Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-07
Tbe Wermont 4geniF.
BRATTLEBORO'
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, $780,
THE POINT AT ISSUE

During the controversy which is now exciting
the very heart OF the country and causing the
remotest extremities to throb with its fevered
pulsaticns, We have parposely abstaincd from
the example set us by many Of our democratic
contemporaries in singing peans to the Union.
We ere not insensible to the great advantages
growing out of our national Union, and we are
not among the number Of those who believe
that any rebellious starc can of her own caprice
sunder the band which binds us together. But
when we are told by those highest in authority
that we have nc power under the constitution
to put down rebellion and Danish treason, it is
time to begin to calculate the value of the
Union, And if the Union cannot be preserved
unless, as the Southern States say, we will ig-
more the principles upon which it was formed
and make their local institutions national, We
are quite willing to "lct it slide"
The Objects ambition and madness of the
South centres in this single point Whether
the dicta of the Supreme Court that "the negro
has no rights which the white man is bound to
respect" shall be made part Of the Consttu-
ton In other words the South demands that
we shall so amend the Constitution that the
extra-judiciol opinions of the Supreme Court in
the bred Scott case shall become a part and
parcel of the organic law of our government,
never to be changed, modified or repealed, and
presents secession like pistol to our breasts,
as the only alternative So thoroughly are the
South impregnated with this feeEnf that :heir
Senators who have sworn to uphold, maintain
and defend the Constitution blush not in ma
king this extraordinary demand
The truth is the administration democracy
are repeating the very game they played at the
Charleston Convention. A majority of the del
egates, we believe, of seventeen States united
in pressing Just suck a demand upon that CON
yention, and being unsuccessful, they inundated
their party on the altar of secession. This de-
mand complied with they were willing to NOM
mate Douglas or anybody else the Northern
delegates should name, but without such guar
antee they would make no nomination. Most
of the Northern delegates remained Rrm tc
their credit be it said, and the South finding
themselves outvoted set the frs example of Sc
cesson.
During the canvass which followed there
were four political parties in the field. The
Republicans were for the non extension of slav
cry, the Douglas democrats advocated "popu
lar sovereignty" the Bell and Everett men wer,
for 4'the Constitution and the enforcement o
the laws" Against all these were the admin
istration democrats advocating the right of thu
South TO take their slaves anywhere in tn,
United States under the protecting Ggis of thu
Constitution, thus, in effect Matchmaking slav
cry. Now what was the result.
In Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey an
Pennsylvania, the opposition to the Republican
generally fused upon the same ticket. We wi
set down all the fusion votes in the first tire
States named for Douglas, and all in pennsy
vania for Breckenridge, which division is quit
as equitable for the administration democracy
one would think of making. Under this divi,
ION we find that the whole number of votes
the 1s free States for Byeckinridge, or in otht
words for Matchmaking slavery, was 27S, S3;
while the votes against that ticket and platforl
the Breckenridge ticket received but about ha
of the votes cast. If this was nq a practic
settlement of the demand for a constitution
recognition of slavery we think it will be in va
TO took for one anywhere, and we can see I
advantage that is likely to accrue to airy par
by another reference of this or any similar pro
osition.