Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-02-12
SLAVERY THE TEST OF DEMOCRACY

would be very agreeable pastime to watch the
trials and tribulations of the administration
party at Washington, in their attempts to pro-
vide for existing deficiencies in the Treasury de-
partment Night after night caucuses have been
held, until their proceedings are noted more at
length than the doings Of Congress. But after
all these daily labors and nightly gatherings
nothing is accomplished. We are told that the
caucus has adjourned to some day not far
distant when Mr.. Somebody will bring forward
a measure for relief The time comes and goes
and the democrats are as far distant from agree
ment as ever.
The truth is there is no such thing as a dem
ocratic party on any other question than that
relating to the extension of slavery. That is
the only subject sufficiently broad and national
for northern and southern democrats to unite
~rv.. any matter VI legislation Affecting sla-
very, either directly or remotely, is sure to hush
all discordant elements and rally the party as
one man for the contest. But no sooner than
such minor considerations as finance, tariff, or
public lands come up for consideration the party
is instantly resolved into its original elements
and the mixture becomes clouded, with an ex-
cessive precipitate of discord. Even the Pres
ident and his chosen counsellors are no longer
a unit, but the cabinet is divided into Almost as
many factions as we find in the House of Rep
resentatives. The records of the proceedings
of Congress and of the numerous democratic
caucuses of the last two weeks fully justify this
conclusion.
The truth is the extravaganza of the present
democratic administration has led to an enor-
nous deficiency, and bankruptcy is staring the
government in the face In the Senate, Tues
day, Mr.. Bigler of Pennsylvania, the confden-
tial friend of the President stated in his speech
that according to the estimates of the Secretary
of the Treasury, the deficit in June 30, 1860, in
Guiding the Treasury notes now in circulation,
will be $27,670,37G and this without the pen
sion bill, Oregon debt, French spoliatons and
countless other probable claims, beside the thir-
ty millions to purchase Cuba, and the loss of
revenue if the Homestead bill is to become
a law. Mr.. Bigler estimated the probable de-
fciencv thus: Miscellaneous items $12,900,-
600; Treasury notes 80, 7j4 ,S00 add present
debt (mosty created by the present admins
tration,) S45,7j4,977; add foreign intercourse
fund for the purchase of Cuba $50 900, 600 and
we have total of about one hluldred aud eiglt
millions IF doHarsi This is the estimate of one
who would put the most favorable construction
upon every item relating to that debt.
To meet this alarming deficiency the Presi-
dent recommends a REIMBURSEMENT of the tariff
and the substitution, i'll some cases, of specific
for ad valorum duties. The Secretary of the
but will, in contingency, accept restoration
of the tariff of 1916, for two years. Other lead
ing democrats oppose any change eXccptan en-
tire repeal of our revenue laws and resort to
direct taxation. To such an extent is the par
ty divided that what is orthodox with the Pres
ident is hetrodox with his cabinet, and neither
of these sections are followed by the file leaders
Upon the question of Slavery, which the South
claims is so purely local thatneither the admins
1ration nor Congress has any right to interfere,
every man must stand up to the rack or be driy-
EN- out Of the party at the point of the bayonet.
But upon this purely national question, involv-
ing no one section at the expense of another,
but limited chiefly to means with which TO carry
on the government there is no common stand
ard of faith. Every one is allowed the full lat
itude of private belief or private interest The
incongruity of this discipline is thus happily ex-
pressed by the New York Tribune. That Jour
nal says:
Last year, when the Lecompton Constitution
was before Congress it was carried through,
though in a modified form, by the sheer press
ure of Executive influence exerted upon North
ern men. Then the President was all powerful,
and every man who ventured to differ from him
was at once communicated from the party
Under such circumstances some leading Demo-
Gratis were read out, who apparently will not be
allowed to come back again, without dcbase
ment which no self-respectiaag man could ever
consent to.
Snow, new question of great Importance is
to be decided. The Treasury is empty, and rev.
enue must be provided for the expenses of the
Government In this case the President in
stead OF oelhS omhipotent is utterly powerless.
Instead OF being rejected by half dozen Or a
dozen OF the representative s of his party in Con-
gress, his earliest recommendations are scorned
and secuted by the majority of them. And vet
anathemas are Numbered against these recus-
ants. The Union writes long and passionate
articles to prove that they are no longer within
the fold of the party, They rebel, but are not
punished for it.
THE reason of this difference is that the
rebellion of last year was, in fact, against the
dictation and usurpation of the few thousand
owners of slaves; while the rebellion of this
year is against nothing but the interest and
prosperity of the millions of free laborers in the
North. The Democratic party will do every
thing, and risk everything for the proprietors
OF black chattels but will do nothing for the
benefit of the white men of the Free States"