Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-01-30
A NEW PARTY TEST.


think-at the new demonstration at Washington,
which will De found in the columns of Congress
sional proceedings. We allude, Of course, to a
paper signed by Mr. Clay, Mr. Foote Of Missis-
sipp mot Solomon Foot Of Vermont, by long
shot, and couple Of scores of members of
Congress Of both parties which paper pledges
the signers not to support any man for any office.
from President to town representative, unless he
swallows the entire compromise without puck
err and bin Is himself to sustain it against all at
tacks aud al notifications except such as are a.
greed upon by the parties to it, or may be found
necessary in the practical operation Of it-and,
genernlly, TO refrain from all "agitation." This
is new purity test and if its orignators at
tempt to enforce il, they will probably find them
selves "reld out" of the respective parties to
which they have hitherto belonged, and rated as
the fourth party in the realm, the abolition or lib
erty party being now the third It would be
wrong probably to doubt Ihat these honorable
gentlemen are really alarmed for the perpetuity
Of the Union; and sincerely believe that pro-
slavery and anti-slavery men cannot be permit
ted to cn'e tain their own opinions and act upon
their own convictions, without breeding disunion
and intestine wars. If so, sure it is they lightly
appreciate the patriotism Of the people Of the
Union, or loubt their ability to restrain whoever
among them may be found unpatrotc enough or
insane cugh 20 raise the standard Of rebellion.
1t is moi the fashion for editors to be modest, so
we will venture to say, that such is not our esti-
r. a.. .f.-
discern any good ground at all for the establish
ment of this new test Of party fealiy. We can't
subscribe to it aud if for this, Mr. Clay and his
friends choose TO read us out Of their party, we
have the privilege left of reading them out of
ours. Perhaps such breaking up of old par
ties is the purpose Of these gentlemen; perhaps
too, the result Of this purpose would be the very
thing they profess to be DESTROYS of avoiding. TO
wit agitation" and distinct Classification Of
the whole country into two new partes-tiie pro
slavery pnriy and the anti-ssyery party.
The n wspapers tell us that this paper has been
signed by fifty or sixty Members Of Congress-
One account says that most Of the Southern
Wings and a few of the southern Democrats
have signed it, while Northern men Of both par
ties are generally shy. Another account is that
several OF the signers have withdrawn their
names The truth probably is, that the gentle
men who have started the thing are the very men
who were most sctye in bringing about the Com
promise Are they afraid their work viii not ac-
complish its purpose Is it not the balm of
Glead' ,leT oil Are there in the future ugly
questions about the admission Of Now Mexico
and Utah as States And the fugitive act are
they aw IRE that it is very far from periectbty
Such being the facts, this new test seems to be
especially unwse. The parties to the Compro-
mise sh ,ud rather be casting about for materials
to patch up their work-to repair the rents and
yielding seams, and give us a garment fit 10
wrap warmly up tina, very worthy old gentleman
the A american Union"
We suspect these gentlemen have 50 long ia
ken counsel Of their fears that they do not OBJ
serve how the thing is actually working. The
people IRE patriotic, sensible, and always pract-
cal in the end That is our faith, at any rate
Take Vermont as an instance. Her people were
opposed 10 the Compromise as a whole--proba-
bly, to every feature in it, except the admission
of California and the abolition Of the slaye-trade
in the District Of Columbia. They expressed
Their opinions, III such forms as they could they
did Whit they could, to settle ali the questions
involved according to their own views How
stand they now Z Their opinions doubtless are
unchanged; no edict from Washington cur
change them; no threat of pains and penalties
of the loss Of the good will Of Mr. Clay or o.
Mr. !Iungman Foote--can change these opinions
But the Compromise is a thing past, aud is very
generally regarded in Vermont as thing that
can't be helped Our people retain their opin-
ions, it is true but they have the good sense Il
see tint, as a practical thing, they have nothing
10 do but to make the best of il. They ask moi
the repeal of any of the measures constituting
the Compromise, for they are conscious ii woul,
be less. They ask reasonable and proper anC
necessary amendments to the fugitive act to pro
tcct the rights Of freemen, while they acknowl-
edge their constitutional obligations That is il
fact the only ground left for present "agitaiion'
at all. If Clay, Foote & Co. would put a stol
to that, let them recas their work and rid it of it
imperfections.
For the future, we believe il will be utterly
in vain to attempt to bind any honest freeman, il
Vermont, to say the least. For aught any MAJ
knows. there may be more conquests of territor,
new plans for the extension ofslayery-and per
haps uttempts to force slavery into New Mexic,
and | tab. We think we can assure Mr. Cha,
and : friends, that they never can bind our PEG
pie not 10 entertain opinions upon such topics, am
Mt o. resist such schemes by all the constitution
al me rs within their power
Il ~ suggested that there is a covert purpose il
this new test, bearing upon the next Presidential
electioni and very respectable and Influential
press lntimates that this covert purpose is to ru
out President FILLHoRr and Gen. Scorr from
the course. This may or may not be and if a
ny body is aimed at it is quite as likely to be 9th
er Distinguished gentlemen also, and gentlemen
of bo,h parties. Now We suspect that no ma
can be driven from the course in this mode; an
II ought not TO be done, if it were possible
There is one, and only one way, of relieving Ia
Presidential question and the Union from an
danger from all sectional questions that is tn
way adopted by Gen. Taylor. Let the Execu