Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-15
'yo ii From the wqodsiock Mercury. s.i
Where il the Free Soil Party |!

T. lF eJ BY LIBERTY MAN.
| Mr.. Eprroh:-The above question presentl
Itself to our mind when reading the proceedings
of the late Democratic State Convention, and tht
action of the different County Conventions
which have been held during the present season
i This inquiry forces itself upon our mind iron
the fact that having always acted with that par
ty, we are anxious that such party snail con
tinue to exist or if this parry must go TO pieces
and be disbanded, thai Il, members may not be
led to the support Of wrong measures and wrong
persons. Two years ago there existed in this
State party calling itself the Free SoiI' par.
~, which was composed of men from both o.
The other political parties-was quite respecta
Bile in point Of numbers, and contained no doubt
as much talent as either OF the other pariies.-
This arty assayed, and we believe honesty, 10
he opposed, not only to The extension, but TO the
existence of slavery, and carried out heir prin.
cipes by resolves aud mutual political action. :
One principal item in their erred was, that no
member OF that party should vote for slave hold
er or pro-slavery man. Most notify did they
contend for this principle, and battle with the
Icontending elements of the two opposing parties.
Most valantly did they contend for the "one
idea," but that idea was a noble and prlanthrup-
c one-one that meriied and received The silent
appreciation, it not the open support Of every
true lover of freedo and progress. But
A change same DER the spirit Of their deans"
One wear ago last Nav. they consented honestly
but foolishsy. 10 cualesce with the so caileI de-
mocratic plrty. AT hi, convention enc year
ago. this same test OF Gde.iy IL, he arnc,pcs of
freedom was enjoined upoi our new allies. A
resolution was adopted declarnt that The Free
Democracy" would mol give ,heis support TO a
STAKEHOLDER or an apologist of slavery. BY these
and other means eo,alJy AS hypoer,,icsl and bass
Liberty and Free Soil men were led TO oiv. their
coun,euapce and SUPPORT 10 lhls union and N.
consequences was. very s,rony vote far The car
dlda,es nominated a, Ina, conyeu,iou. The res
CLINTON declarin, this Lest as tie main n,Ilar nj
the union. Il Was the c.raer some of The foun-
dation upon win en- stood This coalition last wear.
The free SOL parly which had increased f.om
slnlll band O. 3I9, to a large and Influential rar
~ of I3OOO. would sent to no other bas,s for
tnis union. They would not enter into hi,
compact unless this test could be eaoratted a. a
leading item into The creed of The Free D.,no..
-racy.
Bu, soon after The election Of las, vc,- 5;..
posiion was Mainly manifested l,v ,le :. ioc,,fo
COP n,rtion Of the Fee D..moc-scv n s;.r.rI
this test, and openly back Out, from their s,l.
emn bu, hypocfitical engagements. Tho Josofa-
co organs and leaders sa,d this les, WAS useless
ane ilnpraciica5le. and advised its abandonment,
and re,urn to The old platform. This wa, Of
course opposed By liberty men as a violation of
good faith, ard thus matters stood until the State
Convention Of the present year. held at Mont.
pciier. on the ID day of Juiv A, his conye,.
too, the fucoiocos. led on by Barber. Villas East
man aud Co.. had everything their own wav
They pissed a Sc, of RESOLUTIONS siu,lar IN those
VIII ca the same locofoco priv PASSED years a 10
and discarded the resolution winch was a,l,nr.,d
one year ago, as the platform OF The Free De.
mocracy This convention not only discarded
the principles OF the :}lst of Nav In, cven ,a
ruIlated the name Of Free Democracy. and took
the name of Democrat alias loc,toc, n,oin nv
this ncme let them be known. n, thes. n, me-
pies which this party has hcretolor. or,.fe.s,d
let them be Judged and supported.
In this state II things. the question worry ,,,-
uruly arlses-Whe,e IS he Free .S,I nor,,,s and
can only be answered bv SAVING tba, ,a,s i mn
sucb n,rtv in ex,s,e,ce n ~ ..' :. ~
OF the free soil ami Democratic p,uiss The free
soil party lost lis being. and oeca,n. a mar, ana
parcel OF the old fashioned I,cof.ca nary and
as such continues 10 be To all mems .rd 49,.
SEES. In This crisis of affairs villa, i che M
liberty aud free soil men .l'l,ev have bssn
grossly abused and betrayeI by thsIr fr;ends
and are now left uirbout : n or,,,.;, ..;,n IT,
have been deserted by their e dos and arc .of
without rudder or con,pas,. mon The -, noi
tics; but sill We hope ,h,re arc ,boss wh, ,v,,
remain in tho .h,pas i,ny as sing. nj. II. e..
that will ab:de BY the i,st I'm ~
fully maiu,aiued. But for the nresent ub,, sal
we do i? shall we give our .unuor, 10 ,h,, 80
which has recently deseren us-deser,ed ~.
distinctive feature Of the ,berrv n,rv-,l,,sar,o5
the name which was o,vea ,h,n, -.
mise. and proved ,ecreant !, everv n,;nc;ni., =,