Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-05-31
The Compromise.

We gave our readers, last evening, what VIC
believe to be correct representation of .NoNh-
eru sentiment and opinion in regard to the
famous Compromise" recommended by Sen
ator Foote's Committee of Thirteen. OF the
general correctness of that representation VIC
have not the slightest doubt. We hold it, to
be the easiest thing in the world for a Uhig to
define the opinions and principles Of Vermont
on the Slavery Question No State in the
Union is more truly conservative and Constitu-
tion-abiding, and no State is more nfeXibc.
And We believe Vermont opinion is Northern
opinion on this momcntous and exciting sub
icct-ccrtainly 50 far as the Wing Party oftlc |
North is concerned And that is absolute non
Interference with Slavery So fur as the Cox
sTIrUTIoN does not warrant interference, and
abs Lutte and uncomWomising interference for
the preservation of Freedom, so far as the Con-
srlrurIoN allows. There can be no mistake
about this. 1t is plain Ineligible explicit. If
) Territorial Governments are adopted for New
Mexico and Utah, Vermont demands that the
Slavery exclusion clause shall be inserted. But
we do not insist that the EXISTING government OF
those Territories shall be changed. We are
$ content to risk the great question on the hui
name laws of Mexico, as recommended by Pre-
sident TAYLOR. But this is the ONLY Northern
= alternative. The day has gone by when Slave
nv compromises" can be tolerated We would
f rather see this glorious Union split into thou
: sand fragments, than that the Legislation Of
IL Congress should be shaped to tolerate human
Slavery on one inch of its soil that is now eX-
). emptcd from the unmitigatcd curse. The ut
/ most limits Of patience and torbearancc has
r been reached. No further POSSIBLE extension
ii of Slave Territory, is the unalterable detcrmn-
\. alton of the North. If the South will realize
y and respect this determination, they will be
Is wise; if not, they will be worse than foolish.
J. The North plants itself imlnovably on
* the platform Of President TAYLOR, as its uti-
m mate concession. And every day conyinces
10 the people of the North of the justice and wis
70 dom of that platform. Neither threats nor en-
a. treaties can move them from it, because they
~ believe it is RIGHT.
he In connection with these remarks VIC take
ed particular pleasure in quoting the subjoined
N. temperate and conclusive article from the last
al New York Courier and Enquirer. 1t is in re-
o. ply to the following objections made by Mr.
nm CLAY, in his latest speech, to the plan of paci-
IN iication suggested by Prcsidcn TAYLOR. Mr.
:" CLAY said -
he What is the plan of the President? In the
Of first place, Mr.. President, let me say that it is
81 most apparent, that every friend Of his country
must be anxious that all our difficulties should
hn ~ lnl tlat NVn
rd cord and harmony to this country. Now, what
re- is the plan OF the President: | will describe il
lao by smile, in Il way which will not be easily
misunderstood. Here are five wounl-blecd
cd inr and threatening destruction to the county
ew What is the plan of the President TO hca
BY all hose wounds: No sir;--no such thing
it is to heal one only OF the five and leave tn
other four bleeding, even if it produces dealt
, itself? | say five wounds are bleeding: there i
49, California, the first there are the Territories
up the second; there is the question Of the boun
he Diary of Texas, the third there is the fugitiy'
is slave bill the fourth there is the question o.
W. slavery i'll the District Of Columbia, the fifth
w. The President proposes Instead OF u plan com
did pretending all the diseases of the country
lon plan which looks only at one and recommend
'ox it is true the recommendation does not EN-
II brace the fugitive slave bill, or the district bill
but he recommends the two others to RENAL
~o untouched to cure themselves by some law 0
his nature or some operation which he does not dc
gin sign to DISCLOSE
nh. I have seen, with surprise and regret pei
sistencc-ior SO | am compelled, painfully, t
S regard it from the Chief Magistrate of tn
per country, in his own peculiar plan. think,
nee a spirit of Compromise, the President ought t
den hwe come to us, and not we to HIM.
oes We invite the attention of our readers to I'll
he reply of the Courier and Enquirer, which,
of dienllcd as it is forclblc and conclusive, Is
, in follows:-
be : The metaphor by which Mr. Clay exposes
her once, the dcplorablc condition of the COUNT
a !, and the weakness of the Presidents policy,
= - orcbc and impressive 1t touches, by
neu striking and familiar appeal, the patr otisn,
liry that dcep-scated regard for the health and ha
hou mony for the we-being of the country, whlc
IA pervadcs the breast of every American. But
seems to us extravaganza and deceptive. 1t a
P'e' sumes Il state of facts which has no eXstcnc
led) in order to vinlicate particular policy whiC
rom nothing but the facts so assumed, could justlf
h 10 1t declares that there are fire wounds, all
80 which must be healed at once, if life would
@"u preserved in other words, that there are ii
ton distinct controversies between the North al
Post South all ofwhich must bo settled at once, al
by single set of measui e., or the Union W
be dissolved. Unless this is assumed, the m
eca- taphor has no force. ii one OF those woun
~ on could safely be left untouched then it is Il
k is absolutely necessary that all SHOULD DC cured
ID in once.
re- Now will any one say that the Union
wing ponds upon such an adjustment OF all these &C
A, as troverted topics Does any one dream fol-
THY moment that there would be danger to
:, V. country, in neglecting to pass any new bill
>. recapturing fugitive slaves Has the No
Brat ever threatened to dissolve the Union, uni
~ 4
lown the Slave-trade III the District OF COLUMBIA
erior abolished There has never before been h
eral of such imminent peril from either of thu
lgton sources. Two of these wounds" thereto
, his have been gaping and blocking" for hal
century, and yet the Union has been grow
,o., stronger all the while. They certainly II
'ons safely be set aside. The boundary betwt
n his Texas and New Mexico ought to be adustt
10 the but we do not see how that can be Gale
eboro " wound" to be healed in connection "
,,L;a others. Ii is question of law and of fact,