Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-10
The fool-hardinoss of party once so fair
in their promises, is aptly given in the follow
ing article from the AMERICAN Ballot:
Is Slavery Democratic?

Is Slavery Democratic?
An absurd question this, the reader will
readily declare; but if he belongs to the adj
mnistraton purity, let him pause ere by max
ing such a declaration, he condemns his own
party. 1t is undeniable that the prominent
measures of the Pierce administration have
tended to the strengthening of the slave pow
or, and the extension of the accursed institu-
ton over territory solemnly consecrated to
freedom. To do the first, President Pierce
sent Pierre Soule, a Louisiana disunonist, 10
Spain, to offer 5000, 100000 for Cuba, occu-
pied by catholics entirely ignorent of our sys-
tenn Of government, and the possession of
which would be a curse rather than blessing
to our country; and despatched South Car
olua politician of the same stamp OF Mexico,
to purchase of Santa Anna for $50,000000
the Mesilla Valley, which Congress finally
bought for S10,000,000, and which all who
know anything about the land declare is
worth little or nothing. The design of these
acquisitions is palpaby and unquestionably
the extension Of the area Of slavery, and FILL
clustering movements are on foot, and winkcd
at BY our government, to conquer and annex
Central America and portions Of Mexico for
the same unhoy purpose.
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
by which slavery was forever prohibited North
of certain line, was done that slavery might
90 into the territories and make slave States
of Kansas and Nebraska which would give
the slave power majority in the Senate of
the United States, and thus prevent the sue
cess of any measure which might hereafter be
attempted by the free States in behalf of free
dom. This was denied at the time, though
the intent was evident to every rejecting mind.
But if any at the time doubted, their doubts
must have been removed by subsequent occur
rences. A friend of the administration and
of the Nebraska bill, but who appears not to
have been fully aware Of the administration,
was appointed Governor Of the territory, and
proceeded thither to administer the govern
meut in accordance with the doctrine of
popular sovereignty as he understood it.
The day Of election came on, and with it
came bands of armed desperadoes from Mis-
souri,, who presented themselves at the polls,
and without presenting any claims of resi-
dence in the territory, demanded the right to
vote; and when refused, drove off the Judges
of elections, took possession of the ballot box
es, and then declared elected as representa-
tives Of the territory large number of the
residents of Missouri To the men, thus
chosen, Governor Reeder refused to give GER
tiGcates of election-holding, according to
the terms of the law, that the people of fAe
territory, and not OF Missouri, we're to make
the laws for its government. This gave Of
fence to the Missouri ruffians who demanded
: his recall and President Pierce, who was
deaf to the, call of Governor Reeder for the
interpositon of the authority of the general
government in behalf of the tights of the
people Of the territory, fastened to comply
with the demands Of the vile tools of the
slave power, recalled Governor Reeder, and
appointed as his successor a contemplate
doughface whose first act on arriving in the
territory was to declare himself in favor of
slavery. The President has also shown his
Partially for shareholders by appointing as
officers such men as Stringtelow, and his
ploOu-InlrsVy asSoclateS, VINO 10 ali Sucn cow
ardly rufiaus dare to drive free State men
from the territory.
A few years ago the democratic party in
this State, in the Legislature in conventions
caucuses and primary meetings, declared it
was unaiteraby opposed to the extension of
slavery; last year the doctrine was acguits-
cence in the repeal of the Missouri restriction,
while approval Of the measure was ignored
as party test. Now, orders come from
head quarters that all who pretend to be DEM
ocrats must give their unqualified approval of
all the strengthening measures of the ad-
ministration. In view OF these facts we
again put the question, especially to demo-
erats-Is slavery democratic