The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-08
R1yrps1pE Christmas Eve. 1860.


am not mistaken ue have inherited a mile of
that moral sentiment, which developed itself
in unce's religious feelings into hatred OF
slavery as sin per Sc
AS my memory runs back to our boyhood
days, read upon its honest truthful pages,
sentiments perfectly consistent with the gen.
eral principles of the anti'slavery party of
that day. And later, when we were better
qualified to understand and discuss our polit-
ical opinions, we had no differences in our
words or acts We could work and vote in
the old Wing ranks for Harrison, Tay-
lor and Scott; or for Stephens, Clay or
Webster, without a conflict with any one of
our social, moral Or political notions. We
could do any honorable deed for our noble
commonwealth without supposing that some
body in South Carolina, or your adopted
Mississippi, would be aggrieved thereby. We
could ihnocently believe iii and unite upon
Just such doctrines pertaining to slavery as
the republican party have adopted.
"Why now the difference ? an the same
quiet, unobtrusye, homc-loying, Green Noun
tain boy Of earlier days. l can discover no
change in my opinions or sympathes, and yet
we represent unlike social, political and reIig
ious ideas voted for the honest, the patri
otto, the brave Abraham Lincoln, under the
guidance of the same conservative notions
Of duty and constitutional obligations that
always inclined my suffrage for the best man.
Being pretty well posted IN political mat
tiers, ard somewhat with the spirit and pur
poses of the South, was net surprised at
your representations Of her present state.
am more disposed to pity than rebuke her
| regard her present distress to DC the legiti-
mate fruit OF the peculiar institution YOU so
highly prize. Ii is the history of every peo-
pie that held his fellow in civil bondage,
whether Greek or Barbarian, Israelite or
Christian, Ancient or Modern and in my O.
pinon it will be 50 till good will to men
shall lead all to venerate the image of God
wherever impressed.
The present state of your section is more
the result of a conscientlousness of error in
your social and civil economy on the part of
your intelligent citizens, and a consciousness
of degradation on the part of the seryile
population, than all the lahors and influences
of strictly aboitionst, since the Union be-
gan.
The wrong You perpetuate upon humanity,
the violence you inhict upon the (onsti,u-
;ion the sin You commit against God in kill
Ing free white men, for speaking and writing
honest thoughts, or for being in correspond
ence with them that do think and write such,
is doing more to hasten the freedom of the
slave than any influence the North can Gre
ate. This martyrdom will as surely corrode
Ifs foftu md IN aato rfa
element composing them. as did the other
martyrdom break down the Popish hierarchy
and send the spirit of Professionalism to re-
deem the world. Neither republicanism, nor
the republican party are responsible for the
occasion, or the fact and, my brother if the
republicans shall assume the duty of enforc-
ing the laws Of our most excellent republic,
(Which Providence seems to have purposed,)
then will there be an estopper quito this des-
ecratlon of humanity, or | will leave her
ranks and take position more consistent to
constitutional liberty. Then, that is aboli-
tionism unaoyed
than a century since, and has frequently
crecped out in some kindred vein and show
ed its presence in uncles big, warm heart, is
surely working in yours. Admit 1.-THE leay-
en- will work.
am not an abo!itionst in tie sense YOU
use the term. nor a member of an abolition
party, but strictly a Henry Clay emancipa-
ZIONIST a Jefferson democrat; a Webster
constitutional a states rights, and Wash
ington Union man. If you understand our
platform You will not ask whittier am re-
,
save that Of emancipation, upon which We
have never taken position.
When | speak for this party upon the sub
ject of slavery, | am authorized to say no
more, than to declare it to be a local institu-
ton; that it does not and cannot exist at any
time, or in any place witEou, the sanction of
positive law: and hence all people and lands
not subject to such authority are free and
hence all our territories not subject to the
Sla, cry code before it becomes part and
parcel of ourselves AUST be free, until Com
gress makes it otherwise. Oar own Judicial
" and that of England have ruled to that
effect.
Both Of our platforms recognize the power
of Congress to leCi>latc upon matters pertain
ing to the territories. Here then is the point
in controversy: We say the constitution
does not establish slavery by any intrinsic
power it possesses. but simply recognizes it
when established by proper local authority.
You say it does both. We say that the ter
ritories of this expanding. this wonderfully
moHopolizing contederacy must not be re-
tarded and crippled in their development b.
any such influences. You say they must b. ;
and Your Knights of the Golden Circle, your
Minute Men and all such companies, are rea-
dy To fight for it-"impaient for the fray"
But who axe YOU going to fight? Not ne
OF course. L. must be Uncle Sam, and in
such conflict reckon but few brothers will
meet in bloody fray"
Unless the children are much wiser than
their fathers were. the republicans are right !;
and being right, have triumphea, as truth
and justice always will in the end
We neither want your slaves, nor would
incite them to instruction: We will not buy
nor beg them. 1t Your southern states de-
SIRE the institution. VI wont trouble them.
only as the unseen .nhuence::of our principles
sail permeate the moral sentiments OF their
people. and dispose them them to follow the
lead OF their more prosperous sisters by their
own free will.
Slavery national? Slavery so desirable
tia: christianity must DIFF her white banner
and bow even to its bsst phases? Slavery
destined TO cover the nations as water does
the sea? Never TIL Satan receives from the
hands ofC hrist the Kingdoms ofthis world ana
the CORY of them. Nerer. till freedom shall
turn upon its own track and yield conquest
after conquest till the world shall he sub
merged in barbarism and vice. Italy must
betakc herself to tyranny. and Russia to serf-
dom. This might-be happy and united con-