Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-28
Republican State Convention
of Massachusetts,.

In all tree countries, political principles
are represented by political parties. If par
ties cease to represent living principles, they
become factions, injurious to the highest in
terests of the State, If bot fatal to its life.
Fortunate is II for republic, If its citizens
are found to have enough of virtue, intell-
gence, and seli-control, to break the ties Of
associations, and the power Of names, and 20
modify their political organizations to NEE,
the real political ques ions Of the hour. A
happy omen is it for our republic, that the
parties Of the day are organiz ing upon the
principles Of the day, 70 meet the real issues
of the day.
] Slavery, in its national relalions, is the
great political question of our times. Sll-
very within the Slave States, is a matter Of
State control for which we have no consti.
tutional political responsibility. But an i'm
/ pcrious necessity has made Slavery, in It's
relations TO the nation aud to the Free States,
question Of practical, immediate, and para
mount Importance.
FIRST Il is a paramount question Slave
~ and Freedom are inconsistent with each
other. Slave labor and free labor innol CO.
operate. Slaves in this country have so in
creased, that the number Of slaves now Is
greater than the entire population Of the coun-
try at the time of the Revolution. Al the
regular aud probable rate of increase, 10 80
years there viii be as many slaves as there
are now inhabitants. bond and free together
At the adoption Of the Constitution there
wore but five States which were practically
slave States. There are row fifteen. In
/ 1877 all the national territory was made
free. In 1920 half Of it was left open to
slavery. The experience Of the last few
years, and especially the repeal Of the MIS-
souri, Compromisc, hiss convinced the most
doubling that slavery Is aggressive; that the
slave power, If not repressed, VIII advance
that If Slavery Is not prohibited, 1t Will
prohibit Freedom. The Slave Power con-
trolls every department of the Government.
I he question IS not the abolition of Slavery,
but the exslancc Of Freedom not whether
Slavery shall be tolerated in the territories,
but whether there shbll be o fooihold for
] Freedom. Either Slavery or Freedom must
| be domin0nt in this republic. The republic
itself must be either a Free Power or a Slave
Power IN the family of nations.
+ Second. 1t Is political question. 1t is
no longer a question Of mere ethics, or Of
political abstraction. It entails a political
contest which may last through this genera
ton. Il is contest which must be fought
at the polls. Slavery is to be rcpelled, and
Freedom made national By putting into ex-
ccuuyc office, men who Will be faithful to
Freedom. We mus, OH the vacancics in the
Judiciary with men who wi be inghiu to
Freedom Not only 50, but such a peepon
derauce Of political power must be establish
ed. that they may be kept faithful Legsla-
ton for Freedom Is required IN the St,tc as
well as in the National governments These
ends can he secured only by political means
by united action of men who think and feel
alike; in short, by the regular republican
method of political party.
Third The ends are practicable. The
Free States have the vast preponderance in
numbers, educatlon. arts, sciences, m1nulac-
turers, commerce, wealth, and business
Why should their millions stand in the rola-
ion Of political thrltOm 10 an ohsarchy of
less than half million Of men who weld
the power of Slavery 1t is not fit that we
bear 'h' shame longer
fourth The state Of other political ones
tons Is favorable to this movement. The
Wing party. formed on the idea of resistance
to the increased Executive power. adopting
from tine to time positions on the financial
questions of the day, questions which are
now settled or passed by. can no longer be
sai TO exist as a political power in the ma
ton. No hope can be entertained at present,
that the Democratic party will be faithful on
tins issue, or That laithiul men can act eifec
iually through Il IN our cause. The question
Of social reform, the problem Of restrictive
legislation. IN aid Of temperance, and the
question OF foreign ana native influence IN
tie affairs OF the nation. are felt even hy the
-----~'-- '-.-' - .l.-a No. .---.-i -'' l"'
10 present no lust obstacle TO united action
here. Everywhere are indications Of an up
rising OF the heart and mind of the nation TO
meet this paramount issue. an issue into
which the Presidential election of the next
year will sweep every other.
FYh. We ofier no geographical or sec
tioual issue. We adop, no principles which
have not the sanction OF the founders of ihe
Republic, in an the States, North and South
Free or Slave. We adopt no principles
which Washington, jefferson, aud Patrick
Henry would not have gloried to see brought
into action. We adopt no principles winch
CONSCIENTIOUS opponents OF the increase Of
Slavery from all parts Of the land, cannot and
ought not to recognise We act IN no sec
iional spirit as to men. We are ready TO
vote for men from any part Of the land who
viii act with us. We know that within the
area Of the Slave States themselves, are free
men, not SHAREHOLDERS, who sympalhze with
us. We know there are Shareholders, who
think az we do--to say nothing Of the three
millions Of slaves themselves. Asto the ter
rltores and the new States, we know 10 geo
graphical limits. We desire to see all the
future States free. North and South Secure
Free States at the Southwest. and this will
be no longer geographical issue Had oar
ancestors been true in 1890, there would
have been Free States at the South Had
this generation been true. there would now
: have been Free States at the nth There
may yet be Free States at the South. If we
are true hereafter. The Missouri Comprom>
Use made Freedom and Slavery geogapi cal
distinctions. That is now repealed We
accept the issue which that repeal forces up
on us-Slayerv or freedom everywhere.
liencetorlh we recognise no geographical
line. Our motto Is. no North, no South,
Freedom for all the territories no new
States but Free states North or South.
We conceive our duty to be done, If we
adopt principles and measures which are not
IN their nature sectional. but emnenly ma
llonal, and carry them out with a spirit, ma
tIonal and liberal. If on those premises, a
sectional contest arises, the fluli Is not ours.
The world knows that we have avoided a
sectional issue, to the verge, aud beyond the
verge, of dignity and prudence. II It cones,
II is forced upon Us. Let US avoid it and
postpone It no longer Delays and compro
misses have brought 1t upon Us. Delays and
compromises VIII IA "a, hfrtrleYaUiJ.
1t only now remains to declare that we at
tempt no reqiremen, Of uniformity of opinion
on the questions. No man by joining IN
this organlzftion does, even BY implication,
qualify his opinions on other subjects OF state
or national concern. lie merely recognizes
the paramount Importance Of this. This
party, If It has history, must meet the great
political questions of the day as they arise.
but always IN subordination to the question of
Freedom. 1t is only in the spirit Of conces-
sion and tolerance on other subjects, that
we can be united on this Ia the dlssensions
OF the Free, is the hope ever Of despolism
Let us take heed that we lose not the cause
T "a dom. hoe