Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-28
GBe Drrmont 4benit.
BRATTLE BORO;
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY -, 1860.
PROFESSION VERSUS PRACTICE; OR,
Nv DEMOCRACY GOING no SBBD.


The administration of James Buchanan is
fast drawing to close. In few days the
nlace which now holds him as an occupant will
know him no more forever. In obedience to
the sovereign will of the people the fourth day
of March, only four days distant, is the day
when he will march forth, and leave the exccu
tive chair which he has occupied, but not filed.
He will retire to the quiet walks of private life
where, we trust, he will find that peace and COM
posure that has been denied him during long
and eventful public career. Happy would it
be for the country if the memory of his mis-
deeds could as readily he retired and efIaced
from the public mind. But this happiness is
denied us. His acts are all written in his coun-
try's history, and the page which bears their
record is one from which no statesman or pa
triot through the long years of the future will
turn without blush.
Mr.. Buchanan's administration is in every
point of view most stupendous failure. During
the nearly three-quarters of a century that our
government has been in operation under the
Constitution, we have had in the Presidential
very wise men in council and some who were
neither able nor wise. But the weakness, I'M
becility, treachery and duplicity of the now re-
firing administration will serve by its contrast
to set all its predecessors in more favorable
light, while its corruption and treason will con-
stitute an indelibly odorous mark for the finger
of scorn and loathing in pointing an illustration
through all coming time. The treachery of
Tyler and the pliancy of Pierce are half re-
deemed from infamy by the yet deeper sound
ings Of Buchanan in the sea of niquity.
THIS is strong language, yet it is justified by
the testimony of sworn witnesses, and the
chives Of our government are full to repletion
with corroborating evidence The reports of
the several committees raised to inquire into the
management of certain departments contain
abundant proof of many of these allegations;
the transactions of the past few months are too
fresh in the public mind to need recapitulaticn.
Future developments in relation to recent oc.
c;Irrences will be but cumulative evidence to
the same points.
As Mr. Buchanan is about to retire from Of
flee it is well to point the contrast between the
promises of his inaugural and the fruits of his
administration. In relation to the election by
which he was elevated to the chief executive
Office he says:
ave have recently passed through presidential
contest in which the passions of our fellow citizens
excited to the highest degree by questions of deep
and vital importance; but when the people proclaim
cd their will the tempest at subsidized, and all
calm. The voice OF the majority speaking in the
manner prescribed by the constitution, was heard,
and instant submission followed Our own country
alone could have exhibited 30 grand and striking
spectacle of the capacity of man for self government
Now it is well TO bear in mind that Mr. Blu
chan was elected by minority of the people,
as well as Mr.. Lincoln, and like him he received
majority Of the votes of the electoral colleges,
by which he then was, as Mr.. Lincoln now is,
constitutionally elected According to MIR. Blu
chanan's solemn testimony given in his first
state paper, there was instant submission by
the Republicans, who were then his chief OPP
ponents Mark the contrast now Mr.. Lin
coin is elected in the same manner and in ac-
cordance with precisely the same forms of the
constitution as was Mr.. Buchanan, yet how is it
with leading democrats high in Office and the
confidence of the PRESIDENT DO they submit
instantly and unqualifedly to the expressed will
of the people? No. At the same time they
were acting in the cabinet and voting in their
ministerial and advisory character upon meas
ures affecting the safety of the country, they
we're engaged in extensive and deeply laid con-
spiracies to break up and overthrow the very
government they had but recently sworn to de-
fend and protect, and to destroy the constilu-
ton they had solemnly sworn to maintain
all because a man had been elevated to the
office of chief magistrate whose views did not
accord with their own! And for this treason
the President had no word of rebuke.
In relation to the Territories he promulgated
the following beautiful theory:
"Nothing can be faer than to leave the people OF
territory free from all foreign interference to decide
their institutions according to the constitution of the
United States"
What was the practice? Under the active
exertons of officials of the most violent pro-
slavery instincts and tendencies, appointed by
the President, convention was called in the
Territory of Kansas and an election held for
members Of a convention to form constitution.
Through the preparation of grosser frauds
than ever before or since disgraced the ballot
box, majority of the delegates returned, cleo
ted by lean minority of the voters, were in
favor of making that territory into slave state
A constitution to that effect was adopted and
because Gov. Walker would do as he had
promised and obey the instructions given him
by Mr.. Buchanan himself in submitting the
constitution to the people to accept or reject as
they saw fit, he was forced to resign to give
place to some caitif who would do the bidding
of his pro-slayery masters Congress at first
refused to sanction this fraud, although there
was democratic majority in both branches.
but by the aid of government influence suf-
fcient number of democratic members were
bought upto agree 10 the English compromise"
giving Kansas bounty if she would come into
the Union as a slave state! This is what Mr..
Buchanan meant by "leaving the people of
territory free from all foreign interference"
Mr.. Buchanan detained strongly upon the
duty of the President to maintain the Consttu-
ton and the Union. He closes his administra-
: