The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-03-10


mere victory and the spoils. Thus as the
political contest now being vaged, wakes
warmer, and men are nerved with heroic
energy to withstand the aggressions Of
Slavery, is there and increased necessity
of vigorous efforts to infuse into the con.
test the Christian clement. tt is the salt
needed to preserve from corruption.
l do not discountenancep party organizs.
tion or party effort I rejoice that a
party is formed to resist the ageressions Of
Slavery. pray that it may be success
ful. 1t shall not want my humble coop.
GRAFTON. But have very little hope that
it will succeed, unless it shall feel high.
er inspiration than can be drawn from
motives of political ezpedency, If mere
politicians, lusting for Office, should, in an
evil hour, get possession Of the party ma
chinery, and control its movements, l
should look for no Anti-Savery triumph
which would not involve the terrible corr.
pensaton of deep and widespread politi-
cal corruption. 1t might DO long before
the victorious Republican party would be.
come as corrupt as the present dominant
political party has become in the twenty.
nine years Of its downhill progress but
without the conservative influence of which
I have spoken it would, most assurcdly,
90 in the same direction. And what q
direction! What result | eau hard.
ly imagine lower deep Of corruption
than has been reached. 1 feel deeply the
aggressions of the Slavc-Power; but they
are not, in my judgement, moro danger
Gus than the growth and consolidation Of
the dominant party, with the President Of
the United States controlling its move
ments, and enforcing his behests by hold
ing the rod Of removal over the heads Of
forty thousand ofice-hoders. stationed in
every city and village throughout the
country while Executive favors are the
well.known bounties for enlistment in bis
service.
What continuation here rises 70 our
view! The overbearing domineering,a.l-
grasping Slave-Power, joined to tb.
chronic corruption of 4 great Central
Government, sending the pestiential in
Auence Of party patronage to the re-
motest extremeties of tho Union. Op-
preston and corruption combining to cen
solidate their joint empire over a land
consecrated by Revolutionary blood, to
purity and freedom
There seems indeed Just now, some
prospect that this combined power may be
broken. Confusion has been sent into its
counsels. The author Of the wicked re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise recoils
from the result to which the Slave-Power
has pushed its pretensions, under that re-
peal and he now stands in a position of
antagonism to the Administration that 10
attempting to force a Slavery Constitution
on Kansas, in fragrant disregard Of the
clearly expressed will of its people. I fer
vently pray that this breach may never bs
healed but am going to wait while
before I indulge an assured hope that it
will not be healed The Slaye. Poses-
nav get more than an equ'valsut fo'
this unexpected opposition, IN other con
cessions 10 its cla,msl IF such copces,
sions can be made with sofety 10 tie par.
tn, they scW be made. Its leaders have
no hostility to Slavery, which is not en-.
tirely subordinate to an all-absorbing de.
sire to sustain the party, with its rank
corruptions, and the prestige of its name.
am thankful for all the aid derived from
mere politicians, from appeals to selfish
ness, and from the divided counsels ofthose
who make merchandise Of politics t.; but
here is not the main reliance. There will
be no safety in The approaching storm.
but in the sheet anchor of Christian Prin-
ciple. If understand the object Of your
meeting, it is to hoit on TO tbs anchor.
In this am with you fully and bearti-
ly bid you God speed.
Yours for Truth and The Right,
WILLIAM SLApE