Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-07-17

THE SPIRIT OF 1916 VS.. COPPER
HEADIsM.

souri, Compromise show that our Legislature
and people were then true to the spirit Of
1870, as most of them are now. The excep-
tions are fortunately few
For the Journal
MEN MAY CHANGE,.pRINClpLES SEVER DO
The deeds Of Blue Light, Hartford Conven-
ton Federalism have been revived, under the
name of Democracy. ] abhor them. Time
was, during the war " 1879, when men we're
found destitute Of patriotism enough to meet
in Convention at Hartford for the purpose Of
organizing an opposition TO the Government
in the prosecution of the war with England,
or an opposition to the administration of Mr..
Madison, which was the same thing, for the
term administration as applied TO any govern
ment means the Executive Department of the
Government, and whoever seeks to get up an
opposition and thereby weaken the Executive
Department of the government, when it is
engaged 10 a just war, is fit representative
of certain few, who, during the war OF 1912
were destitute of patriotism enough to raise
blue lights, as signals 10 British cruisers, that
American vessels were about to sail from
some of our ports.
During the war Of 1912, the Hartford Con-
vention Federalists the bitter opponents
of the Administration, or the Government
which is virtually the same thing Now the
opponents of the government in the present
war claim to be Democrats. insist that they
are not entitled to that name; il it is to be
regarded the name Of certain principles
promul gated by Mr.. Jefferson, the great apos-
tie Of what is properly called Democratic prn-
ciples.
What are those principlesl He sets them
forth in the Declaration of Independence. to
be self-evident truths That all men are Gre
dted equal, tina they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness But what did he mean by
these expressions; Let his own acts explain
what be meant. In 1863, as the representa-.
tive Of his county in the legislature of the
colony of Virginia, he made an effort, which,
however, was not successful, for the emanci-
patton of slaves in Virginia In July. 1776,
he wrote the Declaration Of independence,
the leading proposition of which, is the above
quotation. After the adoption of the Decla-
ration Of Independence, having been elected
a representative to the Legislature of Virginia,
where he thought he could be useful in franz
ing the laws required under republican form
Of government, he resigned his seat in Con-
gress and took his seat in the Virginia legis-
lature IN OClOOer following.
Having previously made the attempt to
have the slaves emancipated, and failed, he
did not attempt again to carry that measure,
but at this session, as the ut xt best measures,
among the laws proposed by him, and ddop-
I'd, were those prohibiting the importation Of
slaves for abohshing tue law OF plimogeni-
ture, and providing for the equal partition Of
inheritSnces, for establishing religious freed
If al cd 10
1t lie true that this last iavorite measure of
his, was never carried into practice in the
State. Had il been, Virginia, long ere this,
would have been a free State, and never
would have joined in the rebellion.
The Constitution having provided that
Congress sho I'D not prohibit the importation
of slaves prior to the year 1903, Mr. Jeier-
son in his message to Congress delivered on
the 2nd day of December. 1906, says, " /
congratulate you, fellow citizens, on the APP
proach Of the period at which you may inter-
pUse your authority constitutionally, to with
draw the citizens of the United States from
all further participation IN those violations o.
human rights which have been so long con.
tinued on the unofending inhabitants of Al.
rlca, aud 0hieh the morally, the reputation and
the best interests of our country haze long
been eager to prescribe
At that very session a Democratic Con-
gress passed law, prob biting the importa-
ton OF slaves, to take effect on the first day
Of January, 1908, in accordance with the rec
ommendation of Mr.. Jefferson. II is we'll
known also, that Mr.. jefferson originated the
ordinance of 1889, which excluded slavery
from all the Nor.h Western Territory.
In the last letter which Mr. Jefferson wrote
and only ten days before his death, which oc-
cured July 4th, 1876, he calls the Declare
ton OF Independence IAN instrument preg-
nant with our own and the fate of the world"
Now permit me to inquire whist great truths
are contained in that instrument, except those
have quoted, and those which follow, as
consequences therefrom And again, permit
me to enquire what principle of the modern
selt-styled democratic party is in accordance
with the principles and teachings of MI
Jeffersoni
Take the much applauded speech Of Mr.
Smalley in the recent, so called. democratic
convention, as a specimen of their devotion
TO the principles taught by Mr.. Jefferson
Mr.. SmAlley said that Mr.. Lincoln was an
abolitionist before his election, and believed
in the equality of the races Mr.. Jefferson
said, I'VE hold these truths TO be self-evident
that all men are created equal" The Rich,
equality is right among those who are nat
urally unequal, equality is chaos that thes,
slave races are born to serve, master races borr
TO govern" Governor Wise called the la
boring men OF the north, northern mud
stills" Now, was Mr. Smalley adyocatin,
the principles taught and upheld by Mr.. JET
ferson, or those advocated by the Rehmonc
Examiner, Governor Wise, and aristocrat
generally. Did the laboIing men in the re
cent convention consider what they we're an
plauding, Mr. Smalley said the cause {
this war was to be found in the rabid fanat
cism Of New England. He referred to a res
olution passed in the Vermont Legislature /
1920, and resolutions passed since, which h
declared were aggressive on the South. II
charged that Vermont, through her legisl,
ton, her churches, her schools, and all b,
public institutions, had assaiIed-the Soutl
Has any man done any thing or espresso
himself more strongly against slavery tina
Mr.. Jefferson and was he fanatici
attempted to abolish slavery in Virginia,
1863; in July l776, he wrote the declarsto
of independence in Ostober l776 he got