The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-08-01
Address of the American Party to
the People of Vermont.


at Philadelphia, demands, as we think,
the State Council of the American Par
ty of Vermont, to present an address to
their fellow citizens, embodying and de.
claring, as briefly as consistent, their
views upon the great questions so deep
ly agitating the public mind at thc pres
ent time.
1t is well known, that platform EN-.
bracing the principles Of the majority CT
the National Council was adopted Mt
Philadelphia, and published to tho world,
bearing the signatures of its officers.
This platform. among other thugs laid
down, embraces theories and doctrines up
on The subject of American Slavery ut
terly at war with the spirit and feeling
of the American Party of this State
rcpugnant to the Federal Constitution,
at war with the highest interests Of our
State and Nation, and subvcrsive of the
happiness of our race.
With this declaration, supported,a ,as we
think, by the facts in the case, We deem
it duty we owe to ourselves, our coun-
try, and to postcrity-a duty rendered
sacred from the obligations resting upon
US, and the oaths VIC have taken as free.
men to support the Constitution of our
country, and to resist any and all at
tcmpts to weaken its force and power, to
sustain and perpctuate the blessings of
Civil and Religious Liberty through all
the States Of the National Confedctacy
to declare our undying hostility to that
nOlIfinnl thnnrv apA Iontr,,a th,,
question of Slavery, embrpced in tho
platform of the majority Of the National
Council. To justify this position, and
warrant this declaration, it becomes ne
cessary to examine in detail the PROPOSE
tions of the majority platform alluded to.
One resolution asserts that the A.
mcrican Party having arisen on the ruins
and in spite of the opposition of the
Wbig and Democratic parties. cannot bo
held In any manner responsible for tho
obnoxious acts or violated pledges of
either" The State Council of Vermont
does not acknowledge the truth of this
proposition in its fullest extent.
That the American Party has arisen
on the ruins and in spite Of the oppoSi.
tion of tho Wing and Democratic par
ties, is undcniably true but that it eau
not be held IN any man,,er responsible
for the obnoxious acts or violated pledges
Of either, is equally as untrue. That
these parties have been the chief instru-
mcntalitics and agencies in fastening up.
on the Nation the obnoxious acts Of
slavery extensionists and propagandists,
no one acquainted with the politics Of
our country can doubt.
The American party, if placed in pow
er, would be responsible to the people
for tho repeating of thcsS " acts obnoxi.
Jus to tho spirit Of the Constitution.
and making good the violated pledges Of
both of these parties, thus regarding tho
Constitution as the fundamental law. and
the sacredness of constitutional pledge
to be KEEP, inviolatc and intact. Less
than this, would fail to satisfy our own
views of public justice, and tho demands
of an enlightened public opinion. Any
and all systems of political policy that
failed 10 accomplish this result, you'd
only render future contracts OF no more
binding force than ropo of sand. II
would 60 far to further undermine tho
fair fabric of national virtue and public
faith. creating general distrust in tho
virtue aud integrity Of the pcoplo, and
laying broad and deep tho foundations
for national dishonor and disgrace.
Further, the majority of tho National
Council assert A" that tho systematic agi.
taiion Of the Slavery question by those
parties having elevated sectional hostili.
ty into a positive element of political
power, aud brought our institutions into
peril, it has therefore become the imper.
atvo duty Of the American party to in.
terftre for the purpose of giving peace 10
the country, and perpetuity to the Tn.
iou." To this We yield a hearty assent.
But VIC fail to see how tho platform of
the majority Of the National Council will
accomplish the desirable result " OF Civ.
ing peace 70 tho country aud pcrpetuity
to the Union" when it asserts that that
party canuot be hold IN any manner re.
sponslble for tho obnoxious acts and
violated pledges" Of the old parties, that
have iu their tendency aud result brought
this union into the peril - aud created
thls " sectional hostility.
Slavery has ever been the disturbing
element of this nation Its antagonisni
to liberty, uud its oeaseless efforts to ex.
tend its influence Ey bringing new States
into this Union with slavery recognized
in their Constitutions. and building it,
self up on tho ruins of liborty, has of ue
ecssity created in the miuds of liberty
loving freemen, q spirit Of undying hos
tility to its further extension and iu.
crease of power. 1t has secured tho pas.
sage Of acts obnoxious to the funda.
mental law Of tho land, and violated tho
most solemn compacts aud pledges made
by the fathers of our government and
yet the majority of tho National COM.
Gil tell us We nrs not in any manner re.
ponsiblc for these obnoxious acts aud
violated pledges. Rather, should they
have told the nation. if they failed OF
discharging their duty to God and the
world, is we neglect doing al in our pow
er to repeal acts SO obnoxious to every
sense Of public justice and humanity. SO
utterly AT war with tho great principles
of right and truth, is We neglect to reaf.
firm the pledges made in good faith and
honor, that we stand before the universe
dishonored of high Heaven, and sustain.
ing the disreputssie position Of nation
at war with the great principles aud doc.
trines Ofthe Declaration of Independence.
But further. the majority Of the Nation