Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-19

/ AT last We have had National Convention
whose proceedings have been marked by deco
rum and harmony, and which has framed its
platform and selected It's candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice President without difficulty or
delay. Considering that the party is new one,
aud that this is the first time it has been called
to go through the formaties in question, we
take pleasure in saying that it is entitled to all
the credit Of smooth and successful debut.
The National Union Party have nominated
for President JonN BELL of Tennessee, and for
Vice President EDWARD EVERETT of Massa-
chusetts Their platform Is as follows, brief if
not expressive:
"U'hereas, Experience has demonstrated that all
platforms adopted by political parties have the effect
to mislcad and TO cause political divisions, by
aging geographical aud sectional parties; therefore,
"Resoired, That both patriotism and duty require
That We should recognise no policy or principles but
those resting on the DAD foundation of the Constiu-
ton Of the Country the Union Of the States, and the
enforcement Of the laws, and that the representa-
tves OF the Constitutional Union party and Of tue
country we pledge Ourselves onmiiliain project, and
defend these principles, thus iorling security nt
home and abroad, and securing the blessings Of liber
| ty to ourselves and posterity."
First a word as to this platform: We OBJ
ect to it that it is composed of mere gencra-
ties, and is intended to be ambiguous ard deu-
sive. 1t will bear one Interpretation in one
quarter, and another in another, and that is the
very purpose for which it was cOntrived.
But this is not its worst fault Like some of
its authors, it is fossil dug up from the re.
mains of past age. 1t belongs to the year
1880, and not the times in which we live. 1t
ignores all that has transpred in the most ami
mated and pregnant period of our history. The
contests, the triumphs, the principles, the con-
victions, the interests, the passions, the still
palpitating and unsettled questions Of quarter
century are all carefully shut out of sight by
this platform, as if thcy had never existed and
had no right TO exist. In this point of view
the platform is almost comical. Who can ser-
ously propose to shove aside and ignore the
questions OF the power and duty Of Congress as
regards the Territories, of the nature and rights
Of property in slaves, Of the Dred Scott decis-
on Of re-opening the African slave-trade. of
acquiring new slave States in West India, Mex
leo, and Central America? The people OF this
country have done very much and suffered very
much in order to bring these questions to a f.
nal settlement. There is very earnest and al
most universal desire for a decision respecting
them. But here comes the Old Genlemen's
party with this mild suggestion that the case
shall be abandoned and all the record wiped out,
leaving the controversy to be renewed at fu-
ture day, under aggravated circumstances. We
think the decision Of all sensible people, belong
ing to the present geological epoch, will be that
the matter had better be adjudicated and set
tie, now, so that we can aiterward attend 10
other business without danger of being inter-
rupted and disturbed BY this. The Old Cen
tlemens platform, then, will never do.
Now for the candidates:
John Bell of Tennessee, was born near Nash
/ vile, in February, 1897, and is now, therefore,
in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He entered
political life when only twenty years old as IA
member of the Legislature of his native State,
bat retired, after serving a single session, and
for the next nine years devoted himself TO the
practice OF his proicsson-the law. In 1927,
he was elected to Congress in opposition to Fe-
lix Grundy, and continued member Of that
body for fourteen successive years. He was in
| those days Eree-tsadpr. and late rs 1882
made speech against the Protective system
He subsequently changed his views upon that
| subject. and has ever since been an advocate of
Protection. In his early political career Mr..
Bell was a member OF the Democl attic party,
but difference arose between him and his
friends on the question of the United States
Bank. lie opposed the rem Jval of the depos-
its, and the breach thus made between him and
Gen. Jackson was widened when he was chosen
Speaker of the House in 1884 in opposition to
James X. Polk who was the Jackson candidate,
and made irreconcable year later, when Mr..
Bell advocated the election of Jugdc White to
the Presidency. in preference to that of Mr..
Van Buren. From that time he was member
of the Wing party as long as that party had an
existence. When the question of receiving pc
tions for the abolition OF slavery in the District
OF Columbia was first agitated in the House of
Representatives in 1856, he was in favor Of
their reception, and two years later he voted
against the infamous gag resolution of Ath-
erton of New Hampshire. Not that Mr.. Bell
was in favor of the object of the petitioners, but
lie considered they were simply exercising con-
stitutional right, though he had no intention of
giving favorable hearing to their PRAYER He
abandoned the Tyler Administration, in which
he was Secretary Of War under an appointment
by Gen. Harrison, notwithstanding the step was
not approved by that large portion of the Wing
party OF which MIR Webster was the leader
During that short term OF office, however, he
did not show any remarkable aptitude Tor the
details of business. In 1853 he was returned
to the United States Senate by his native State,
where he remained till March, 1859, being sue
cceded by Mr. Nicholson, Democrat His
course in the Senate was marked by the same
political integrity which has distinguished his
whole political career, and with something of
the same vacillation of judgment. He approved
of the compromises of 1850. while he voted
against the Kansas Nebraska bill against the
admission of Kansas under the Lecompton
Constitution he also took decided ground. He
is a gentleman of blameless character, public
and private, and OF eminent ability and lofty
patriotism; though his capacity for usefulness
is somewhat diminished by disposition to split
hairs, and want of mental decisiveness.
The career OF the new candidate for the Vice
Presidency is so well known that it is hardly
necessary to recaptulate its details. Mr.. Ev-
erett was born in Dorchester, Mass, in 1874,
and is thus three years older than Mr. Bell.
At the age of 10 he was settled as pastor of
the Brattle-street Church, in Boston; from
1919 to 1924, he was Professor of Greek in
Harvard College; from 1924 to 1884, he served
in Congress; then for four years he was Gov
ernor of Massachusetts,; from 1911, to 1915,
he was the U. S. Minister in London; he was
then President of Harvard College for three
years; succeeded Mr.. Webster as Secretary of
State was member of the United States Sem
ate during the contest on the Kansas-Nebraska
bill, which he feeby opposed; and since 1853
he has been mainly engaged in gaining means
for the purchase Of Mount Vernon by the la
dies of the country. To that cause Mr.. Ev-
erett's labors have contributed some 800 900,
and but for him the object would probably not
h,...