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


their relief and If he had been as completely
dedicated to the principles Of the bill, as some
would make us believe, he would have urged
| investigation and carried it, So far from hav-
ing done so, he put himself in the lead Of
/ those Senators most hostile to an exposition,
and became the mere mouth-piece, advocate,
and apologist Of those engaged in the work
of forcing slavery upon an unwilling people,
/ lie enjoyed at that time the full confidence Of
| the South and his democracy was orthodox,
because he was loyal to his task-masters
willing to do battle for their most extravagant
demands He was then Chairman of the
Committee on Territories, and call attention
to his report as such. made March IL, 1856,
as conclusive upon the point have stated
In that paper he could find nothing to say
against foreign conspiracies to invade tho soil
of Kansas and control elections, but he had
much 20 offer in condemnation of Eastern as
sociations to encourage removal thither. lie
could discover no irregularities in the return
Of Mr.. Whitfield, the pro-slavery delegate to
the House of Representatives, but he clearly
disccrned that the Territorial Legislature was
a legally elected body, with perfect authority
to enact the most cruel and arbitrary slave
codes, and that the complaints Of fraud and
force were gotten up merely to stimulate and
excite Northern emigration. AT the time of
which ! speak, there was no one in Congress
or out of Congress. in office or out Of Office,
who exerted himself more untiringly to per-
petuato that reign Of terror inaugurated to
insure the admission Of Kansas into the Union
as slave State. | fear there are many now
bearing up the banner inscribed with the name
Of this Senator, who never have fully UNDER
stood, or who have forgotten this tarnished
page in his history. II there has ever been
more determined foe to the growth of free
dom in Kansas, or to the principles of the
Nebraska Kansas bill than Stephen A. Doug
las, he has been able to keep himself very
much under cover. 1t is gratifying, however,
to make a single remark in his favor, it is
this, that he seems as willing as the most ar
dent of his friends to divert attention from
this period of his career. | am not aware
that. in either essay address, he has vent
ured to recur to it but on the contrary he
seems disposed to treat it a blank in his
life
Whilst these proceedings we're progressing
in the Senate, the other branch of Congress,
carried resolutions of investigation under a
close division of parties, and sent select
Committee to the Territory The conse-
quence was such an exposure as satisfied the
country not only of the truth of everything
charged but of existing conspiracies beyond
anything that had been imagined. The pub
lished evidence effectually revealed the inten-
tions of the South, and made deep impress
sion upon the North. 1t was then establish
ed that neither law nor proprietes were to
be allowed to stand in the way of slavery
tension; and we are almost driven to the
conclusion that the repeal of the Missouri
Restriction was but part of general and
well-matured plan Of operations, at the head
of which stood the self-crowned chief Of pop
l,la T,rr,tor,al Nv nourlaa'
term of Office was now approaching its close.
1t is not unlikely that desire for re-elec-
ton, and knowledge of the conviction forced
upon his state by the examination alluded to,
induced him to look with different eyes upon
Kansas, and created anxiety on his part
to take up the cause of her robbed and wretch
ed people. | cannot certainly say how this
may have been, only state a sudden and mi
racuous change came over him, and for a
while he seemed to glory in the name of "reb-
el." He opposed the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompton constitution with SEEM
ing seriousness and then announced his de-
termination to vote for the greater iniquity
the English Bill" 1t was then the honor
ed and heroic Harris, who now sleeps in DEATH
shed tears Of anguish, and gave utterance to
his despair. Over this, again, the veil has
been carefully and closely drawn by the
mirers have acted wisely, as it has prevented,
doubtless, many unpleasant surmises and sug-
gestions. To that boldest, and truest, and
greatest of all the warriors in the battle for
the right, David C.. Broderick, is Mr.. Doug
las indebted for his rescue from a whirlpool
which would certainly have engulphed him
from stain which would have obliterated his
herosm in connection with the cause to which
he has so ostentatiously professed to devote
himself. ! withhold the words in which the
scathing rebuke was clothed. And yet this
nobest and most self-sacrifcing of men, Mr..
Douglass protector, the martyr to truth, who
in the fulness of his heart and on his dying
couch exclaimed, "they have killed me, they
have murdered me, because l was opposed to
the extension Of slavery and corrupt admin
istration," upon his return home, and in the
hour of his sternest trial, when fighting, like
Spartacus, upon his bended knees, against the
pensioned hordes of the present dynasty, and
at time when he had a right to expect all
possible aid from the man whose interest he
had made his own, found all the sympathies
Of Mr. Douglas extended to his opponents,
and himself treated as an enemy and an off
cast II we would respect the memory of
Broderck we can never support Douglas F; it
would be mark of baseness and servility.-
If ever there was true son of the North,
IlhhuWauly broken IN spirit, ana VINO had
reason to exclam,' ''save me from my friends"
that was David C.. Broderick. Had
Stephen A. Douglas but discharged the duty
he sacredly owed him, he would have gained
victory for freedom in California, and would,
to-day, in my opinion, be living in the land,
and acknowledged one Of the foremost men
in the republic. lie laid down his life to at
test his sincerity many who professed to
love him will. in wild revel and reckless exul-
tation, utter the name Of him who could not
find time or opportunity to speak word in
eulogy over the grave of the departed votary.
lnscribe the name Broderick in fiery charact-
ers upon your banners-he was your champi-
on--and you at least can afford to do him
justice. He rests in peace on the heights Of
proud city OF the Pacific, where no ingrati-
tude can longer wound him, relieved from the
warfare between heartless factious, and where
his ashes will remain au eternal memento of
his faith and his confidence in the ultimate
triumph of a down-trodden humanity
r.. 4 .