Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-12-15
Gge 0trmont 4banif.
BRATTLEBORO:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1850.
SECESSION.

SECESSION.
II seems to be considered a settled matter at
Washington that South Carolina is to go out OF
the Union. Her convention is to meet next
Monday, and in few days thereafter the Pal
metto State will probably declare herself sover-
ign and independent. 1t seems also more than
probable that she will be followed by Georgia,
Florida, Alabama and Mississippi but as the
conventions OF these last named States are not
to be held until sometime in January it is hoped
that South Carolina will, if she goes at all, 90
SOLITARY and alone'
We do not, we confess, fully comprehend the
reasons upon which this mania for secession is
based, unless we adopt the hypothesis that this
movement originated long ago, and has con-
stantly been the guiding star of South Carolina
politics. and that the election of Lincoln is
made the occasion, rather than the cause, for
her departure. The leaders in this secession
movement solcmnly aver that the repeal of all
the personal liberty bills in the Northern States
and the faithful and diligent execution of the
fugitive slave law, are of no sort of account in
the matter. South Carolina is bound to go at
all hazards, and however much we may regret
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the Union, so long as she
same impulses which now rule the hour, we can
have no peace with them consistent with our
own selfrespect and convictions of right; we
therefore say "stand not upon the order of
your going"
One cause which has at least aggravated the
difficulty and FASTENED the crisis is to be looked
for in the reckless and wanton misrcpresen-
tation of the principles and policy of the Re
publican party by the opposition press here at
the North, during the entire canvass which has
just closed. Republican newspapers do not
circulate to any extent south Of the Potomac
Only the most abject organs of the odministra-
ton and the bitterest opponents Of the Rcpubli-
can organization are either seen by the people or
even received on exchange by the majority of
Southern newspapers. The New York Herdld
Boston Courier and Washington Constitution
are the chief of class of authorities from which
the Southern mind is informed and the South
ern verdict made up in regard to the ends and
aims of the Republican party. From such
sources it is not much matter of wonder that
those in the slave states who read at all are to-
tally misinformed upon subjects which are now
of vital consequence to themselves and the coun-
Try. Those Of our readers who know how lit
tie confidence is to be put in the representations
of these most bitter and virulent partizan press
es, and know also that they had an object in
their systematic misrepresentation, can imagine
how infamed the minds of the people of the
slave states must necessarily be, and realize how
faithfully such newspapers have fulfilled their
self imposed mission.
Another cause which has contributed materi-
ally to bring on immediate action is the insc-
cnrity felt in those states where the slave popu-
ation is equal TO or greater than the number of
whites. This feeling is alluded to in the Presi-
wanton agitation of the subject of Slavery in
the Northern States. The cause of the uneasi-
ness is in our judgment, radically different from
that given by the President. The shareholders
themselves do not hear Northern speakers nor
see Northern newspapers, and their slaves are
as completely declared from any such sources
of information as if they lived in Cuba or
Timbuctoo. The truth is the negroes have
learned whatever they may know, and imbibcd
whatever they may believe Of their rights,
duties, obligations and capabilities, from their
own masters. They have undoubtedly heard
Southern politicians on the stump and their
masters in private conversation say that those
who would elect Lincoln would also set all the
slaves free and raise them to an equality with
their present masters, and thousand other
things equally as false and absurd. If there
are any well-grounded opprehensions of servile
instructions the owners and masters of this
sort of property have Only themselves and the
administration presses here at the North to
thank for bringing about so dire calamity.