Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-04-02


readers with long political articles, Just now.
because we know they will have to submit to
them BY and by. But we cannot refrain from !
copying the following from an excellent leader
in late number of the .Nc,r York Times. In
cur Judgment in contain; large infusion Of
good common sense:-
General TAYLOR became President in the
s1-inr ofl349. He had been nominated against
the wish Of the great body of Northee Wings,
who dis,rusted his position on the question OF
slavery. 1t was represented by his trends IN
the Northern States, with e1tnestness and sue
cess, that he was not to be numbered among
the pro-slavery ultraists Of the ouh,-that he
regarded slavery as an evil.--that he would
protect with equal and impartial justice, the
rights of all sections Of the Union, and that ne
would not veto bill prohibiting the extension
Of slavery into the new territories, if such
bill should be passed hy Congress Active
Wings, in every part of the Northern States,
advocated the election Of General TAYLOR on
the ground that lie was far more distinctly
pledged to sanction law excluding slavery
from the new territories, than Gen. Cass Mr..
Webster urged his election on these grounds.
And Mr.. Fillmore was nominated Tor Vice
President mainly to strengthen General Taylor,
in precisely those localities where the anti sla-
very feeling was most prevalent and powerful.
it was under such circumstances, and by such
influences, that New York and New England
gave their votes for General Taylor and made
him President
His advent to Office was TIE signal for con-
spiracy on the part Of some of his Southern
supporters, to drive HIM from the position IN
yehch TIE course of the canvass had placed
him, ard to force him to subserviencv to their
sectional views. At the first Wing Congress
sional caucus after his election, a resolution
vas urged by Messrs. Toombs, Stephens, and
C)ingman, declaring that the Wing party re-
nounced and discarded the principle of excIud-
ing slavery by law from the newly acquired ter
ritorias. It's adoption was resisted by Messrs.
BROOKS. Duer, and others, recognized as North
EN- Wings, and it was rejected. Those who
had offered il, then took up position ot"armed
neutrality" lenocing the Wing party with de-
sertion and hostility, unless 1t should assent "a
their acquisitions and abandon forever the Free
Sol principle. Some of these gentlemen wait
ed upon General Taylor, and informed him
very explicitly Of their demands, and OF theli
purposea il. case those demands should be re
jscted.
The President, meantime, pursued steady
firm. and Just course of policy. very warn
contest took place in the distribution of office
throughout the country, and in no State was
warmer than in New York. On one side were
the friends of Mr.. Seward-then the on,
Wing Senator from the State on the oths
were his opponents. General Taylor made hi
appointments with sincere desire TO meet thu
views of the whole party, without giving an.
section of 1t Just grounds for dlspleasure H'
placed all the important offices. especially IL
this City, in the hands of Mr.. Stewards mos
determined opponents, and appointed one Mar
shal and several Postmasters in the lnterlo
from among his friends. The fact that he re
cognized Senator Seward as a Wing at all
aroused the bitter hostility OF a small but en-
ergetic party which had preordalned his des
tructon. Mr. Fillmore was carefully instruct
Ell to believe that me State Of New York wa
not large enough for both, and that every &C
recognize Mr. Seward as entitled to any in
fuencc IL TIE distribution of public patronage
was a blow of hostility aimed at him.
Ill-feelipg was thus fomented in the Whl!
party. The purpose Of the Southern ultralst:
to force the administration into their views, o
break it down. was steadily pursued. And th'
;n.roluction.hy Senator Foote, Of the Compro
mise Measures. afforded another opportunit,
for its prosecution Senator Foote, and thos
who acted with him, demanded that the admls
sion OF California, the enactment OF laws TO
governing the territories, the settlement OF tn
TeXls boundary dispute, and a new FugltiV
Slave law, should all be regarded as passed
one measure,--as binding cQmpnct--a Com
promise between conflicting claims. Presi
;ient TAYLOR was opposed to this mode OF set
ding these questions, as Founded upon wron,
principles, as setting a mischievous preceden,
and as calculated to aggravate the evils 1t pro
fessed 10 cure.
Senator Seward opposed Mr.. Foote's scheme
ana voted against it, as did more than half tn
delegation from the State OF New York IN tn
other House. Upon this action the Southern
conspirators seized, as grlng them a rev
chance of breaking down Mr., SewaId an
those Wings Of the North. whose views en- thl
question he was presumed TO represent. Th
Republic, established and recognized as tn
Executive organ, denounced Mr.. Seward
speech with the utmost warmth, repudlQtcd III
sentiments and elected him and all MS friend
summary from the Wing party. This wa
not mere expression Of Individual opinion
The Republic acted as the organ of the con
spirators, who had determined either to rule
or ruin, the administration a slmutaneou
crusade, personal as well as political, and mar
ked with the utmost mallgnlty, was wage
upon Mr.. Seward. The President was to b
driven into an oren reputation Of him and hi
friends, and nothing was left undone which,
was supposed, could contribute to this result
General Taylor did no, spccumb to these me
naces. Instead Of sanctionlng the course c
the Republic, he repudated that paper, and en-
forced ;,,a withdrawal Of its Editors, wl.o CAV
place 70 others. Mcssrs. BuIlitt and Sargen
VINO had led the assault upon Senator Sewar
and his friends, we're succeeded by Mr.. fla.
who sought to restore harmony to the party b
treating all It's sections and members with ju'
respect
The death of General Taylor changed II
mho,e aspect % public affairs Mr.. Filmoi
became President. The Compromise bills wei
repyegentcd as the adopted measures of his AZ
ADMINISTRATION. The tendency of affairs IN Il
" hig ranks was turned back. Mr. Hall witt
drew from the Republic, and the maligners
Mr. Seward We're relnstated. The attacl
upon him were renewed with fresh vlgor al
redoubled bitterness. No terms of hatred al
approbrium we're too extravagant to be heaps
upon him. upon hlg principles and his FRIEND
lie was denounced as a traitor to the uno
and an enemy Of the Constitution. Rospe
for, or support of him, in any degree or to al