Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-08
ADDRESS
Adopted by the Democratic RepuJ-
hcdns assembled at Syracuse,
". Y, JuIU "a, 1856.

~ y, Juty "a, 1856.
FELLow- -DGMocRATs: The time
has come for Democrats to declare
their independence of those packed
conventions which have lately as
sumed to dictate the measures and
the candidates of the Democracy.
That party of glorious memory,
which once spoke and acted for free
dom, has fallen into the hands of Of
flee holders and political adventur-
ers, serving as the tools oI IA siaye-
holding oligurchy. For more than
ten years the measures Of the Cen
eral Government have been directed
mainly TO the increase Of Slave
States. One measure has followed
upon another, each bolder than the
last, until we have violence ruling
the Federal Capital, and civil war
raging in the territories.
For the contamination OF each
measure, the yenaI have been pur-
chased, the limid frightened by
threats Of disunion, the peace-loving
soothed by promises of future quiet
ness, and the reluctant and resisting
silenced or overborne by the clamor
and force of party. Each success
has led to a new aggression, until
at last the weak man now at the
head of the Government, stimulated
by Senator from Illinois, in rival
~ for Presidential nomination, and
believing the best means of reaching
1 1t was to secure tho entire Southern
vote, and the best means OF obtain
ing that, now saorifoe to slavery,
attempted to force through Congress
the repeal of an existing law, by
which compromise had been effec-
ected by our fathers more than a
third OF century past. These rival
demngogues succeeded in efiecting
the repeal, though they lost their re-
ward.
By this act of crime, unparalleled
even in our day of political crimes,
one of the iairest regions of our
country, and, indeed, of the world,
has been converted into field oi
battle, where citizens of a common
country are lighting with each other
for the introduction or exclusion OF
human servilude. Such another
spectacle the world does not present.
Aud the end of it is dependent upon
the event OF Presidential election.
To excuse themselves, the authors
of the measure put forth the plea,
that the people of the territories had
the right to govern themselves. If
this were true, il would not have
justified the Kansas-Nebraska act,
for that was mere abandonment Of
Congressional lnterposition 10 favor
Of Presidential interposition, leaving
the law-makIng power 10 the people,
but reservlng the executive and Judi
cial to the President or his nomine es.
1t was an abdica,ion by Congress of
its legislative functions in favor of the
executive.
But the plea was as untrue in fact
as it was unworthy in motive. They
who put it forth have already aban-
doncd it. The Senate have passed
bill proposing to annul some oi the
most obnoxious acts Of these law
makers, and the authors OF the mis-
chief, shrinking from the consequent
ces of their own acts, and forgetting
that others will remember their ter
giyersaton, attempt TO escape some
of the condemnation by undoing a
part of the evil.
Ii the people of the territories have
the night 10 govern themselves, they
will make their governors and Judg-
es as well as their Legislators. lfthey
have not the right, Congress has it !;
and if Congress las it, IL must be ex-
ercised according to the judgment
aud conscience of the country. The
true question therefore is, what legis-
lalion on the subject Of slavery in
the Territories do the judgment and
conscience of the country require
The present question is, indeed,
narrower than that, for 1t relates
merely 10 the Territories of Kansas
and Nebraska. These, the legisla-
ton OF Congress, perfected in 1920
by the votes of the North and South
chiefly Sou,h-solemnly and for
ever set apart as free soil. That
dedication of the soil to Liberty the
degeneracy of the present day has
annulled. And the legislation which
is now required is that which is ne
cessary, whatever it may be, TO make
Kansas free.
This is demanded alike by every
consideration, past, present and fu-
ture. II Kansas, which the past
made free, is now to be changed to
slave, there must be an end oi com
promises and of conciliatory legisla-
lion the faith which prompts one
legislature or one generation 10 re-
spect the engagements of another
must disappear and how long a
government eau be carried on with
out that faith aud confidence, with
out more than written constitutions,
worked by mere malorlles, regard
less of every thing but their own
strength and will, they who have
read history can answer.
IL the present struggle is TO end,
as the Illinois Senator has boosted,
in the subiugation of those who OPP
posed his mischevous bill, then, IN
deed, is the spirit of evil let loose,
intimidation and violence are in the