Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-09
TINY Am NOW.

Inc early political parties were otBahlAcu
without reference to slavery. But since 1920,
European questions have left us practically
unconcerned. There has been great increase
Of invention, mining, manufacture, and cult-
vaton. Steam on land and water has
quickened commerce. The press and the tel
ograph have attained prodigious activity, and
the social intercourse between the States and
their citizens has been immeasurably increas-
ed ; and consequently, their mutual relations
affecting slavery have been, for many years,
subjects of earnest and often excited discus
sion IL is in my way only to show how such
disputes have operated on the course Of polit-
ical eyents-not to reopen them for argument
here. There was slave insurrcotion in Nir-
ginia. Virginia and Kentucky debated, and
to tho great sorrow Of the free States, reject
ed the system of voluntary labor. The Colo
nization Society was established with much
favor in the capital States Emancipation So
cetics arose in the free States. South Caro-
lima instituted proceedings to nullify obnox-
ious Federal revenue laws. The capital States
complained OF courts and legislatures in the
labor States for interpreting the constitution
al provision for the surrender Of fugtlves
from service so as to treat them as persons,
and not property, and they Disseminated
against colored persons Of the labor States,
when they came TO the capital States. They
denied. in Congress, the right Of petition, and
embarrassed or denied the freedom Of debate
on the subject Of slavery. Presses, which
undertook the defence of the labor system in
the capital States, were suppressed by yio-
| lence, and even in the labor States, public as
semblies, convened to consider slavery ques-
| tions, were dispersed by mobs sympathizing
with the capital States.
THE wHGGAND DEMOCRATIC PARTIEs-wHAT
THEY DID AND HOW.
The Whig party, being generally an oppo-
stion party, practised some forbearance tow
ard the interest of labor The Democratic
party, not without demonstrations Of dissent,
was generally found sustaining the policy of
capital. A disposition towards the removal
Of slavery from the presence Of the National
Capitol appeared in the District Of Columbia
/ Mr.. Van Buren, Democratic President,
launched a prospective veto against the anti
cipated measure A Democratic Congress
brought Texas into the Union, stipulating
practically for its future reorganization in four
slave States. Mexico was incensed. War
ensued The labor States asked that the
Mexican law of liberty, which covered the
Territories brought in by the treaty of peace,
might remain and be confirmed. The Demo-
cratic party refused. The Missouri debate OF
1920 REQUIRED now, under circumstances of
heat and excitement, in relation to these con-
quests The defenders Of labor took alarm
lest the number Of new capital States might
become so great as to enable that class OF
States to dictate the whole policy Of the Gov
ernment and in case of constitutional resist
ance, then to form new slavcholding con-
iederacy around the Gulf Of Mexico. By this
time the capital States seemed to have become
fixed in determination that the Federal Gov
ernment, and even the labor States, should
recognize their slaves. though outside OF the
slave States, and within the Territories Of the
United States, as property of which the mas
ter could not be in any way or by any author
ity diyested and the labor States, having be-
come now more essentially Democratic than
ever before. by the great development of free
labor, more firmly than ever insisted on the
constitutional doctrine that slaves voluntarily
carried by their masters into the common Ter
ritories or into labor States, are persons men
Under the auspicious influences of Whig
success. California and New Mexico appeared
before Congress as labor States. The capita
States refused to consent to their admission
into the Union; and again threats Of dsunior
carried terror and CONSERVATION throughout
Z
Specific enactmcnts admitted California as
labor State, and remanded New Mexico ant
Utah to remain Territories, with the right tc
choose freedom or slavery when rirened into
States, while they gave new remedies for the
reception Of fugitives from service, and abol-
ished the open slave market in the District oi
Columbia. These new enactments, collated
with the existing statutes, namely, the ordi-
mace of 1897, the Missouri prohibitory law o
1920, and the articles of Texas annexation
disposed by law of the subject of slavery il
all the Territories Of the United States. And
so the compromise of 1850 was pronounced a
full, final, absolute, and comprehensive settle
ment of all existing and all possible disputes
concerning slavery under the Federal authori-
ty. The two great parties, fearful for the I'm
ion, struck hands in making and in presenting
this as an adjustment, never afterwards to be
opened, disturbed, or even questioned and the
people accepted it by majorities unknown be-
fore. The new President, chosen over an IL
lustrous rival, unequvocally on the ground o
greater ability, even if not more reliable pur!
pose to maintain the new treaty inviolate, made
haste TO Justify this expectation when Congress
assembled, He said
"NYhen the grave shall have closed over all who ar,
endeayorng 20 meet the obligations Of duty the yea
and apprehension successful war has Just terminated
peace brought with great augmentation Of territory
Disturbing questions bearing upon the domestic
institutions Of portion Of the COufederacy, and inyolv
ing the constitutional rights Of the States But nowth
staadng differences Of opinion aud sentiment in relation
% details and spechc PROVISIONS the acquiescenee Of dis
tinguishcd citizens, whose deyOtpn 10 the Unim
never be doubted has given renewed yigor inst
tutnns and restored Of security and reposo h,
public mind throughout the Conicdcracy That this re-
pose is TO suffer shock during my official term, II
have the power it, those who placed here
be assurded.'
Hardly, however, had these inspiring sounds
died away, throughout reassured and delight.
ed land, before the national repose was shock
ed again shocked, indeed, as it had never
before been, and smitten this time by blow
from the very hand that had just reased the
chords of the national harp from their utter
ance of that exalted symphony of peace.
KANSAS AND NEBRASKA.
Kansas and Nebraska, the long devoted res
eryation of labor and freedom saved in the
agony of national fear in 1920, and saved
again in the panic of 1850, were now to bC
opened by Congress, that the never-endinq
course of seed time and harvest might begin
The slave capitalists of Missouri from theil
own well-assured homes on the eastern banks
of their noble river, looked down upon anC
coveted the fertile praries of Kansas while