Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-22

HeWe have no inclination to enter into
la discussion with the Harrisonburg Repub-
lican, which has been commenting upon
one Of our articles. AS to the Oregon bill
signed by Mr.. Polk, we can discover moth
ing in that act, which would lead us 10 be-
|lieve him favorable TO the Wilmot Proviso
ON the contrary, he gives US ample as
surance that had the provisions Of that bill
extended to our newly acquired territory
he would have unhesitatingly vetoed it.
But as this was for the establishment Of a
government over egon-ierritory years
ago declared to be free, and from which
slavery and involuntary seryitude had been
foreuer prohibited by Congress, and upon
which the Missouri Compromise was based,
he felt it his duty to give government to
that people, aud yield his assent to a COM
promise which had saved us from most ter
rible disasters. In addition to this, the
Joint Resolutions annexing Texas, ac-
Iknowedged the line of the Missouri Com
promise, and declared that the territory
North Of it should be free. Such are the
reasons assigned by Mr. Polk, and he pre-
Iferred to acquiesce in, rather than attempt
to annui, that which had SO long been cs-
Itablished. He stood BY the Missouri Com
promise, which had been acknowledged
and re-aflirmed by the Joint Resolutions
annexing Texas. The Republican is there
fore, guilty Of misrepresentation when it
Says that the reason assigned was, that il
was not "probable slavery would ever be
introduced in the Oregon territory" and
therefore the principle of the Proviso twas
practically inopera1ive" there. Such was
not the ground assumed by the President.
The Editors say we were actuated by "party
prejudice" in our charges against General
TAYLOR. what has Influenced them in their
course ? andinduced them to prefer charg-
Ies against Mr.. Polk, without the least
particle Of either treason" or truth 10 sus-
tain them. Have they not been led by mere
par.lZan considerations, to make false rep
PRESENTATION OF the official act Of a Demo-
cratic President.
To sustain our position in reference to
the pledge Of General Taylor against the
use of the veto, in opposition TO the will Of
a majority of Congress, We need only re-
fer to letter Of the General himself, and
the assertions Of Wing orators and presses
during the late canvass-they can attest
the truth of our remark. 1t may be that
those who made those promises and pedg-
es SO recently, will endeavor to deny them
now-but if they do, it will prove that they
were guilty of base imposition and decep-
ton when they made them. We are free
to confess that Wing promises and pledges
are bat slender reEances.
We do not pretend to any certain knowl-
edge ofGeneral Taylor's opinions on the
Proyiso or as to Slavery in the District
nor do we suppose that the Wings know
them. We drew our conclusions from his
course in the late canvass-Gom the I'm
contradicted statements of his Northern
friends, and his endorsement of that noto-
rious abolitionist Willard Fillmore.
We shall not attempt to prove to the ed
itors Of the Republican that Mr.. Polk will
veto any bill for the abolition OF Slavery in
the Distinctive have his past cours e-his
whole public life, to assure us of that
and to doubt that such would be his action,
is TO make a confession of most shameful
ignorance, or it exhibits wanton disre-
gard Of an acknowledged fact.