Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-07-20
Geographical Parties.

The Administration journals nre constant
ly harping upon sectional distinctions and
geographical parties, as specially favored by
all who resist a course of policy in national
affairs which works to strengthen the greatest
sectional distinction and the most postiue
geographical party which ever did or ever
can exist in the nation. According to their
talk, it is only by allowing the SiorchoiSing
sect and the geographical party of the Stare
States, to have their own way in all things
which can make them more powerful in the
nation, that the welfare of the body polite
can be promoted On this absurd doctrine
the Boston Atios well remarks
Nor must it be forgotten, that while our
ancestors were engaged in the establishment
of the government, it was universally adj
mitted that slavery required apology, and
was hostile to the genius Of those institu
tions which were contemplated. From the
very beginning it was source of discord and
distrust. There are those who represent hos
| tility to slavery az an emotion Of modern
origin, but readers of our early history know
better than this. While, in the infancy of
the republic, slavery made important de-
mands and freedom no less important conces
sions, it was felt by both parties that the ex-
| istcnce of serflom was its sole apology, and
the difficulty of removing it, its sole defence
1t was left in the States in which it was
already established, but everything tends to
show that it's extension was not anticip ated
and still less designed. That, indeed, was an
after project suggested by the increasing love
of emigration, and by the bitter barrcnness
which slavery everywhere cntaied upon the
old States in which it existed. The world
! knows our history since. IL knows how
steadily the Southern States of this cOniede-
racy, in all the blaze of the nineteenth GEN.
fury illumination, have insisted not upon
the development and expansion OF the great
ideas of republcanism which are to us q
precious hcI1taSo, DuI upon the introduction,
into new Commonwealth, of system Of vas
salage similar, in all its essential character
istics, to that which prevailed in Europe be-
fore religion had touched the heart, before
learning had expanded the understanding OF
man. To promote this most extraordinary
enterprise it has seized upon the government
and controlled its domestic and foreign policy
1t has named the Presidents it has organ
lied the Cabinets it has appointed the
Judges it has domineered over Congresses
it has acquired new territory by conquest
it has tramplcd upon the laws it las
. broken sacred conpactG; it has claimed I'll,
army . II hda crowded the nnvy--in ever
department of public service, civil, military
judicial, it has made itself felt and felt fol
evil. We do not complain Of its sleeplest
vigilance We do not wonder at its constant
. jealousy Of freedom. These are natural, jus
us slavery is unnatural. But we do wonde
that Northern men, who know the value o
freedom and the utter worthlessness Of slave
ry, should be found willing to talk of " geo
graphical PARTIES when the men of the ire
States seek to arrest this lapse Of the Re
public into n barbarsm unworthy of thu
: middle ages. Have we no stake in this mucl
,auntcd Union Have we not something t.
preserve Are we to content ourselves will
a mockery and delusion ARE VIC to tall
Of freedom when there is no freedom AR
f we, for the sake Of temporary peace, to b
dragged down to decay and ruin All his
tory cautions us-the experience of the rae
speaks to MS trumpet ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS warn
us-reason calls to us-relgion demands o
us manly defence of two or three PROPOSE
tions, which are eir-looms of freedom an
have come down to us as sacred traditions
> And we must hold our peace, because pro
test would disturb few pensioners upon tn
public treasury, Does history tell us Of
, cause SO great resisted by agents so utter
contemplate