Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-09-28
The Shifts of the Opposition.

vermont mas spOAel OOluly III '"~ va
troversy now going on between the great
antagonistic parties struggling for the su-
premacy. The oldest of the free states
not belonging to the original thirteen, she
has shown her determination to continue
where she has ever been, in the front
rank of the opposition to slave power
Maine has nobly followed her example,
and may the shout be prolonged until
universal peal shall rise from every part
Of our would-be free country, denouncing
slavery and its minions as adverse to our
free principles end incapable of pro-
longed existence in this boosted land of
liberty.
For this to be done, no exertions must
be spared, no energies relaxed. Though
small by the side of many Of her sisters,
Vermont has right to be heard in the
controversy, and her voice is not without
It's influence upon the hearts Of friends
and foes. Look to the shifts of the OPP
position. They we'll show the charac-
tiers of the parties that make them.
The democratic party holds the reins
Of government in their hands and offices
Of trust are at their disposal. We're this
duty conscienciously exercised, all would
be we'll but look at the revelations made
by the Covodc Committee. A southern
editor says of them:-
"Such record of shame is without a
parallel. The nearest to it is the report
Of Pilatoffski, the Russian Alexander
commissioner, appointed to investigate
the corruption Of the civil administration
Of the autocratic empire"
What then can we expect other than
that no scheme of office bribery, good
bargaining, or reckless appropriation o.
pnblic funds, shall be spared that shall
either directly or indirectly tend to keeT
the dominant party in power? Tha
these things have been done in times past
and under pressure of less temptation, il
but to assure US that public patronage
public honors, and public money, are do
ing the same things now.
Another of the shifts of the opposition
is their notorious perversion of proiesse'
principles. They are all things to al
men," Their self-styled guiding princi
pies are expressed in such language tina
construction may be gwen them to sui
any emergency. Squatter Sovereignty
the pet lamb of Douglas, when that asp
rant is airing his theories to a norther
audience, may be made to signify tn
very principle for which the north ha
been so long struggling, the principle &c
which our ancestors bled on the battI
fields of the revolution, for which so man
patriot martyrs of Europe have sacrifice
luxury, position and power even I'll
right Of man to be free. But when bow
ing 10 a collection OF southern slave DR.
vers he can interpret in just this wise
we will loosen even the last restriction
now fastened upon slavery and bid it e!
tend itself over the whole of our virgi
territories.
The ignoring Of exciting political que
tions is another silly shift. The par
may succeed in convincing the Peep
that they divorce themselves from ii
Issues by declaring that they will ha1
nothing to do with them. Here is Il
danger. The time is coming, should th
party be successful, when they must me
all such questions fearlessly and deci
upon them. BY ignoring them now, lii
free themselves from all obligation to {,
low any course Of conduct. Only
glance at the past is all that 10 neeessa
TO assure us of what will be their cour
in the future when bound thus loosely.
"Save the Union" has been repeat
with much effect in times past, but Il
cry, thanks to the honorable position
sumed by the republicans in the presC
campaign, is losing much of its force.
Those who so eagerly exercised the Pc
err which it lent them are beginning
feel that it is becoming useless in tn
hands. Where now are those who
vehemently threatened dissolution of I
Union in case q republican presid,
were chosen? There is every probaI
ity of the latter event, and they are mi
with fear
Another means of attack. and wb
would not deserve notice did il not sh
the great straits TO which the opposit
are driven, is ridiculing the personal
pearance of OFF candidate, in which S