The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-28

NINE CHEERS FOR FREE SPEECH, FREE
KANSAS, AND FREMONT!
To the Editor of the North Star:
DEAR SIR:-You attempt to evade the
force Of my reasoning by asking few ques-
tions You ask if have no tears to shed o.
yer the faults of the Republicans in calling
the Democratic the Loco foco, or Border Ruff
fan party. The term loco-foco, | believe,
was assumed by the democrats themselves,
and has nothing in it very derogatory. As
to the term Border Ruffian, admit it is not
very complimentary, and If your party do
not deserve the name, the Republicans should
b. highly censured for their want of good
breeding. suppose you agree with me that
the Missourians who molested the free people
of Kansas, destroyed their property, control
led their elections, and murdered inoffensive
citizens. deserve the name OF border rufliars.
Well. has not your party countenanced these
murderous proceedings The President, to
be sure, has ordered troops there, but not to
protect the people from violence, but to com
pei them to submit to a government more
despo:ic than any this side the Atlantic o.
cean; thus unfolding these rufiians in their
barbarous warfare against justice and every
principle Of freedom and humanity And
YOU, sir, have not 80 much as uttered one
word Of dissent from this dastardly and des-
potic course of the President On the con-
trary, you approve the measures, and call
those who disagree with YOU, enemies of the
government, and unworthy the name of true
republicans. Now, with these facts before
Us. are we not justified in calling your party
the "border ruilian" party: What name
more appropriate? If lassociate with rob-
bers. and uphold their deeds of plumber and
bloodshed, what better am than they? If
|, by my speech, or money. or other agency
encourage a mob or invading army, am not
responsible for the consequences All this
you ant: your party are doing to destroy the
liberty of speech, of suffrage, and of the
press. to extend the system OF oppression O.
yer free territory, and to murder inoflcnsive
citizens.
But you turn the tables upon me, and say,
I'VE call you lack republicans. and we have
reason for doing so, because your principal
concern is about the black race within our
borders" Very we'll; we call your party
the border rufan party, because it is op.
pressing an unofending and feeble people
and winking at, if not approving. their de-
struction. You call our party the black re-
publican party, because We are engaged in
deeds of mercy-because we would lessen
the area of oppression, and extend the blcs.
sings of freedom. Both are terms Of re.
proach, and are meant by those who use them
as terms Of degradation. But can you see
no difference in the propricty of using these
appellations One has its origin in rarinf
and blood, the other in works OF Justice and
benevolence. The first would bring to a
bloody and inglorious end this great Republic
the second strengthen its foundations and
perpetuate its blessings. And where do VT
find you, in these times of national turmoil
and corruption? Battling for freedom, OF
oppression Lahoring to elevate the poor
down trodden outcasts of humanity. or to
forge heavier and stronger chains to perpet
uate their bondage? Cheering and assisting
those who would restrict the extension Of tn,
curse, or using the arguments of Southern
administers? Alas, as said in my first ar
ticIe, we find you stigmatizing those who
would succor the oppressed, and save our ma
ton from disgrace md ruin. What will the
despotic governments of the old world think
Of you and your patrons? Will they TO,
hail you as fellow-Iaborers in the dirty work
Of uprootinc the principles of freedom, and
strengthening the bulwarks of their own a
ristocrafic and despotic empires? Will they
not tell their subjects that YOU have tried .
republican government to your hearts con
tent, and finding it impracticable and un
wise. you have repudiated it. and are now
the friends of kings, emperors, monarch.
and aristocrats
But your favorite party sectionalism ant
Southern sympathies Just as il a man wa
justified in his actions, if he only goes Will
his party! This is placing your party on tn,
high ground of infallibIity, or suhiectin.
yourself to the imputstion of doing wron.
because others do wrong. You have CON,
with the democratic party too long to aban
dor them now, have you? If you had sal,
that you still 60 with them because you be
Iieve their principles, there would be les
reason to question the soundness of your DO
lit'cal course for the past few years.
There sometimes lie deep within the hu
man heart, principles of benevolence an,
sound common sense, that would contradict
mans daily conduct, we're their utteranc
not sealed BY some darling worldly policy
Whether your estrangement from the best in
terests Of the nation can be accounted for !,
this way, 10 question not difficult of solu
. ton by those not blinded or hardened by pa,
ty ties and worldly policy.
Sectionalism is another great evil to b
3 dreaded BY the Editor of the Star. You in