Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-15
The vt. Patriot and Senator Douglas.

The Patriot has at length found it necessary
to cut loose from any knowledge of or sympathy
for Judge Douglas. Like Peter when his Lord
was led to crucifction, he denies his MASTER
That this is the result of principle, no one be-
lieves; for principal never governs some persons
when their life Or their {" bread and butter are
at stake Since the return of its Editor from
Washington, whether with or without the as
surance of Government patronage for the next
four years, we know nor care not, but the Pat
riot has dropped all praise Of the little giant
of Green Mountain birth, and now proceeds to
lay all the blame of the slavery agitation upon
his shoulders, than which better recommend
could not be given. 1t says
"The recent course of Stephen A. Douglas
relieves US of the restraint we have heretofore
felt; and we propose no longer to bear any por-
ton of an odium which exclusively belongs to
him.
After sketching the history Of the election of
poor Pierce and noting the fact Of the introduce
ton and defeat of bill to organize the territor-
les of Kansas and Nebraska in the 32nd Cong
ress, it continues
" Early the following session, Mr.. Douglas,
as chairman of the Committee on territories, re-
ported to the Senate substantially the same bill,
Nth the addition Of the clause repeating the Ms
souri, Compromise. lie did this without con-
sulting the President or single Senator who
was known to be his friend. Nobody asked i}
to be done. No Southern sentiment demanded
it or expected it, Even Atchison himself the
most radical and reckless of them all, had just
disclaimed any such purpose; and the Wash
ington Union, then under the management of
the able and sagacious Nicholson and in the full
confidence of the President, declared that pub
lie sentiment which acquesccd in the settlement
of 1885, should not be disturbed by the measure
Mr.. Douglas proposed. If he had been really
friendly to the administration, and DESTROYS to
promote its success and the integrity of the DEM
ocratic party, he would not have taken such a
step unadvisedly. But his personal interests were
paramount to all others. lie was apprehensye
Gen. Pierce might again be a candidate for the
Presidency to his exclusion, He resolved to
prevent it and lie threw his bombshell into the
democratic party shrewdly judging that the Pres
fragments and he cared not which, for either
would be too weak to elect him again. The
scheme was received with amazement by the
whole country. We have never yet seen DEM
ocrat who thought it necessary, judicious or wise
however earnestly he may have supported it, as
an alternative against aboletonsm.
Then as if preparing the people for reenact-
ment of the Missouri Compromise as the anly
alternative to prevent the total abolition of slave
ry under the sway popular sovereignty, it says
cit popular sovereignty might have been ap-
piled to Kansas without creating ripple on the
surface of politics, had not that territory been
covered by the Missouri Compromise, which no
man, North or South had ever before proposed
to abrogate. True that Compromise was prac-
ticaly nothing. Its repeal was nothing except
thes it raised just such an issue as the aboli-
tionists wanted, and especially needed at that
time. They took it up and made the most of it,
and all the disasters which have fallen upon the
democratic party since, are clearly traccable to
that cause /; and Stephen A. Douglas is respOn-
sible for them all!
The democratic party did not recognise his
claims to preferment, for they had neither the
power nor the will to elevate him to the post Of
his ambition. Hence, he has resolved to break
down the democratic party and its administra-
ton. His plans were projected and his confed-
crates chosen before he left home. He grumbl-
ed all the way to Washington, and when there,
seized the first occasion to plant himself at the
head of the Black Republican columns in war
ring against the administration. !"