Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-12-19

ton against that party. trust there VIII
be found on all future occasions If we are
ever 10 undergo the ordeal from which we
nave recently emerged, northern sonii-
mont sound upon this question OF coustiiu'
uona powor-sound as we OF the South
esteem IL, who, in union with the Sonth' VIII
have il in their power for ages 70 come TO
perpeuate Union that must otherwise pe
destroyed.
can we'll understand, therefore, Why the
honorable Senator says as matter OF gtat-
uation TO those who think with hlm' mat
this is the last message which Is TO c'nahale
from lis source. ! should nope thni 'ne
trnths which cmanate from that paper viii
reach the northern mind and that ihey wll
unite. in common, patriotic interest and
nnrnoso TO come back to the Constitution
which our fathers framed, and TO which we
are parties-to come back to that Consli'n.
ton. and TO administer it lcgiumately, aud
givo 10 the South what The South IS entitled
To. while the North and West OBTAIN What
they are entitled 10. Orif il be that they
really entertain on honest and CONSCIENTIOUS
conviction that they cannot remain ~ union
with Us, let them propose a separation fairly
and openly; but while the contract is there,
keep IL. / hold the most essential part OF
that contract to the South, now falling into
a minority. 10 be, that t shall be kept toward
the minority 100 honorable faith, and Tint
every element of political power % guamn-
tied to them shall be fairly and honopbly
conceded.
Now, sir, | have said not one word Of dis
respect or of discourcsy toward the party
which has been arrayod against the South
] in the late election do not mean TO do
so; 1t would not become me- Ihey constl-
tute a purt Of the American people with
whom we are 100 bonds OF association, ana !
/ have no right to question their motives.
do not question them; but do question their
/ political purposes. say that, when the
/ passions Of the day hnye subsidized tins
country, and the world looking on, VIII pay
/ tbor of his nossage and to the great prip-
clinics which he has thore prouounded.
II ''.o '"' '''''' o"
Mr.. FEsstNpEN OF Name. ne hohora-
bic Senator ron virginia W.T. MASON hhs
/ placed, IN hls speech, the real issue before
the people IN ITS true character and 10 PLAIN
words. om glad he has done So and !
must be allowed TO say, with my Trend from
Ono, that 1t that issue had been presented
to the people of the free States end avowed
by those who supported the same candidate
whom you supported, and who was success
iul, | do not believe there is free State in
this Union in which the Democratic party
would have left trace of lis existence. In
my State i was said, over and over again,
by the leading men who advocated the cleo
tlon Of Mr.. Buchanan. that there was no
difference between the two parties with re-
ference to the extension of slavery over
free territory. They claimed TO be as strong
and as firm on that subject, and IN the desire
to make Kansas a free State as did the Re
8 pubhcans of the State of Maine. So ii was
{ universally, as far as | know anything about
1t, in the free States Gentlemen need not
, ilat,er themselves, therefore, that that issue
his been presented and decided in lhc free
States. II we did so much without b.; If
we did so much with and in opposition 10
, the acts and principles of this Adminsm-
/ ton alone if what was done, Whit was
, said, and what was admitted, could carry the
old democratic State of Maine by minority
of more than twenty-five thousand votes.
and the Democratic State of Michigan, rep
resented here in part by the distinguished
Senator near me. mir. CAssl by nearly
twenty thousand votes, what would have
happened in those two States if the senti-
ment which has been stated and advocated
BY the Senator from Virginia had been open
ly advocated before the people there? Sir
there would have been hardly vestire left
of what is called the Democratic party in
either of those States. or in any other free
State in this Union.
What Is that doctrine? The senator
from Virginia claims that the Constitution
I recognizes the existence of slnyery as an
existing institution.
Grant it so it does by clear implication.
/ lie claims that it comedies to il certain po-
ltcal power. grant that also it provides
for and gives it political power He clains
that to be a contract. | iran, that also. and
con,roc, IN bo r,oir,oi,eJ Sir roc,J,a,o
the idea of mn, in,ention. an tho mar, If tbo
Rennhlicon n1,iy IN in,erfaro in any sbsro
I with that Contract, or with any Of the loglt-