Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-06-23

Our Principles and our Policy


3. All new States must come in as Free
States.
4. Slavery must be excluded from all the
Territories Of the United States.
>. Slavery must be abolished in the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
6. No new territory to be acquired unless
Slavery in It shall be forever prohibited.
Such, IN Substance, is the platform that
was adopted with unanimity and enthusiasm
at the late Wing State Convention, held at
Rutland. Such also we believe to be the
sentiments of all Northern Wings, Of all Free
Sellers, and Of a goody portion Of the Dem
ocratlc party IN the Northern States The
following resolution, being the sixth in the
series. which was also adopted by the above
Convention, defines our duties In the premis-
es:
RESOLVED That as the earnest of deibar-
ate, determined, Irrevocable purpose to carry
into practical effect the above propositions.
we further declare that we will not support
for the Office Of President or Vice President.
or Of senator, or Of Representative in Con-
gress, or as a Member of a State Lerisla.
iure, any man, of whatever party, who IS not
known to be IN favor OF the purpose express
"" 3" ''N '''e 'tis AC9oiulivlsi ana IN thls
also.
ltWoy seem piradoxcal to some who
nave not yet had their eyes opened 10 the
startling consequences Of The recent legsla-
ton ~ tougress how, having supported the
. Compromise Measures Of 1851 we can
turn, what, TO them, seems so short a corner.
and array ourselves with those who have
ever opposed those measures, which were
intended 10y their trainers to be final adj
Justnent OF the slavery question. A very
rev words Will serve TO resolve their diff
cuilies'
Inc series OF acts known as the Com
promise 81 IeoO, were not. taken separate
~ pilhluoie either TO the North or the
Souui' hhe the former insisted that an
legishuon should lnure 90 the benefit Of
freedom me latter were equally DESTROYS
that slavery should receive consideration at
the hands Of our legislators. The North
demanded the admission OF California as
iIee otale' VINE the Nonih coniended that
lhe line OF 10 deg ~ MN. as recognized
ana eStnoiished by the Missouri Conprom-
Use should extend TO the Pacific, thus dvid-
ing california ana making two States ont OF
That territory. TO reconcile this difference
"a difference which Il was honestly thought
thlealehed the stabiliiy OF the Union 1T was
IN spirit oil concession mutually agreed
tllt 'he oouth should concede the admission
OF t1,uernh INTO tae Union as Tree State,
ana "D'.ish the slave trade 10 the District Of
Coluinoia' WINE NE North should yield TO
ule i'fHiit'on OF lour states from Texas.
wn.0H shou'u ee admitted as ; lave States
II they choose 10 come IN as such, and con
sent 10 the enactment OF more stringent
ana efficient law for the rendition Of furi
tive slaves. Such Cancellation Of the iar-
ring interests Of freedom and slavery had
oeeh effected IN 1870, by the 9Th section OF
the act Tor The admission of Missouri, and
no one then doubted Ms entire constitution
allty, or regarded H. 40 any possible conun-
gency, as rspealn5le.
Under these circumstances, ana for the
purpose oi eNcinaing' as far as possible the
VeNed question OF Slavery from the consid
erauon OF national matters, we were willing
10 regard tne compromise of $500 as .i-
nanny. In dong TINS we severed ourselves
RON ne poiiiical compromising OF many
Naiuad friends, and incurred the odium OF
'hoS' VINO believed the rights Of the North
"efe outraged by mat legislation. Every
eo''''u7'', lon OF personal and sectional M
'u'' was ''le ASIDE WIN view 70 promote
Hs we ui'n-hl me paramount interests OF
tle "i'ole county we ioniiy hoped thai
,he quesuoh OF freedom Or slavery, so tar as
lI'se ~ ',' tle 'erf'ory now belonging &c
une ou''sd olates is concerned was forever
0nN u'e power OF thought OF ast
"1,u'
bul we were deceived. w iihOht prep1r