Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-05
Franklin Pierce.

The National Era exposes the outra-
geous course of Franklin Pierce, in his let
ter of acceptance, with signal ability. Let
independent Democrats consider the follow
ing remarks which it makes -
Mr.. Pierce, then, holds that call efforts
of the AbolitionisIs or others, made to in
duce Congress to interfere with questions Of
Slavery" are fraught with " the most alarm
ing and dangerous consequences; )" pledges
himself {" to abide by and adhere to faith
full execution of" the Compromise, lnclu-
ding the Fugitive Law" and unites with
the Democratic party in the pledge to " re-
sist all attempts at renewing. in Congress
or out of it, the agitation OF the slavery
question, under what ever shape or color
the attempt may be made" whether moral,
religious, or politcal-whether in opposI'
ton to the aggression of Slavery, or with
view to the promotion of the Emancipation
He concurs with General Scott in relation
to the Compromise measures, but goes far
beyond him when he pledges himself against
the agitation of the question of Slavery,
under whatever shape or color
There is something extremely audaclous
in this declaration. Not long since, the qnes-
ton of Slavery was agitated in Kentucky
with view to Emancipation and the lead
ing men of that State, including Henry
Clay, took part in it. Should tie question
hereafter be renewed under similar circum-
stances, we have the solemn pledge OF Mr..
Pierce. and of the Convention that noml-
mated him that he will resist the agitation
| Resist the agitation OF the question OF slave
ry in Kentucky The pledge is absolute,
unoualified-covers all supposable cases of
agitation of the Slavery Question, any
where
And then, this aspirant for Presidential
honors under Democratic auspices, IS at
pains 10 ct the world know that he docs
not simply acquiesce in the platt"rm-he
does not accept its principles for the sake OF
obligilg his friends, or because the necessI-
ties Of Party require it" but because the
principles it embraces command the oppro-
baton Of my judgment; and with them
believe | can safely say there has been no
record or act Of my life in conflict"
That is true. His record is clean and
unspotted in this respect; and the fact that
he boasts of this, shows that in his Judg'
ment the Democracy of the North concurs
with him. On the strength of his devotion
to these principles, which he ought to know
are dsavowed by large portion of the
Democratic party in the free States, he
challenges the support of the whole! Sup
pose he had taken the same true and bold
ground in favor of relieving the Federal
Government from all responsibility for slave
ry, which Martin Van Buren, and the Radi'
cal Democracy Of New York took in 1913
and pledged themselves to maintain-hoW
many votes would he have received from
Southern Democrats Are they so welded
to their party that they would have sus
tanned him? Would they have disavowed
some alchcmic process for separating man
from his principles, so that they could vote
for the former without supporting The latter
Alas Such alchemy is peculiar TO thu
North! Politicians know it, and shape
their movements accordingly. They yielt
principle to the South, and calculate on car
rying the North by party machinery in de-
6ance of principle And so often has thu
experiment succeeded that this time they
are repeating it in more fragrant form thar
ever. I.et the experiment prove successful
and how long, we ask once more, ere the
Democratic party be redeemed from bond
age to sectional, nay, an enormous class
interest. - Commonwealth.