Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-01
Presidential.

quite generally discussing the merits and de-
merits, the strength and weakness, the popular
ity and unpopularity of the various men who
have been named in connection with the next
Presidency. The great majority of the North
ern Democratic papers are in favor of the NOM
ination of their short-legged Squatter Sover-
eign, S. A Douglas, claiming, we think with
truth, that no other Sham can carry North
ern State. The delegates to Charleston, from
the free States, are unquestionably largely in
favor of Douglas, and his nomination might be
counted as certainty were it not for rule of
the Democratic National Conventions, requir-
ing vote of two thirds of the Convention
before any candidate can be declared the nomi-
nee. This rule will seriously embarrass the
Little Giant, and may ultimately defeat him at
Charleston, but it will, at the same time, put
it in his power to dictate who shall be the can
didate when his own name is withdrawn. In
that event, it is said that Alex. II. Stephens,
recently, and for many years, member of
Congress from Georgia, will receive the vote of
the entire Squatters, and will get Southern
votes enough in addition to secure his nomina-
ton.
We are prepared, however, for the nomina-
tion of Stephen A. Douglas, at Charleston, as
the standard. bearer of the disunion party,
nomination to be brought about by the repre-
sensations and threats, if necessary, of his par
Tisans, that no other Sham can or shall carry
Northern State next November The Southern
fire-eaters, however, will not suffer this nomi-
nation to be made till they have pinned to the
Giants coat tails a series of resolutions, that
will keep the aforesaid coat tails considerably
nearer the ground than they appeared to the
prophetic vision of Col. Benton, when he de-
clared that their propin guilty to the earth rem
dered it entirely impossible for their wearer to
ever occupy the Presidential Chair. And
Douglas present course, and that of his imme-
date followersl and bosom friends, prove that
he is ready and will make haste to wrap him
self in any garment the South may sec fit to
put upon him, provided only they will put him
in nomination at Charleston. Douglas as an
independent chieftain, fighting the mercenary
troops of the Administration, and contending
for Popular Sovereignty fairly and honestly
guaranteed to the Territories, possessed ele-
ments of availability that might have enabled
him to carry some of the North-W Western States.
But Douglas as he will come out of the lap of
the Charleston Convention will DO shorn of
every principle that ever gave him strength at
the North
The Republicans will have numerous and
able body of men from whom to make their Sc
lection at Chicago next June. Maine will
present Fessenden, Massachusetts Banks, Yer
mont Collamer, New York Seward, New Jer-
sey Dayton, Pennsylvania Cameron. Ohio
Chase, Illinois Lincoln, and Missouri Bates, all
of them able men, good and true, and all of
them men who will, beyond question, have
strength in the Convention. Pennsylvania has
already instructed her delegation to Chicago to
vote as unit for Gen. Cameron as long as his
name is before the Convention. New York will
doubtless do the same for Seward. Banks.
Fessenden and Chase will have each one State,
at least, as long as their names are suffered to
be used.
But the nomination at Chicago should be de-
termined upon principles entirely independent
of the Partially of any single State. 1t should
be settled wholly as question of principle ;
by which we mean that the principles of the
Republican party should be unhesitatingly, un-
dinchingly pronounced by the Convention, and
then the man, who, with these principles III
scribed on his banner, can gather to his support
the largest number of electoral votes, should be
selected as the leader of the Republican host
The candidate, whoever he may be, should be
but the exponent of the settled principles of
the great Republican party. Still it would be
the supremest folly to suppose that therefore it
is matter of Indifference who the candidate u.s.
On the contrary, we hold this to be a matter of
the utmost consequence.
The Country is just entering upon political
campaign as important, to say the least, as any
in its past history. Every department of the
Executive Government is completely under the
domination of the Slave-Power. The United
States Senate knows no other law but the Divine
right of the peculiar institution. The Federal
Judiciary has kissed the feet of the same black
oligarchy. The Constitution has been wrested
from its original significance, as the charter of