Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-07-27
CHARLES O,CONOR,S LETTER.


Breckenridge and Lane gathering in New
York city is good document to have read
at the Breckenridge Democratic State Con-
yention at White River Junction, August :.
The rank and file will then see which way
they are to go if they train under the lead
ers of that assemblage. The letter needs no
comments from US to enable our readers to
see its atrocious doctrines.
LETTER PROM CHARLES o'ooNoR, ESQ.
New YORK, July l6, 1850.
Gentlemen: Cordially approving the nomination
ofJobp c. Breckenridge for President and Joseph
Lane for Vice President Of the United States. |
regret that it will not be in my power 10 address
the ratification meeting appointed to be held to-
morrow evening at the Cooper Institute.
However deeply 1t is to be deplored that rival
platforms and rival candidates are presented to
the democratic party, threatening to divide its
strength and deliver it over as an easy prey into
the hands Of its opponents yet, such being un-
happily the fact, the duty Of making choice
cannot be avoided.
The difference between these platforms, like
every political question of the times, derives all
its significance from the subject Of negro slavery
Its relation to the territories and to the mode Of
governing them is merely incidental it is merely
the form in which this perpetual yrecurIing sub
ject is here developed element Of strife -
The controversy, in all its practical bearings Is
merely this How is negro slavery 10 be dealt
with
In its moral, political, legal and economical as
poets, my views on that general subject have been
so distinctly and often expressed that my po-
siton in reference to the rival platforms now be-
fore Us could not be doubtful.
The most fertile regions Of the globe cannot be
so cultivated fully to develop their natural re-
sources for the benefit Of mankind except by negro
! labor negro labor cannot be there employed eN-
cept through the iudcious compulsion of a supc-
rior race and, 10 no way can so great a measure
Of physical enjoyment and moral improvement be
impaired 10 the negro as by his compulsory sery
itude in these very regions.
From these undeniable facts written in the
great book Of nature, proven by experience, and
not without sanction from revelation, my reason
draws the inference that negro lavery Is not re-
pugnant to justice-is not improbable to the
wb ite mans not oppressive to the negro, and is
not inexpedient a matte Of social policy.
Let us apply these views to own country.
"Since the foundation Of this republic negro slave
~ has ever been main pillar of our strength, an
indispensable element Of our growth and prosper
ity. 1t Is an integral part of being as
a nation TO expel it by fraud OF tear it out by
violence wOUl be national suicide.
1t follows that 80 yindcate its essential Justice
and nations, is the duty Of every American citi-
zen
A moral war has been made upon this institu-
ton by inGdels, and quasi religious crusade has
been preached against il by another class Hith-
erto at least in the North no one has defended it.
and its southern advocates have not been heard
The natural results have ensued Judgment has
passed against it by default, and the idea that it
conflicts with natural justice and with divine law
has taken possession of the northern mind.
This state Of things afforded a most promis-
ing quarry for the industry Of political party
makers, and they have ayailed themselves Of it.
They thus argued "With the National Con
science on our side-with God and Nature both
on our side, and against our antagonists-surely
must win" Accordingly this bright idea has
been ind lstriously worked into political or
ganization, and here stands before at the North
the Blaca Republican party, almost if not abso-
lutely n,incblc.
Why has that party any strength Why does
1t now threaten to destroy harmony between the
North and the South, lead ne to diSuni0n aud to
disasters deep and irremediable2
1t Is simply because tie false assumption OF abo-
huonlsts that negro slavery Is wicked aud unjust
has been permitted TO pass unrefuted
How is that destructive party to be shorn Of its
pernicious strength here is but one method
by which this objection can be effected and that
Is by denying and disproving the false position
which it Is founded.
We must as party insist unquaIiiedly that in
the institution Of negro slavery there is nothing
what -ver which calls for unfayorable action by
government; that the right Of the white master 10
the services Of his negro slave is, in every moral
sense precisely the same his right to any other
property.
If this proposition be not true, no honest man
ought 70 desire the permanency # our republic;
if il be true, the Black Republican doctrine Is
reasonable and destructive fallacy.
l am in favor of the principles enunciated in the
Senate resolutions Of 1850, and in the report Of
the Committee on Resolutions made to our Ma
tional Convention at Charleston, because they
came up TO the point. They meet the exigency
before Us; they fairly and directly meet the issue
as it is understood by all honest and sensible men
on either side
l am in favor of Breckenridge and Lane, be-
cause they stand upon a platform distinctly ex-
pressing these principles.
Mr.. Douglas declines practically to stand up to
them. lie b inks the main issue, and seeks to
rlde into power upon a dogma which implicitly
conce C. To abolitionsm the vital element Of its
political power, to wit; that negro slavery is I'M
just, or at least has in it some element which on
moral ground, jUstifes hostility.
His friends may deny this construction, but 10
my mind 1t is manifestly just. The whole prac-
teal Importance Of his popular sovereignty doc
trine is In Its bearing the slav, question. No
one cares fig about 1t except in this single con-
necton On all its other bearings it Is admitted
abstraction, unworthy Of moment attention,
and incapable of attracting it.
Let any man who doubts this read Nh. Douglas
argument as publ he'd Harpers Magazine and
his subsequent reply to Judge Black in ctcnce Of
that art Gle. Slavery Is the staple of his whole
argume t. The phrases and postulates Of the an
u-slavery agitatoIs invoked by him at every
point in the discussion, and most literally used to
sustain hi views.
Thus, to all practical purposes, Mr.. Douglas
presents himself as a semi-aboitionist His plat
form tends 10 keep abtltionism alive as a power
IN the state for future mischief. The platform
OF Breckenridge and Lane ails tho Hydra in
front, and aims to slay it outright
While am thus with you in sentiment, and to
the extent Of my humble powers am ready to aid |
in your object, cannot lose sight Of the policy /
which requires a thorough union Of all New |
Workers who are opposed to the election of Lin /
coin. Concurring with that eminent and patriotic |
citizen Of Pennsylvania, William l.. Reed be- /
ieve that there three Candidates for the Pres
idency preferable to IT, one whom every aboli- |
zionist or anti-slavery agitator in the land sup
ports"
With respect am, gentlemen, your obedient
servant
Gu OCoyoR.
To Mcssrs. Tucker, Henry, and others, commit
tee.