Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-09-13


enemies sometimes call II, an abolition party,
though mos, OF its members-probably all
dislike slavery, aud would gladly see the conn-
try fairly rid OF it, The only abolitlonIs's IN
the country are the people who agree with Mr..
Garrison, and who do not hesitate TO avow their
hostility 20 the Union, and their desire to over
throw the Constitution OF the United states,
an INSTRUMENT Of government OF which they
speak in terms anything but complimentary.
They do not speak much worse OF the Union
and The Constitution in South Carolina than you
will hear them speak OF the same things IN our
abolition meetings. A Palmetto an OF July
dinner and an abolition meeting IN Massachu-
sets might be exchanged without any but care
iui observers being able IL note the difference.
But "abolitionism' has no existence among the
mass Of the people IN the free States, where
there exists, even now, stronger and more
dcepiy-rooted prejudice against people OF color
than truly liberal-minded man could consider
possible, 10 view ct the progress that opinion
has made during the seventy odd years since
slavery ceased to have legal existence in this
State. Massachusetts is probably as free from
this prejudice as any State in the Union, yet
that it has no existence here. The coored
man has not The same legal status here that is
enjoyed by the white man, though the latter
may be Of foreign birth, and the former have
an American ancestry distinctly traceable
through several generations. lie cannot be d
jurymau or soldier, though his mind may be
admirably adapted 10 the weighing Of evidence,
and his valor Of proof II he we're elected
member Of the State Senate or the House of
Representatives, or TO any other public office.
he probably would never be allowed to take
place which he might be eminen,ly well oual.
flied to fill for though there is no law forbid.
ding him 10 hold any office, opiniun would be
so decidedly against his taking it, that he would
best consult his own happiness by refusing the
honor. There is now no law here forbidJina
the intermarriage of blacks and whites, vet
marriages between members of The Two races
are very rare with us, and when one occurs il
either is ridiculed or excites sensations Of dis
gust. We mention these ficis by way Of H.
lusiraton, our object being to show that the
charge Of negrophobia that is often made against
Massachusetts, has no foundation. 1t is very
common with Southern men coarsely to charge
us with "niggerism," and to assert that in our
political action we are actuated only by love
for the African race, the legitimate conclusion
from which is, that we are abolitonisis, what
ever we may say to the contrary. The charge
IS uniounded, and there is an amount Of preju-
dice here against negroes that renders il ludi-
erous IN the eyes OF those who are acquainted
with the true condition Of opinion in the North.
we sincerely regret the existence Of this pref
udice, and wonder that so many men should be
affected by 1t; for it is far from being confined
10 the ignorant, and is often expressed by men
VINO nave much more than ihe average share
81 intelligence.
The Fremont party has been called into ex-
'ssence, not through the spread Of the abolition I
sentiment, bat through the arrogance Of the |
pro-slavery men. In 1859, General Pierce was
chosen President by the electoral votes of 81
States, including those Of all the great States, /
and BY very large plurality of the popular
vote, and respectable majority Of that vote. !
Inc wing parry broke up, and there was eyin- I
ced on all sides very general disposition to
give Inc new Administration fair trial, and,
IL the event should prove it deserving, liberal
support. IL mere was any thing that the great
mass Of the people were sick Of, it was "slav- |
cry agitation" whether proceeding from North 4
err abolIionists or from Southern secessonists
Observing this state of opinion and misiakine
IL for indifference 10 freedom, and encouraged
by the disappearance of the Wing party from 1
the political field, Mr.. Douglas commenced that
crusade in behalf of slavery extension which
has had 50 remarkable an effect on American
politics. Mr. Douplss's ahirr. ,r.- ,,.. -.
every reason to believe, to drive Presiden,
Pierce FROM the chieflaincy Of the Democra,ic
party, and, what was then the same Thing. the
headship Of the country. He thought Thai the /
South would he grateful for the repeal Of the |
Missouri Compromise, and that the North would
be indifferent TO it. He thought, too. tina, the
President would oppose the repeal, and SO " onlI
be overthrown. What happened, showed that
he was but a shallow Judge Of American min. |
lou aud Of the Presidents character Tho /
President, as ignorant as the Illinois Senator
Of public sentiment in the free State, instead