Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-03-20
The Signs of the Times.

The Signs Of the Times.
1t has been the fashion with the admins
tration journals of the north, to speak OF
the Republican party as a thing of q day.
They have represented it as domains
gourd, forced into existence to serve tenn
porary purpose, and stimulated to an unna-
tural growth by politicians and parsons
an organization which from the nature Of
things could not outlast more than single
campaign, destined, like the American
party, where it has gone up rocket speed
lily to come down a stick Since election
their columns have teemcd with invitations
to the deserters from theDemocratic ranks,t to
return into the camp, now that the new par
ty was laid out cold. Perhaps some Of the
leaders of the party Of Slavery, who threat
ened " we will subdue YOU, have thought
that pleasant task already done And
doubtless many of the men who voted for
" Buchanan andFree Kansas have believed
that by his election the slavery question was
settled, the agitation quoted, the extension
ofSlavery as good as stopped and sectional
ism" put finally to sleep. Possibly even
some wayside Republican, if any such
there be, who enlisted but for one battle,
deluded by the temporary lull in Kansas,
thinking her admission as Free State sure,
and that with her admission the South
would relnquish its aggressive schemes has
stopped and looked around to SIC where he
could place himself in the new arrange
ment of parties.
The men of solid Judgment and honest
purpose who form the mass If the Republic
can, party have known better than all this.
They engaged in the struggle with slavery,
understanding the grasping nature. the stub
born persistency and desperate determine
ton of the power they had to contend with,
and well aware that the contest must be Il
long one. Though defeated in the past ma
tional encounter, they have felt cheered by
the vigor and frmness exhibited by the
young party of Freedom,-a firmness which
shows that it rests upon foundation of
living principles--and they have commence
ed already, with hopeful determination, to
prepare Tor the next trial.
The signs Of the times already indicate
with sufficient dstinctness, which view Of
the matter is the correct one. 1t is plain
that the Republican party is not to die for
want of work We have an administration
composed of the champions of Slavery and of
doughflces, if possible, yet more completely
in the Southern interest. The President
places himself on the side Of Slavery. lie
denies the right Of Congress, or Of the in
habitants of the territories, to prohibit
Slavery therein. His inaugural has hardly
died away from his lips, when it is resron-
ded to by decision OF the final tribunal Of
the nation declaring Slavery national. 49,
Freedom has nothing to hope for from the
next Congress.
While all is thus dark at Washington
there is not much of cheer to be gained by
looking at Kansas. Many seem TO think
the freedom OF Kansas practically secured
but we fear that things there are working
rather for slavery. The act passed by the
territorial legislature over GOV Geary's
veto, cal inE convention to frame
Il constitution, directs the >hcrn,-,ll OIL
GERS of the bogus legislature, Of course.
such as Jones and Shrrrlrl-tp take the
census wuich decides who shall vote and
further provides thlt the constitution formed
by this convention SHALL >pr nt srnWlrri u
TO TIE PEOPLE
Wa l.or h . M;--.,,,,i Ia,