Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-24
IN. 3.

MIR. rOH.-Mhcn our fathers Droicrt
cd union Of the slave States and free ioio ono
brotherhood they acted IN the belief thattbe
days of slavery would soon be numbered
and that there would be a harmony Of uter'
csts between the North and the South Ne
With large accession of experience teaching
as that slavery contains a vigorous princlps
Of life, propagation, and perpatuity ought 10
be wiser than they. Ii they said No slavery
outside Of the slave States, We should saw
No slavery ANYWHERE. lC they though, Of
caging the monster, we should hunt II down
and destroy II. What would they haye
thought Of your local evil, had they ioresecn
that, instead Of pning away, IL would grow
nightly aud become The ruling power II the
nation Would they not have decided a,
once that nothing but the removal Of tfst
evil would make the ultimate success of our
grand republican experiment practical
Slavery IS the anti of government II or.
ganses into strength and system what rov.
eminent designs 10 remedy. 1t does net pre,
vent wrong. but concentrates Il upon cias,
furnishing another cas- with flc.iiues FIR
injecting il. In short, Il arms the stronr
against the weak for purposes of injustice
Instead Of protecting the weak against out.
rage from The strong To connect such
system with another system designed Oh o..
ublish justice, provide FOR the general nc-
fare, and secure the blessings of liberty. rs 20
make sure provision tor detect llitch ono
team 20 one end OF the load and another @,
ITS opposite end, set the teams drawing IN
opposite directions, aud YOU wall have good
illustrations of the best working which coud
be reasonably hoped for from such a conpec-
iion. ion may call the team which draws
the wrong way a local evA, Il you please
but, unless you unhilch %, sour other team
will be local too II % does not run backward.
Were the contest between slavery and D..
pubhcansm equal, the danger would be t,lt
Of kingdom divided against itself. But IN
a contest of tbs kind equality Is out of the
question. Such Is the strong bent OF the
human character and Of all society 10 dcs-
potisin, that republican government, working
against The general tendency, must always
be- IKE team ;hat tugs zap hl; while dcs-
poism or slayery has the advantage Of draw
ing down the slope. We have learned from
experience. what is phIlosophcaly evident,
that such antagonists cannot work together
except by compromises. Every compromise
too must OF necessity be something lost 10
The righ, and gained TO the wrong.
Now, the Burlington platform, while it
discards further compromises proposes what
It regards as just settlement, between the
slave states and free. desire to know how
such now and wonderful thing can he
brought about. II we Of ;he North are smart
at making pccuuay bargains about slavery,
aud u with such experience of bad iauh, we
are willing 70 trust her DOB another settlement,
We ought not 10 trust ourselves. The very
term, Of settlement proposed m the platform
IL proof Of readiness o. De cheated, sgajn.
If IN effect SAYS 10 the South, Trusting 10
your honor aud good faith, we propose that
YOU be content u hold fast what YOU have
got and remain where YOU are, and We on
our part will respect The justice of your claims
and cease TO disturb you. True YOU have
by dlshonorablc means obtained large cx-
tent Of ground which by 80 right was youis !;
but since you have outWiitel Us aud got o.,
we yield il az your due. Now, what is ,hrs
but submlssvely proposing a compromise
If waves all the advantages which The fed
cral government holds for cnsctng the abo.
tioR of slavery, and intend to show ~
future number that those advantages arc
worth something. WA the South agree To
terms so accommodating Not she indeed.
We shall sooner settle by yielding half Of
Nebraska, aud she wil! abide such settle
ment TN she wants the other half
But suppose we effect permanent settle,
ment on the terms Of the platform, wdl
slavery then cease its antagonlsm against tho
great ends OF government and learn TO haT-
nonlze with the best interests oflho country z
No such thing. 1t will be slavery still, grown
to huge stature, and mighty to do ovl In
short, no wise action Can be taken but to
; seek IT'S removal. Is It's removal by federal
action impossible; We viii attend TO this
question another tine. Meanwhile let US
, not attempt the greater lmposslbihly OF max
ing opposnes harmonze, or dream Of tanning
the tiger that we have not power to destroy.
5.