Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-08-10
W HOLE NO. 2SOS.

D
anticipate fully that my suggested mode
Of redress for existing abuses will be deuoun-
ced as sectional to which answer, if it be
so, the antidote to bane may be a bane IL
self "simRia similibus cur1ntur." But its
liability TO the charge is denied The real
sec,ionalism is arrayed against us; ! do but
counsel systematic and persistent resistance.
In studies Of the fundamental doctrines of
our common charter, and in tho dispensatons
OF the iavors Of government, VIC should never
know North, a South, an East, or a West
My complaint is that others act as II they
thought differently. | trust we shall be al
ways able TO command the exercise Of such a
patriotism and comfy as 10 forever preclude
us from aggression upon a section inferior to
ours in every element Of material strength
and greatness. 10 can never be otherwise than
dastardly to press upon the weak and sickly
Il will be noticed that have spoken Of the
Democratic party without reference to its pre-
sent distractions. My reason for 50 doing is
found in the opinion / entertain that these
dissensions do not affect issues as neither
branch indicates disposition to meet, fairly
and openly, the great political problem Of the
times. In casting our votes we should be ac-
curotely informed as to their effect upon the
policy We desire TO see established. We
should not be made instruments in the hands
Of any ambitious man, or in tho hands of any
combination OF reckless and unscrupulous
men; TO force an unnatural growth Of slave
ry in the country, contrary to what has here
tofore been the understanding Of the Const-
4 tuition Of the United States, and in palpahle
violation Of what has been regarded a settled
and national policy, 1t should be a matter
Of stingng regret to us, if from our bearing
in the present contest, we could be fairly
charged hereafter with a violation of the
principles we have long proicssed to cherish,
or with having imposed any, the slightest,
impediment in the pathway Of arational, we'll
grounded, and progressive liberty.
The all-absorbing question now presented
to the American citizen, for what will prove
to be his ultimate decision | have watched
narrowly it has risen into Importance from
year to year, and | think know the opinions
of the several Presidential candidates respect
ing it.
am not aware that the supporters Of Mr.
Breckenridge attempt any conoealment as to
his designs in case of his success. If they
should desire to resort to prevarication, they
have placed it entirely without their power
by frankness and boldness, and had almost
- said, the recklessness Of their declarations.
, He has been put forth, prominently, like a
speech and platform, as the Achilles Of the
armies of the South and as the determined
foe Of free soil free speech and free men. He
stands upon no single democratic sentiment,
t unless, indeed, what were regarded by all
statesmen within the last fifteen years as the
pretentious heresies of John C. Calhoun, can
be so regarded He so reads the teachings of
the sages of the past, and their primary law,
, to ,alr,, fruit to aft
{ of his peculiar and fayorite institution from
, the original Territories and so as to make
it indispensable that congresses, courts, and
f presidents should exercise all their ingenuity,
, and all their powers to fortify and sustain it
t there. Legislative action is to be invoked.
judicial docrees had executive fats pronoun-
ced, navies equipped and armies marshaled,
to exclude forever every settler therefrom
who will not bow down before the black god
! of his idolatrous worship. l appeal to you,
frecmen, to know whether this is the demo-
cracy Of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jack
son. appeal to you to know whether you
have ever found anything in the annals of
{ parties so insulting to the understanding until
{ within the lifetime Of the youth who has not
reached his majority. lappeal to you to know
whether the honesty, intelligence and unmix-
ed blood Of the offspring Of northern moth
! ers can ever accept an excuse for those who
would endeayor to fasten such ruler upon
US. But we may congratulate ourselves that
! even official zeal can perceive no chance for
e Mr.. Brecknridge's election. If there had
l ever been any, the recent stump speech Of Mr..
/ Buchanan would have effectually disposed OF
it. No amount Of popularity would be able
TO stand against tho encomums of such an
advocate. His midnight appeal can only be
accounted for by supposing the "old public
functionary" was unable TO obliterate his ami
mosities towards "the young gentleman Of
Kentucky" and that his wel-known craft
suggested a speech as the rcadiest and least
offensive means of destruction. Such sug-
gestions arc the more rcasouble as it is not to
be imagined that the gyved tenant of the
7 White House should for moment believe,
after the Investigations which have been had,
and the exposures which have been made,
such testimony as he volunteered could be
otherwise than ruinous to any cause. The
daring eyinced by him on the occasion, was
only equalled by his lack of self-respect. and
his utter disregard of the circumstance by
which he was surrounded, and which should
have restrained him.
Whatever conclusions may be drawn as to
my estimate of Mr.. Breckinridge's character
as politician, ! can only say that my esteem
for him is profound when brought into com
parison with that which | entertain for his
Democratic competitor. There are few, if
any, living men concerning whom more has
been said, and less really known, than Stephen
A. Doulas, of Illinois. There are thousands,
by far too many thousands, now sustaining
him under the mistaken and delusive idea that
he is directing his efforts to counteract the
plans Of the Southern Democracy. This is
frightful hallucination, but a natural one,
when we take into consideration the humlia-
ting fact that all that devotion could do has
been done, by those surrounding his person,
to distort a true record, and to stamp a coun-
terleit character for him on the public mind.
Viewing him as one of the most unsafe and
treacherous of leaders, you pardon me certain
statements which it now seems necessary
should be made, and the correctness Of which,
| presume, will not be impugned. have not
yet forgotten when, in the winter of 1866,
during the first session of the thirty-fourth
Congress, the residents Of Kansas, assevera-
ting that the cardinal principle of the Ne
braska Kansas act had been wantonly and
wickedly nulifed, that fraud and violence.
concocted in the blue lodges of Missouri, had
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