Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-28
THE NEW SOUTHERN PLATFORM.

THE NEW SOUTHERN PLATFORM.
We are gratifed to perceive that the South is
tearing off her mask, and beginning to proclaim
openly what her course of political action has
long shown were her secret intentions, to walk
with no party, or class of men. who will not
make the Slavery interests paramount, and di-
rectly aid in making the Slave Power an over
shadowing and perpetual dominion in all the
United States.
At the Democratic State Convention held on
the 9th of this month. in Milledgeville, Georgia,
p in which Howell Cobb, late Speaker in Congress,
and at this time, perhaps, the best embodiment
of the pro-savery policy in all the extreme
Southern States, took a prominent part, unan-
imously adopted, after much elaboration, what
they intended should become the guiding plat
form Of the South, as embraced substantially in
the following propositions -
|. The Union--but the Union as secondary
to the reserved rights of the States.
2. The total non-interference of Congress with
slavery anywhere, in the States, in the Terrific
ries and in the District of Columbia.
3. The maintenance of the Fugitive Slave
law Just as it is, without amendment and with
out repeal.
4. The principles established by the Ncbras-
ka Kansas act, which are the rights of the PEG.
pie of Kansas to form Republican Govern
ment with or without slavery, whenever they
please, and to come into the Union on an equal
footing with the other States
S. The resolution of the Georgia legislature,
that any opposition to these principles, by man
or party, is an act of hostility to the people of
the South.
+. Sympathy with the 50 friends of slavery in
Kansas in their manly efforts to maintain the
rights and interests Of the whole Southern peo-
pie " over " the paid adventures and Jesuitical
hordes of Northern Abolitionism'
Z. Opposition to every party in the North
which " docs not come up fully and fairly to
the Southern Standard, including the Know
Nothings.
g. Retaliatory meapres against Massachu-
sets and Vermont, for " virtually repeating the
Fugitive Slave law "; and,
9. The annexation of Cuba.
Sach is the platform which the leading poiti-
clans and Statesmen of the influential State of
Georgia now deliberately promulgatcs as party
test Of the democracy Of the Union, as the mild
est conditions for uniting with the Democrats,
or any other party at the North in the ap-
preaching presidential campaign of 1856! ANY
man or party, who dare question the justice and
policy of these principles is to be taken as COM
uniting an act of hostility to the South, for
which he is not only te be ostracized from his
party, but ranked aaDng, and treated as, the
enemies,--aye, the actual enemies of half the
States in the Union
Georgia has hitherto been known as among
the most conservative and moderate in her pro-
slavery tone of all the Southern States and it
is this fact that invests this expose of her pro
spectiye politi cal course, with peculiar signf-
canoe at the present crisis for if Georgia takes
such stand, what shall we expect from such
States as Mississippi and South Carolina If
she thus speaks, where are we to look for the
Southern State that will refuse to respond !
They will all respond, and some of them in a
manner which will be more likely to make that
platform stronger than weaker. Many of them,
indeed, have responded already. A convention
in Florida have adopted, in substance, the Geor-
gia resolutions. The Charleston Mercury, and
South Carolina papers, advocate them, or more
decided ones and the leading papers of Virgin.
ia endorse and proclaim them as the true and
only Southern platform for the presidential cam
paign so there can be no doubt this will be the
stand of the entire South, and these the only
terms offered us at the North for our longer con.
tinuance in the Union.
But for what party is this platform to be the
guide and landmarks Why, the Democratic
partye Shade of Jefferson what kind of De.
mocracy is that! What kind of Democracy is
that, which, like this platform, looks not to a
single principle, aim, or object, but the building
up of slavery! Will the democracy of the
Free States, in whose name the enormities in
volved in this apostate platform have been per-
petrated, deliberately subscribe to such doc
trine7 And, especially, will the stern Demo-
Gratis of our Green Mountains who have so often
applaaded the words and deeds of Ethan Allen
and Mathew Lyon for freedom, consent longer 10
aid in such metamorphosis of their old party
as this! If they will, let them no longer pirate
about the democracy of Jefferson for his creed
and theirs will be wider than the poles asundcr
But we are heartily reoiced to SEQ this open
handed;platform, and equally rejoiced at the pros
pect of its being universally adopted by the
South. 1t boldly casts off all DISCUSSES, and
goes, at least, openly for what was before Sc
cretely intended thus depriving Northern Dough
facism of its last subterfuge, and compelling it
to walk up squarely and openly to the support Of
slavery or renounoe its detestable hypocracy. 1t
brings the people of this protested Republic face
to face on the single issue of slavery or freedom,
leaving no chance for lodging, and no alterna.
tive but to take sides for one or the other And
we gladly accept the issue. We fearlessly take
up the gage of battle, and, with the war-cry of
God and Liberty on our lips, move forward to
the struggle.
20, who would All towards grave?
Who so base as be SLAYER
Let him turn and nec."