The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-03-05
Ibe lflio>leburp Register.
Middlebury, March s, 1850.
" Free-Soilism,"

Eree-oOlllSln,
After quoting certain passages from re-
cent article in this paper, on" Disunion," in
which we express the opinion that the Dis
unionst agitators at the South do not express
the real sentiments of the great body of the
Southern people, any more than the mass of
the Northern people are disciples of Free
Soaism-which inevitably points to" Dsun,
ion; and in which we speak of the South
ern excitement respecting the Wilmot Pro-
viso (when Southern statesmen themselves
admit that Slavery can never go into the
now free territories of California and New
Mexico as an insignificant quarrel and
a " fanatical agitation s.; the brandon Post
proceeds to say:
Who caa mistake the design ana effect of
this language! This reputation of " free
soiiism " as inevitably pointing to disunion
This sneering at the discussion of the slave.
Wy question as applicable to the Territories
rs an insignificant quarrel and "janat-
zeal agitation -? Doesthc editor OF the Reg
lister suppose that the memory Of his readers
is so Short that they cannot remember what
took place year or six Inorths ago? Does
he suppose that the mass cf the vhig party
are of AS easy virtue as himself, and can be
induced to change fronts at the word Of COM
mand from Washington Does he suppose
that they are ready to dcnouncc their previ-
Gus course as fanaticAl," and tending to dis
solve the Union
Two columns Of similar Indignation
and expostulaton arc expended on those
lucklcss paragraphs OF ours-and all for the
simple reason that just one word" Free
ISoilism lis made to bear construction
which we never gave it, and which the pub
lie press and public orators, so far as w,
know, never have given it. Certain it is
that ,oc have distinctly enough, on forme
occasion, explained the use to which we in
varably conGne the term, and no reader O
10 the present time, can be at any loss to de
termine how VIC meant to be understood, il
the article in question.
We have invariably used the term Ere
Soilism in bal senSs-as embracing thos
factous and impracticablc measures an,
views, the aIhercnts of which--like Gid
dngs, Palfrey, and their associatcs-claiu
to be erclusice, simon pure Free Sellers. !
is Of this ultraism that We speak, of course
when we say we do not believe that any con
siderable portion of the South are in fyo
of Disunon any more than the great bod
OF the North arc disciples of Free Soilisn
We simply said that the South in our opin
ion, were no more all Disunionists than tn
North are dHMdd-party Free Soacrs. Ho,
many belonged 10 this latter class, at tn.
last Presidential election, can be exactly as
certained by reckoning up the votes cast fc
Martin Fan Bren.-ThanE Heaven, W
have never claimed TO belong to that part
though .hc Post seems to take for granted
ali through two mortal columns that we hav
As to Tho fanatcal agitation" of whic
we spoke, the Posi- is altogether too scnsiiv
We had reference mainly TO those Souther
tanatics,-who threaten to make the halls
Congress scene of bloodshed, rather tina
suffer California to be admitted with ht
present Constitutlon-not to the " Free Sol
views of such men as Root and Allen The
take no stronger ground on this qucstic
than many other Northern men of bot,l Il
great parties-and have no particular inf
ence, for good or for evil.
On the question Of extending SLAYER
our opinions have undergone no chang
since year or six months ago" VIII
We said then, We say now, that Slavery shi
never, by our consent, be extended over OIL
inch of the Mexican territories, and the m
ment we find any effort mc'lc by the a
minisiraon to bring about such resCii,
far shall We withhold from it our suppo
Butno such influence on the side of Slave
has been exerted, or will be. OF that
ara sure.