Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-03-11

generated but that will not restore the lost
virtue. We fear that the worst has not come
but that the desire to commit robbery will
ripen into an attempt. and that the American
nation, whose name till now has been so fair,
will be looked upon as we in social life look
upon villain.
THE ILLINOIS LEGIsLATuRE.-We stated
few days since that legislation had come to
a stand still in the Illinois Legislature, in con-
sequence of the opposition of the Republicans
to an apportionment bill devised by the Dem
omcratic majority for the purpose of ousting
Mr.. Trumbull from the United States Senate
On Monday last the Republicans abandoned
the capitol, after Intellectual attempts TO bring
the majority to act upon important bills Of a
general nature. and the Legislature was left
without a quorum, and subsequently broke
up without passing the appropriation bills, or
providing for the State creditors for the courts,
or other matters not especially provided for by
/ the constitution. or by former law The ap-
/ preparation bill has been from time to time
urged upon the Legislature during its pro-
tracted session, but the Democrats have per-
sistently declared that they would not allow
it to be considered or passed until their mis-
chievous apportionment bill became law.
| On Tuesday the Governor sent in the APP
portionment bill, with his objections. In the
House there were only three or four Repub-
| licans, enough as was claimed. to move a call
of the House and to protect the journal from
being made record of incorrect statements
| When the Governors Secretary brought in
the bill and veto, he was forcibly elected from
the floor. A Democratic member took the
bill from the hands of the page, and threw it
on the carpet. A Republican member raised
the insulted message, and reverently laid it
on the speakers desk. The speaker prompt
| ly knocked the document off, and the Dem
ocratc member again took the paper up and
deposited it in his pocket. There was much
excitement in the House, and then the solemn
farce came to an end. On Wednesday, gem
eral dispersion was to take place. As the IL
linois Legislature meets but once in two years
this unfortunate termination of the session
will be very serious in its effects Boston Jour.
SOUTHERN LoGIo.-The Guardian, print
ed at Columbia, South Carolina, has been try
ing its hand at logic. We commend its ar
gument to the attention of all who believe, or
profess to believe that slavery is right, and we
ask them to disprove the positions, deductions,
and conclusions if they can. 1t is short and
comprehensive:
'lf slavery is good for the stakeholder it is
equally good for the non-slaveholders of the
South.
If it is right for the few to have slaves to
wait on them, and perform monial service, it
is equally right that the laboring white man
should enjoy the same privilege.
If the laws of Congress against the slave
trade are right, then slavery is wrong, for
these laws are based upon the assumption that
slaye-trading, slave-holding and slave labor,
deserve alike the execration of mankind.
If the captains of the Echo and Wanderer
are pirates, then our fathers were pirates. If
it is crime to bring slaves now from Africa,
it was so at the beginning, and the sooner we
give up the institution the better.
If, under the doctrine Of free trade, the citi
zen should be allowed to buy where he can
buy cheapest, and sell where he can sell dear
est-what right has the federal government to
forbid my going to Africa to buy cheap slaves:
Is it right that the few who own slaves
should object to the importation of more, up
on the selfish fear that the price of their own
slaves may be lowered Will not the poor
man who owns a slave feel a deeper interest
in the institution, than the poor man without
one
Is IL not remarkable that the main opposi-
tion to the re-opening of the trade comes from
those who are our largest slave owners
Docs it come with good grace from the
descendants Of those whose fathers formerly
made money out OF the trade, to croak over
the proposition to reopen it
HARD, nUr FAIR.--rhe Albany Evening
journal gives the following summary of the
meaning of Democracy about these days -
democracy convenient title lis used
just now TO mean a great many different
things in different places. In Pennsylvania
it means specific duties, but in New England
ad valorem ones, and in Virginia no duties at
all. 1t means popular sovereignty in Chi
cago, but at Washington it means federal
aggrandilement. 1t is for the Pacific Rail-
road in California. but against it in Georgia
1t is for the fishing bounties in Maine, but
against them in Alabama 1t hllihusters in
Louisiana, though il denounces fllibusters in
Michigan. In Ohio il assumes to stand on
tho Cincinnati platform, but in Virginia It
plants itself on the resolutions of 9S, and in
Carolina il will agree to nothing short of the
Charlestown resolutions of 1860, reserving
the right even to differ from them, if it don't
like them. All these warning factions claim
to be a single party, because they have
name in common.