Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-14
THE POSITION OF VERMONT.

The Montpelier Wdtchman of last week gives
an account Of a recent meeting "of the late
delegates to the Republican Conv ention at Chi
cago", assembled, as one would naturally infer
from the telegraphc reports which radiated to
all parts of the Union, as a sort Of "Committee
of the Whole on the state Of Union" in general,
and of the State Of Vermont in PARTICULAR
Their saying and doings as reported by the
VdtchmdR are as follows:
Eight of the ten delegates were present, and
after full and free consultation it was decided 10
address a letter to each of the Senators and
Representatives from this State in Congress,
setting forth what appeared to them to be the
sentiment of the people of the State. They
concurred in the opinion, and believed Il TO be
the opinion of almost the entire body of the
Republicans of the State, that there should be
no compromise made with the slaveholding
States, now or at any time, which shall recog-
nize slavery as a national institution, or allow
ats extension into any territory of the United
States. They express 1t as their deliberate con-
yiction that the platform adopted at Chicago
ought not TO be departed from in the slightest
particular; and that the adoption either OF Mr..
Crttendens resolutions or the Border State
compromise, or the proposition for the admits
sion of New Mexico as q State, would be an
abandonment of that PLATFORM and surrender
of principle, (which would efiectually demoralze
and destroy the Republican party; that thecon-
stitution and laws now guarantee toevery State
all the rights necessary to a tree government,
and that the laws should be enforced at all haz-
ards; that the remedy for the present evils is
not concession compromise, but an energetic
administration Of the powers conferred upon
government for the enforcement of the laws,
the protection of the public property, and the
maintenance of peace"
We are assured on the best authority that
these individuals met in their private capacity
as citizens of Vermont in an entirely informal
manner, and after consultation agreed upon the
form and manner Of making known their views
indicated in the Hcntlaman. They have the
same RICH. to meet for that or any other pur-
pose as any other citizens of this State, and
their opinions are entitled to just the same
weight as those of any other eight men of equal
capacity, intelligence, experience, and opportu-
mites for information--and no mere The fact
that they are the slate delegates to the Repub-
lican convention at Chicago is of no sort Of
account in the matter nor do We understand
that they sought to give additional force to their
convictions on this ground. although by address
ing themselves to our congressional delegation
as "the late delegates, &C., would, on the face
of it imply different construction.
We have great confidence in the ability
Judgment, and means of information possessed
by these "late delegates" and entertain nc
doubt that they repress mt truly the opinions OF
majority of the Republicans of Vermont
Our sources of information, much less abundant
than theirs, leads us to the same conclusion
And yet there are other Republicans in this
State who are not prepared to declare with Sc
much positiveness against any basis of adjust
shall be satisfied with the adoption of either o
the propositions made by Mr.. Seward or Mr.
Adams, provided the border slave states vii
come forward in good faith and accept them a
the basis of an honorable and fraternal adjust
nent. We know of very many leading, infu
entail and honored members of our party il
this county whose views accord with ours. Il
consentirs to this we are conscious of no sub
stantial departure from the platform agree,
upon at Chicago, or surrender of any principl
upon which the victory of last November wa
won. We DO not call this a compromise" bu
simply an honorable mode Of adjustment of ex
listing difficulties. Many of our friends will
perhaps, disagree with US; the slate delegates
evidently do While we coneede to them til
right to express their convictions we feel calle
upon to give utterance to ours, especially as
as understood abroad, to some extent at leas,
that our friends who informally and on thei
own motion met al Montpelier, spoke by au
thority.