The republic., 1851-08-14


ofthe message, it does expect to stand at all"
TDANIEL WEBsrER's Letter to the Union Meeting
al Westchester.
Democratic DenuncIation OF the Admins
tration for Its s.Fidellty TO sIavery"-Dem-
Ocratic Pledge to Agitnte tho Repeal of
the Fugitive Slave Law.
We are glad to see any effort for adjustment
of our national differences upon the basis of ac-
quiescence in the Compromise, even though
that acquiescence be accompanied, as IN two ex
treme meetings held lately at the North and in
the South, with abstract declarations of the
most Objectionable character.
We were gratified to see the Wings of Yer
mont avow their willingness to acquiesce, in
spite of the offensive and fanatical doctrines
that accompanied their resolutions. This ac-
quiescence will be found in the following reso-
lutions, which the Union does not publish:
Resolved, That we are, as we ever have been,
devotedly attached 10 the Union; that look to the
courts of the United States the true interpreters of
the Constitution and the lasos Of the nation-conding
IN their toisdom and fdelity-and that haze no
sympathy liberation for the revolutionary doctrines
of secession, notification, or disrnon, in whatever
quarter manifested.
"Resolued, That in the moderate, and discreet
and practicable measures recommended to Con-
gress by the present National Administration, and
the firm determination to repress internationa.
disorder, and 10 execute faithfully the ia,rs Of the
land, and to maintain inviolate the faith of public
treaties, recognise measures and principles to
which we give our cordial appreciation, and pledge
hearty support
We were in like manner gratifed that
the Conservatives of South Carolina coupled
their denunciatiOns of the Union with an
agreement to endure it, We regarded the
declaration of the fanatics of Vermont, and
Of the secessonists of South Carolina alb
stractions-announced to preserve their con-
sistency. We were willing to accept their al
legiance to the Compromise and to the Union
with any expressions Of private opinion they
may choose to utter.
Opinion in America is no crime. The South
Carolinian may entertain or express detesta-
tion of the Union, yet so long as he refrans
from the practical exercise of his opinions, there
is and there ought to be no " sedition law" to
punish him for any thing that he may write or
speak. The same rule must apply to the fana-
tic Of Vermont; yet if the resistance to the Fu-
gitive Slave law authorized by the statute of
Vermont should be attempted, the Federal
laws would be enforced, as they have been,
and will continue to be, whilst the present
Administration is in power.
We cite piece of political history which
the world, we believe, has not yet learned from
The columns of the Union.
1t seems that on the 22d of July, 1851 the
Democratic State Convention" met at Mont
pelier, in Vermont, and adopted the following
resolutions:
"Resolued, That any attempt to foist the institu
ton of slavery upon territory under the jursdic
ton of the Union; any legislation of Congress that
exposes the free citizens of sovereign State to per-
petual slavery without due process of law; that de-
nes the trial by jury, and strips off the panoply of
the great writ of right, is invasion of the lie
gitimate sovereignty Of the States and an infringe
ment on the guarantees of the Constitution, and
should be promptly repeed.
"ResoIUed That discover but one distinctive
feature of the Whg party, in its present place. as
shadowed by the present Administration, fidelity
to slavery, the maintenance of its supremacy and
inviolabiliiy; shall therefore oppose the Whig
party It's principles-it has nonel
"ResOued, That the Wings Of Vermont, by cor
daily approving of President Fillmore's Admin
lstration at their late convention at Bellows Falls
endorsed and rendered an issue upon the Fugitive
Slave law; and that this convention promptly ac-
cept the tender and hereby recommend to all their
political friends, and the friends of freedom and
humanity in the State, TO meet the issue in every
political gathering and at the polls"
Now, so far from coinciding with the Union
in the opinion that the Whig Vermont resolu-
tions were hostile to the Compromise, the
Democratic Convention expresses the opinion
that those resolutions cordially approved the
Administration of President FILLMORE" !" and
discovers but one distinctive feature of "the
Wing party in its present place, as shadowed
by the present Administration-fd to sla.
very, the maintenance Of its supremacy and
inviolability. We shall therefore oppose the
Wing party"
The Democratic Convention recommend
to all their political friends and the friends of
freedom and humanity in the State to meet
the issue Of the Fugitive Slave law" alleged
to have been "endorsed and rendered" by
the Wings of Vermont in the resolutions Sc
much condemned by the Union for their hos
tility to the Compromised
Yet there is no word of censure for these De
mocrats of Vermont. They may declare wha
opinions they think proper-they may appea
to " their friends and the friends of humanity
to meet the issue "of endorsing the Fugitive
Slave law" in every political gathering and a
The polls, and there is no whisper of disappro