Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-08-10

ISSUES OF the PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.
ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN HICKMAN

make it conduco to the success of principle,
rather than the elevation Of a man He will
feel this to be the more incumbent upon him
at such time as the present, when the ten
denotes Of parties are more distinctly marked
than in any previous campaign 1t will be
my object this evening. to endeavor to ex-
hibit, in distinct light, the dividing
line between the political parties Of the day,
and to ascertain, if possible, what, in all pro-
bability, would be the effect, upon the coun-
try, Of the election of the respective candi-
dates for the Presidency.
/ II this were a strife merely between indi-
vidual men, il would possess but trifling i'm
portance, and should not trouble YOU with
either remark or suggestion. But regard
the contest the determination will soon be
made not alone as to our value in the confed
eracy. but as to the destiny of the nation itself
The policy Of our government is, in many
respects, underlined The more serious ques-
tions affecting MS have but recently became
topics Of careful consideration. Our fathers
were unable to foresee. during the formation
( Of the Constitution. the greater ombarrass-
ments to which the future Of the country was
70 be subjected, and consequently no provis-
ION was made against them. Subjects which
distracted and divided them in their deliber
atons. have lost much Of their former conse-
quence. and we seem TO be more anxious TO
ascertain what they should have said further,
than what they actually did say. Even the
/ controversies in which we ourselves have been
engaged within the last decade have been set
tied or lost sight of, and we are now about to
enter into that conflict which is to define ma
ny Of the most important powers Of the gov
ernment, and to fix the character Of the dom
nant institutions of the country. The pro-
priety Of re-eligibility to office, the exact rela-
tions between federal and local authority, the
constitutionality Of banks and internal i'm
provements, the regulation Of the currency,
and the distribution of the proceeds of the
public lands, are no longer agitated and dis
cussions upon them are only to be found in
our past history, and in the fossil remains OF
extinct parties. 1t may in truth be said that
old things have passed away and all things
have become new.
There was a time, not very far back in the
past, when slavery was universally admitted
: to be a wrong IN Sc, unwise in practice, detri-
mental to both individuals and communities.
and against the spirit and genius Of our free
system. Now, however, it is declared to be
divine in its origin, the highest type of human
civilization. and indispensable to the mainten-
ance Of Democratic republic. Formerly it
was regarded as a condition to be constantly
reduced, and finally to be extinguished. Now,
, on the contrary the demand is urged that it
shall be extended, and made CONTROLLING
Here find the cause or source of the great
political issue of the present Shall slavery
become national institution and governing
power in the country, or shall it remain as
the Constitution left it This is not an in
quiry propounded by us, of the North, but
forced rpon us by our brethren of the South.
They require an answer at our hands, and we
cannot avoid response if we would. Silence
upon our part, under the circums tances, could
not be construed otherwise than affirmative
of their claims. | make the distinct ayowal
that slavery seeks the acquisition of all our
new States for two objects first to secure
the value of slaves; and, second, to direct the
powers of the Federal Government.
"The irrepressible conflict" so frequently
commented on and denounced by the South,
is constantly admitted and acted on by them.
They are too astute as observers and sagacious
as politicians not to know there is a necessary
and amending antagonism between liberty and
slavery. If they thought differently, there
would be far more peace and harmony between
the sections. 1t is their full appreciation Of
the struggle for the mastery which arms them
for the conflict, and induces them TO wrestle
for the victory. There is no more evident
fact than this, that the advocates Of slavery
seek its extension so as to limit the influence
of the sentiment of freedom. We hate tyran-
NY aud would prevent such a contamination.
They ask that all who toll shall be held as
property-be regarded, in the chaste language
Of an eloquent Senators, as 'mud-sills." We
believe that God created all men free. and inn
posed labcr upon them for their advantage.
/ Which hypothesis shall be proven true : We
will hereafter But, knowing that the
principles of justice are uniform and eternal,
| presume to believe that those principles will
/ prevail and human rights be maintained. |
am not ignorant of the fact that those who
suppose they may rightfully make merchan
disc of mothers and their children, seem to
think they can share the designs of Proyi-
dence, and re-write the history Of humanity,
reversing everything our fathers thought and
for the maintenance of which they perilled
/ life and honor. ! must be pardoned for dis
agreeing with them, and protesting against
such conclusions.
/ The extension OF negro slavery into the
territories of the United States has become a
settled policy of the Democratic party. This
reality cannot be disguised, and ought not to
I uc utultus IL - tdNlll aNNpuhNSu AVl' Nh4T
I ty of interest and unity of desire will always
produce perfect concentration of strength.
The fortunes of the South have become COM
pletely identified with their peculiar domestic
relations. By their harmony they have been
enabled to govern the Democratic party, and,
thus far, to govern the country through the
agency Of that party, The vital force OF that
organization being in the South, and slavery
propagandism regarded there as necessity,
/ it cannot be considered strange that the infu-
ence Of the party should be so directed as to
fortify doctrines most congenial to the sup
posed welfare of those who direct its machine
ry. To many it has seemed unaocountabe
that executive action and legislative and Judi
cial proceedings should be so shaped, from
year TO year, to strengthen the few at the
expense of the great mass of our people Let
it no longer be regarded as a marvel or mys-
terry the responsibility of it rests with those
Northern men in whom we have reposed our
confidence and clothed with the garments of
authority. Examine the recorded votes IN