The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-09-17
The Presidential Issues.


tually but two parties, in the pending
Presidential contest The South under
stand it, and have already clearly shown
their determination to present united
front for Buchanan. Some Slavohoding
States seemed for while, disposed to 60
for Fillmore. Wo,even believed. at one
time, a portion of them would do so.
But as the campaign goes on, the signs
grow more and more unmistakablc, that
they will do no such thing. And the
reason is plain. Those Southern men
who prefer Fillmore are willing to take
Buchanan, if necessary to accomplish
their objects: aud the August elections
showed them conclusively, that there is
no alternative
Northern men cannot fail to see with
equal clcarness, that the Presidential
contest is narrowed down to one all en-
crossing subject. The Union is not in
danger, unless it be by sacrificing those
very principles on which our constitu-
ton and government are founded. If
the Union can only be preserved by Civ
ing unbridlcd rule to the advocates and
propagators of that atrocious institution
which recognizes property in human
bodies ard souls, then indeed is the
union in danger. And who would have
it otherwise? Union saving, at such an
expense, is a miserable prctext, for any
citizen of Free State. The man who
advocates it will be generally suspected
to want common sense, or else common
honesty. To say that no lacks manly
principle, clear convictions of right and
duty, or any just sense of political libcr
ty and human Freedom, can hardly be
deemed uncharitable.
The issues in this election are plaiu
and distinct, They all relate to the
question Of Slavery. No other subject
is seriously thought of, either north or
south, All other issues have vanished,
for the time. a: least. in this overshad
owing. pressing question of the extension
of Slavery and the rule Of Slavery in
our land o tai, turns the election of
Fremont or i tchanan. There is no
middle ground There is no possibility
of installing what will be the result in
either case Both candidates have ex
prcssly taken tho ground assigned them
by their rartizans on hese points
grounds exactly opposite to each other
No man who forms an opinion of his
own, will lie misled. Tho reason i.
plain. No honest man Of common in
telIigence. will mislead his less inform ed
neighbor. Ev en- party prejudice cannot
blind the most Jealous partzan. The
slavery propagondi-ts of the South. will
90 in body for Buchanan. Their op
ponents at the North will 60 as unani
mously for Fremont. And both parties
understand their men
A rote far Etmont, is vote fol
Freedom in Kansas. 1t is a rebuke tc
the slavery propa eating policy, of The
present Administration. 1t is n con
domination of tho pcrflious act, which
annuled the only anti-slavery feature
of the Missouri Compromise, after its
whole pro.slavcry object had been at
tanned. 1t is protest against any
farther extension of slavery within the
limits Of this republic. 1t is an ex
pressed desire for the subsection of slav
cry, in our government, and for The
predominance OF Freedom. 1t is dec
laration to the south, that the principle:
o. even the Southern revolutionary ia
theirs have been thrust aside to no per
manent effect, but that we are deter
mined to retain the principles o
Washington and Jefferson. Such is the
general tendency and meaning Of a vote
for Fremont. A majority of clectora
votes in favor of Fremont, will secure
these objects.
| A rote for buchanan, is a vote fol
subjecting Kansas to Slavery, establish
cd at the point Of the bayonct. 1t cal
have no other tendency, so far as tina
question is concerned. That is thu
great point of effort at the south. The
election of Buchanan is sought by tn,
south for this very purpose. Such 1
vote is an endo rsemebt of the Pierc,
Administration, with all its enormities
an approval of the repeal of the Nilsson
ri Compromise, q deliberate act of as
sent to the extension Of slavery int
our territories ; and the predominant
of the slave oligarchy in our politica
affairs AN utter departure from tn
fundamental principles of our govern
mont; and reputation of the mos
cherished PRINCIPLES, of Washington ant