Locofoco par
ty ever had. Their discipline was almost as
perfect and as rigid as the military discipline.
They know how 10 reach every man, and keep
him in the ranks, and compel him to fight eff
fectiv-lv. They shoot deserters.' The man
who faltcrs, with them, is cast out and repu-
dated forevG. The Wings, on the other
hand, have no such power over their own for
ces The men who constitute that party are
accustomed TO weigh all subjects for them
selves. They will not obey leaders blindly
and Unfortunately, nor unhesitatingly &C
cept whatever candidates are presented to
them. They often stand hesitating, many of
them, undetermined how to act, till the day of
action is nearly or altogether passed, and their
services are lost to the party.-Here, then,
our opponents had an important advantage
We had to contend against that immense
power, the patronage of Gorernmcnt-"a pow
er that makes itself felt in every nook and cor
ner of the Union, and vegetables in every
petty post Office" The force of this engine in
perpetuatiDg the rule Of an existing admins
tration-as il has been used for years past-is
inealculable.
Money, too, had been expended without
stint, by our opponents. 1t had been stated
that, on the reception of the disastrous news
from Pennsylvania, in October, it was at once
declared by the partizans of the Administra
ton, at Washington, that 100000 should be
raised, if necessary, to save that State. Fol
the truth of the statement, Judge P. said he
would not youch, but that similar appropria-
, tions had been decreed, and that ofice-h hold
ers had been required to pay certain per
, centage upon the income of their offices, to be
appropriated for electioneering purposes, wa.
notorious.
We had been obliged to contend against {
; corrupt press. Here in New England, WHERE
people are accustomed to think for themselves
and to accept no opinion at the bidding o
others, this influence is less appreciable. Blu
, at the South and West, the case is far 9th
erwise.
Then again, the Slavery question, shat t,cO
; edged sicord," had been -industriously welded
! in the present campaign. The unreasorabl,
: and tanatical demands of the ultra abolition
isis at the North,on the one hand, and of tn,
: ultra advocates of Slavery at the South, OF
: the other, as to the opinions of national can
: didate, on the subject of the Wilmot Proviso
e were wildly portrayed by the Speaker-wh
!. lin conclusion Of the topic, congratulated hi