Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-08
The Great Question.

Every indication shows that the Slavery Cues
ton is TO be the great issue in the coming cleo
ton. The Democratic State Convention of Ten
nessee met at Nashville OIL the Cd February. -
In the preamble to the resolutions adopted, the
Convention referred briefly and approvingIy to
the opposition Of the Democracy to a National
Bank, to vast and corrupt system of Internal
Improvements, not national in their character,
and to Land Distribution, and to its support of
the Sub-Treasury; but, "regarding these sub
jects as now settled and disposed of, or so nearly
so as not to be seriously revived in the coming
election, the Convention desires to approach a
more recent PERIOD and in the most distinct and
emphatic manner to re affirm the principles and
sentiments set forth in the resolutions of the
last Democratic Convention held in Nashville
in l949. 1t then proceeds to sets forth its views
IN relation to the Slavery Question, adopting
substantially the principles embodied in the
Georgia Resolutions. Ii lays aside the ordiua-
ry party issues, as being settled questions, and
makes the Slavery Question the single ISSUE
The editor of the Union is greatly pleased with
the resolutions, and he holds that they furnish
the right platform for the Democracy. 1t is
clearly the intention of the Southern leaders to
bury old questions, and bring the whole party
upon this platform. Read what Mr.. Toombs
says in his letter to the Georgia Convention,
which met on The 22d February:
"The existing political organizations of the
North, both Wing and Democratic, are wholly
unequal to the present crisis. Their antecedents
are continual stumbling blocks in the path of
safety and duty. If either were sound, | should
advise you to promote its success. But both
have degenerated into mere factions, adhering
49, e
Their success would benefit nobody but them
selves, and would be infinitely mischievous to
the public veal. The Wings and Democrats of
Massachusetts are struggling between Sumner
and Winthrop. 1t is a contest in which the
friends of the country have not the slightest in
terest. The success of the principles of either
would be equally fatal tothe safety and existence
Of the Republic. The Wings and Democrats
of New York and Ohio are thoroughly donation
allied. Indeed, there is no non saveholding
State in which the Free Soil Wings do not con-
tIol the Wing organization, and none IN which
the Democratic Free Sellers do not control it,
except in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Illinois, and Iowa. Our safety, and the safety
of the country, therefore, lies in refusing all CO.
operation with either the Wing or Democratic
parties of the North, and more thorough I'm.
ion with the sound men of both these parties in
united National party. If this is impractical
BILE, we ought to stand aloof from both, and sup
port none but sound National candidate"
The alternative is distinctly presented to the
Wing and Democratic parties at the North
Lay aside all other issues, and become distinct
lively and exclusively pro slavery, with no other
platform than the Georgia resolutions, or you
cannot have our sympathy and cooperation
National Era,