Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-07-31
What the Democrats did not Do.

cy initiated and carried throug by democratic
administrations. One unacquainted with the
history of the country in reading these self
gratulotions would be very apt to conclude that
to the democratic party the United States are
indebted for their separate and conjoincd exis-
tence. They take all the credit of breaking
down the national bank, an institution thcyush-
cred into existence and supported slong as they
could make anything by it. They claim the in
efIable glory of the sub-treasury, although this
measure was originated by Virginia Wing
They claim to have brought about the odmis-
sion of Texas into the Union, and we presume
they will claim the paternity of the Kansas i'm
broglio. To these last they are justly entitled.
We recolect hearing at meeting of the Blu
chanan democracy in this town, in 1856,
democratic orator claiming that the democracy
deserved well of the country for "wresting
Vancouvcr's Island from the British and annex
ing it to the United States. To be sure this
distinguished orator-a burning and shining
light in the democratic church of this State
was not well posted in geography; but what
then his hearers evidently believed the osser-
ton and it passed current. We allude to this
little matter just to bring to mind case of
what the democracy did not do in a matter
where but for the most culpable Indifference
they might have done a great deal.
Every one remembers the brave watch word
Of "ffty-four, forty, or fight" adopted by the
democratic party during the campaign of 1874.
The Northwestern boundary between the Unit
ed States and the British possessions was then
in dispute, and the democratic convention that
nominated Polk and Dallas, declared that we
owned clear up to ffty-four, forty and that
we would either have the boundary fixed there
peacefully by Great Britain, or fight" her in
case of refusal. The latter government at the
same time declared that the parallel of 40 was
the true boundary, and manifested very de-
cided inclination to stick at that point. Well,
so matters stood in 1914 when the "fftv-four,
forty, or fight party went into power. James
X. Polk, who was then elected President, took
an early opportunity to declare in one of his
messages that our title to the whole of Ore
gon up to fifty-four degrees, forty minutes,
north latitude, was clear and unquestionable.r
The disgraccff and humliating sequel is known
to the whole country. The high sounding
Jr0ggdd'ocio about Fighting" Great Britain was
hushed, and in a short time treaty was con-
summated by President Folks Administration.
under the auspices of Mr.. Buchanan, then Sec
rotary of State, by which our claim above 40
was yielded cthom consideration of anu kind,
and the boundary was fixed Just where Great
Britain declared it should be. 1t was bald.
naked, craven Jdck-down on the part of the Adj
ministration from the arrogant pretentions on
which it went I'M power, and from that day to
this, the supporters of the democratic party
have been ashamed to make any allusion to the
subject. When pressed into discussion of the
matter, all they have hitherto been able to plead
in extenuation of the surrender, was the as
sumed fact that the country coded was cold
barren and valueless, and that the Administra-
ton could not afford to fight for It when they
were at the same time about to engage in
war with Mexico for the extension of our en-
pire Southwark.
The treaty which was made by Mr.. Buchan-
an and ratified by democratic Senate Welded
even more than Great Britain had originally
asked; for besides fixing the continental boun-
Diary at the 10th parallel, it gave up Van
couver's Island, which extends as far South as
As. Only a dozen years have elapsed since that
treaty was formed, and the eyes of the whole
world are turned upon the region then surren-
dered by the democratic Administration to
Great Britain. The whole territory between 40
and 81 is found to be one vast field of gold but
the auriferous product belongs not to us. BY
the treaty consummated by Secretary Buchanan,
now President of the United States, it very I'M
fortunately happens that Frazers River, with all
its appurtenant "bars," 'placers," 'gulches,"
Mines and other repositories of golden wealth,
which are in the latitude of 49t, fall into the
Gold Colony to be founded there will enrich the
Golfers of the Chancellor of the English Ex-
chequer instead of those of the Secretary of the
American Treasury.
We all remember too, how that goUont adj
ministration, after yielding to all the demands
OF Oreat DTllull Ill tIe most submissive and
cowardly manner, Immediately turned to bully
ing and defying the weak and distracted Re-
public in Mexico, and how eagerly it rushed in
to a war with that power with the view of an
nexing territory on the South, which should
give to the slave States an opportunity to ex-
pand their area and increase their political
weight in the confederacy. 1t was at that time
that the pro-slavery policy of the democratic
party was inaugurated, and ever since then the
entire organization has been controlled by those
who would prostitute the whole power of the
Government to the growth and spread of a
baneful institution. With the retrospect which
they are now able to make, we should be glad
to hear what the democratic papers have to say
in defense of that policy, which at single
dash of the pen gave up to our chief rival, one
hundred and fifty thousand square miles of the
most valuable territory on the North American
Continent-an area larger than the six New
England States, together with New York, New
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