Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-02-22

The Charleston Mercury don't like tie
looks Of It's own baby. The Provisional Gov
ernment Of .'the confederatcd states Of
America" lately brought into the world at
Montgomery, Ala, has features which do
not argue a pure South Carolina parentage.
South Carolina has rayed FOR thirty years or
more about the horribleness Of any tariff
which should favor II the least degree the
labor Of American f@reenen, il comparison
with the labor OF Foreign nations. 1t anne
u. near to an open rebellion on that score
1881 as q wholesome fear Of President Jack
s9n would let it. and q staple article oil tain
in South Carolina journals has been that
their new confederacy, going the zee trade
doctrine with q rush and to an absolute ez-
IRENE. would have all Europe on ls SD IN
q trice. Moreover there was also TO be o
free trade in African sla yes, fresh from the
barracoous Of Guinea. But some how, the
G~sorgians seem to have got the better Of
the South Carolinians in the Montgomery
Convention. South Carolina viii have TO
secede again. Hear the complaint Of the
Nsrcurt
sOur readers viii perceive that tie United States
Constitution, with q few amendments, has been
adopted, and a lso, by a sweeping enactment, the
United States laws, for the temporary government
Of the seeding States coufedersted al Nontgom-
cry.
We regret that any Provisional Government
was formed al all and in one or two important
PARTICULARS confess 70 disappointment and sur-
Prise at the Government and laws enacted Il
seems the: the United states Protective IaTE Of
81 has been adopted, and that q positive condem-
nation Of the institution Of slavery, through the
slave trade, has been inserted into the COnstltu-
ton itself. Neither Of these did We expect. We
did not suppose that any Southern Government,
whether for a month o. a year, would sanction the
policy Of Protective tariffs. The tariff q 81 Is
odIous and oppressive il its Discrimination. Il
was made 70 favor Northern enterprise al the e1-
pease Of the people Of the South-a huge free-ASt
for them-the burden Of taxation for rs to bear
and we maintain Ii is adverse 70 revenue, unjust IL
principle anu oppressive il practice. Whether tins
is brought about by a partial remission Of duties
or g partial imposition, il is still the same IN et-
feet. We enter our protest against the scheme
and policy, both as regards ourselves and n the
r~esulJs,s0 lar as foreign nations are concerned and
their friendship, az this time, valuable u US. In
each respect Free Trade is the true policy OF the
Confederate states.
W deem it also unfortunate and mai 1r-711,,
that the stigma Of LEGITIMACY and l~llegalIty
should be placed Ipon the institution Of slavery
by a fundamental law against the slave-trads. In
our opinion 1t is a matter Of policy, and not @.
principle 10 be decided now and hereafter, from
sound views q the necessities and safety Of cur
people. We think tia proper subject Of legislation
We are willing t. prohibit u by legal enactment,
like any other topic q legislation. But While
England imports her thousands Of Coolie slaves,
under the farcical appellati0u Of " apprentices -
while they are striving by these means 70 compete
with US and supersede Us, IN producing the tropi-
cal T-Udu- u0Cs Of slave la0or-whiie We have
within or reach a large scope Of fertile territory
uucUltTatel ia Texas, and may have, ere long the
silver mines ot Arizona and the tcemInc States Of
Mexico. 70 populate and reduce 20 agricultural
prCducuveuess-it seems to US short-sirhted weak.
ald sentimental % preclude forever, by tu1da-
mental enactment, the adoption CT a policy tha,
may become essential TO our appropriate growth
and expansion, aud TO our successful competition
with the hypucritical nations OF EuroEc.
But tie Constitution IS adopted is only QrCvls-
I.lal anu Temporary, and may, therefore, be OK
cusabio on that account. We hJre the Perma-
ncnt Government will be made ard established
speedily and without reference o. any thing going
outside Of the Confederate SStes. These have
complete success within their gasp, II they viii
only act tearie5siy and with tie confidence of me-
who are competent O. co--rol their destinies. Too
great 4 Difference ard delay for me Border States
still Il tie Union, viii only encourage their ii1-
toriEess aad p%rolouc their stay. Let the en- e--
crate States but perform their daily. All their
whole duty 70 themselves. irrespective Of others.
We viii answer for the result T. enlI Con-
fe1cracy Of al the Slave States.