Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-05-27
The Tide at the Ebb.

For the last two years, the tide Of pro slavery
sentiment in the old parties, and especially in
that Of the present administration, has been,
with every succeeding wave, rising higher and
higher, making broade: and broader encroach-
rnents on the sacred precincts Of liberty, drown
and paralyzed friends Of freedom, and threaten
ing to submerge the whole land with its dark
waves of moral and political desolation. With
in the last month. however, signs have appeared
showing that the food had at length reached its
height, AMI that the time of It's subsistence was
at hand and now those signs have given place
to the most ureqnvoca indications that the re-
action has already taken place, and the ebbing
Of the tide commenced.
The South becoming fearful, perhaps, that
they were drawing the cords OIL the limbs of
Northern Freemen so tight as to endangortheir
breaking, are pausBg in doubt while the
trucking political leaders Of the free States are
beginning q" to be scared at their own dough
faces. All this is evident from The altered tones
Of the two great political organs of their respec-
tive parties at Washington. The Republic,
the mouth piece of the Wing administration,
after claiming, for more than year, for Fill
more and his administration, The glory of origin
ating and sustaining the Fugitive Slave law,
now suddenly appears on new tack, and de-
MES Fillmores alleged agency in the passage of
that law, and says that oil the charges which
have been made TO that effect "are entirely
without foundation !"
On the other hand, the old Editor of the Tn
ion, the organ Of the Democratic party, who has
been all along insisting on the 6naiy of the
compromise as democratic test, retires, " for
the harmony of the party;" and the new Editor
comes out, exhonerates Mr.. Cass and his friends
from any wish to make this fnalty test. and
gives assura nee that no such test will be requr-
ed at the Baltimore Convention
Thus both parties are brought to repudiate
the compromises so far as to insist on making
them part of The creed of their respective par
ties. But what has caused this sudden ultcra.
tion of their courses Simply the conviction
that any test of this kind would endanger the
success of their candidates at the ensuing presi-
due? In measure doubtless, to the free soil
members Of congress acting with both parties
but mainly, in candor we ought to say, to those
in the democratic organization. By the firm
and determined stand OF such men as Ceave-
land, Preston King, Rantoul, Bartlett and 9th.
efs, The compromise test resolution was put
down at the democratic caucus at the beginning
of the session; while the wing caucus passed 1t,
and the voices of every one of these free demo-
crats have been since manully raised in remon-
strunce and warning in The halls Of congress-
To the Ohio Democracy for their noble stand
at their Stute Convention much is likewise due
The announcement of a Free Soil Convention
at CIeayeland has also probably had it's effect
But more than al to The discovery that the great
masses OF the people at large through the free
States would revolt at their proposed course, and
rally round the Free Soil Flag-is this change
attributable.
Friends Of Freedom rejoice! Rejoice that
your abors have not been in vain. Rejoice,
and congratulate yourselves, thot you, through
the reign Of political recreancy and disheartening
darkness OF the past, have stood firmly in your
lot,and put the Dde on backward courseReioIce
and take courage; for the fight Of your Eagle oil
Liberty is now uDWards and in that SIGNAL 90
forth TO the battle and conquer.