Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-05-01
Union of the Whig Party.

pickering and disagreement which exhibits
itself among individuals, may not cease
For one, we are anxious to accomplish this
result, and we are ready to forego whatever
of personal feelings we may have to accom-
pish this much wished for end
Upon all questions of State policy there
is perfect union now. This is shown by |
the action of the Wing members OF the I.e-
gislature, and the response which the Wing /
press of the State gives to their doings.
This then, is one great point conceded. |
Upon questions Of national policy, we
know of nothing but the Fugitive Slave
Law which can cause division. Upon the |
questions Of Currency, Tariff, Internal In
proyements, Public Lands, &c, there is not
and will not be any division. We do not
believe that there is any Wing who desires
To open anew the several issues that were /
passed upon during the last session of Con-
gress. The only question of difference,
then, among Wings, is in regard to the Flu
/ gtiye Slave law. And as regards this sub
ect, we agree with the following extract
from an able article in the Springfield Re-
publican:
Looking back over the history Of the
Wing party of the North, from the first ag
itation of the Slavery question down to the
time Of the Compromise. and the entire
tenor of sentiment, the whole course Of ac-
ton, and the universally prevailing voice,
have been consistent with the firm belief
that slavery was great moral and political
evil AN evil which should, within the
limits of the Constitution, aud by strictly
legal means, be opposed in its influence, cut
I.t., lie tafs ID al tn ne
pre-exstlng limits. In stating this we state
what we know. Every Wing knows 1T, ay,
and every Democrat, too; for, IN this long
aud consistent course of action, 1t has been
uniformly opposed to the Democratic party
until that party had come to be recognized
aud written down, the natural ally of the
South
Some of the measures of the Compro-
mise were satisfactory to the North, and
particularly satisfactory to the Wing party
of the North. The admission of the free
State of California and the abolition Of the
slave trade in the District Of Columbia,
we're measures relolced over with the SIN
cerest qualification by that party, now and
tor long time tainted by It's enemies with
being the pro-slayery party But there
was one measure of the Compromise recei-
we'd with almost universal dissatisfaction by
the Wing party of the North The bill for
rendering more eifectuaI that provision OF
the Constitution for the rendition OF fugI-
tive slaves was one which this paper, and
the majority OF the Wing papefs Of the
North never approved. While recognizing
the binding force. of the Constitutional pro-
vision it was designed to render efieciual
-. mi al
that the bill IN question was unnecessarily
repugnanl ia its features, aHd particularly
IN us denial of the right of :rlSl by jury,
was as much opposed to the Northern sense
of right, as it was fatal to the object OF the
law. Our opinion of the law has not chan
ged an iota. We regard IT as an lmpOlitic
law, an unnecessarily harsh law, and a bad
law for the country, North aud South. This
has been our uniform voice, and we relter-
ate it,"
The position of the Wings of Massachu-
sets is well stated IN the above. We be-
ieye, when public opinion is siiied down
when passion is assusged, and when reason
is supreme. there is hardly Wing III Mas
sachuseits, or in the free States, who WI
dissent from the opinions expressed by oui
able co-laborer in the Wing ranks at Spring
field. There has been much feeling, ant
angry feeling too, exhibited where there
ought to have been fairness, calmness ane
forbearance There may have been on the
one side and the other, too much warmth
of expression, and too much contention 10
the mere triumph over points Of contToyer
sy. while at the bottom there was, after all
not so wide a difference of real sentiment.
The suslenailon OF the Fugitive Sia''
law can never be made party measure b.
the Wing party in Massachusetts, for ia
! moment that il is done, the party will fad'
away like snow before the sun.
Yet there is no disposition on the part O
the Wings to nulliiy the law by violence, o
E in any other way; on the other baud, tn
u Wing party has ever held as It's chief ele
ment of success, STEADY ADHERENCE 4
Law AND ORDER. Aud this Is perfect
consistent with a fixed determination to dI'
cuss public measures in firm, manly, an
independent manner 1t has ever appeare
to Us that much of our difficulty has arise
: from the fact that this distinction has NJ
= been kept at all times IN view. Person
y when IN an excited state of mind, (and III
public have been kept more or less IN an e.
. cited state ever since the passage OF IL
= law) identify those who dissent from II
= wisdom or proprety of the law with tn
: class of agilaiors who preach up res:stanC
- to the Jaw by physical force. This is u
u fair, aud calculated TO do lnhnite mIschi
if persisted IN.
The general sentiment Of this State,
n mong men of all parties, is against inc ia'
10 but the general sentiment OF the SAFE
{. Just as strong against forcible resistance
=, mob law. The class who talk resistance
70 a very small class-and beng composed
"a persons who are more valiant IN words th'
20 in deeds, they are harmless, aud II let
~ lone would soon become obsolete. II is a
tiation that keeps them above ater. In
- court opposition, aud nothing so mu
~ pleases them as when they meet with 1t.
N. Such being then the truth,we ask whe'
IN er 1t is not best for the Wing party TO COT
er "a far understanding. We all have o
SO object IN view, namely, the triumph oil
~ Wing cause IN the State and nation
of all desire to redeem our State next TALL In
srs The hands of those who now have II IA tn
res grasp. We all desire to elect Wing
Ia. ,,onal administr alton next year.