Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-19
The Next Presidency.


certalntes, which has heretofore invested the
subject, is by no means disspated, yet develop.
mentS have recetly transpred from which some
lew conclusions OH the subject may now be de-
duced with tolerabe safety.
The Union party, which, one while, under the
fostering hands of Webster and Cass, Clay and
Cobb, Foote and Fillmore, and other affiIiating
traitors to their respective parties and principles,
promised the entire breaking up of the old party
organizations is, at the North at least, obviously
on the wane, and bids fair to become failure
through the whole country, unless the Wing
party be driven, as their last chance of salvation,
to throw themselves 80 completal alasApa
of the. SoHlh that thsres sai.s - ieff
wilhia the enfofdiDg grasp for the national Dem
ocrats to occupy. This decline of the Union
party at the North, and also measurably at the
South, is, we fancy, lotaull of the Wings, but
almost wholly that of the National Democrats
who, in the recent elections, see the promise Of
strength enough to go alone, and perceving,
therefore, no necessi y OF lessening the dividend
of the spolls by increasing the divisor, decline
the participation as needless sacrifice. The
present APP earance, then, is that the two old par.
ties, falling back on their old party organiza
tons, Invested mainly Of the old dead issues,
will each bring into the field distinctive candi-
date of their own. But who those candidates
are to be still remains nearly as doubtful as ever.
Both parties are evidently IN great trlbulation liz
the matter Of selection, and making their moves
with the greatest caution, the aim of the mana
gers, in the free Safes especially, being so to
steer between the Charybds of slavery at the
South, and the Scilla of freesollism al the North
as'o secure all their old brethren in tue one
section without alternating them in the olher.-
besGt with difficulties, those surrounding the
Wings are obviously the worst to encounter
successfully, because a much smaller mistake in
their manoevreing would prove fatal to their
success. The masses of the Northern wing of
the Wing patty doubtless prefer Gen Scott but
the South will not support him unless he will
openly pledge himselt to he compromises. This
would spoil HIM for the North. Webster is still
pushing hard for the nomination; but they all
see that his chances are small unless he can
Command the support of his entire parry at the
South; and his party there seem UNEXPECTEDLY
backward in inviting him into the field. FIN.
more, alter great deal of prudery and affected
reluctance. has at leigh Consented to accent n
nomination, for which he has probably been Sc
crety setting his corns ever since he and his fell
iow srhemera got rid of General Taylo-, This
throSe the real !asuons d gON and WsGSfs
into new troubles, and occasions, it is plain to
be seen no little uneasiness and heart.burnlng
g among them. Bat as Fillmore holds the staff of
patronage which, in these days Of corruption, is
like possession in law, nine polHts in the game
prefer to yield to him to yielding to the others
his chances, we still think, are the best of the
tree to obtain the nomination.
With regard to the National Democrats, they
too have many candidates IN the field Houston
Douglass, Butler and Cass have been success.
sively in vogue, without seeming 10 obtain any
essential Advantages over each other Two Of
those, Houston and Butler, though from the
South are not suvehodcrs, tits said, but liberal
men in respect TO the great issue Of the day, and
much sooner TO be trusted than their Northern
rivas-Lewis Cass, the pledge loaded hack Of
the last campaign. and Stephen A. Douglass
the ambitious young petticoat Shareholder Of H.
LIMOS. But can either OF these men obtain the
nomination in a National Convention without
being fully committed to the support of the com
Promises? Two of them, ash just intimaied, we
know to be bound, hand and foot, to the slavery
interest ;--can either of the Other two, however
unexceptinnable their views, if left to themselves,
receive the chief honor at Baltimore without
submitting TO the same shlckles?
We confess we can see no prospect of it. and
if there is noue-if no man can receive the nom.
inaton at Baltimore without being openly and
unequlvocally pledged to the support of the Flu.
gltIve Slave law, as the whole South unitedy
declare, what course remains for the Free De.
mocfacy OF Vermont, who have over and over
again, in their State Conventions, condemned
and denounced that law, and solemny pledged
themselves TO oppose it, in all constitutional
ways, I'LL the national statute book should be nc
longer dlsgIacad by its existence? We will
not for one moment entertain The idea that they
were insncere or dishonest in these repeated ex
presslons Of opinion; nor will we any sooner
believe them capable of the weather cock facil
itv OF change which can permit the them to re
uudiate those opinions now in view of the frs
election that IS presented for fairly testing the
sincerity. What course, then, we repeat re-
mains for them to pursue? They may, it il
true. as some good men anon US have proposed
send delegates to Bllimore, instructed to main
tain their principles, be voted down, il they must
bolt The nomination, and return to join thei
brethren in the other states in throwing an in
dependent standard of freedom to the breeze
THIS we could do with better grace, and witt
better sense Of self Prospect, had not the whole
South notified us beforehand that we need no
expect their political fellowship unless we con-,
bound to sustain tho very measure we have al
along been 81 polnedIy condemnng. But cal
we do this now? Can we avoid the conclu
sion under the circumstances, as they now stand
that bur only course Is in separate and indepen
dent action? And If we cannot, may we no
now as well be looking to the state of our owl
preparations for The important part we shall III
present year, be called upon to act in, for LIber
ty and true Democracy? While the countr
boasts of such Wen as Benton, Chase, Dix
Mics, Sumner end Hale, for true and able ez