The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-04
The Democrats. Slavery and the
Presidency.

The Democrats. Slavery and the
Presidency.
The democratic change of front on the
slavery question marks an era in our politi-
ca progress. Some of the republican press
es, taken by surprise, interpret this unexpect-
ed movement as merely strategic, and doubt
whether the democratic leaders are sincere
in 1t or viii hold to it more than long enough
TO get the republican party committed to the
most extreme radical position. The theory
is that the democrats toresee popular reae-
tion against radical anti-slarery measures
and think by encouraging the party in power
to reckless course to promote that reaction
and SO get the benefit of it in the presidential
canvass. With this motive they take, or
feign 10 take, the identical ground occupied
by the administration party at The beginning
of the present Struggle, and say that while
the single object of the war should be the
maintenance of The Union, slavery must suffer
tie inevitable consequences of the war. Many
Of tEem, Ike representative Brooks of New
York, 90 father, and acknowledge that the
des;ruc;. of slavery is certainly to be &C.
compiished, and that this fact is TO be recog-
nized and acq1ieseed in. In Mr.. Brooks
case We car suppose there is something Ike
the feeling of a recovered backslder, for in
his early cay he was an earnest anti-slayery
man and only denied his original faith from
the influence Of bad political associations.
Nr. Brooks in lis late speech in Congress
pretended 10 base his belief in the extinction
Q: slavery upon the statement that the rebel
congress had authorized the arming Of the
negroes; beth sides have made soldiers of
the negroes, he insisted that both were alike
committed 10 The ultimate removal of the in
stitution. Here Mr.. Brooks stretched point
to cover his own retreat from false position,
FOR the rebel congress has lot authorized the
arming OF the negroes, but merely their con-
scripiion as teamsters and laborers in the
camps and trenches-labors quite as consis-
tent with slavery as work in the cotton fields.
That the rebels would arm the negroes is
they dared trust them NAV Be readily beliey-
ed. but they dare Lot put arms into the
hands Of even the free negroes, and there is
20 reason 10 believe that they will under any
circumstances. They know that their ne
groeS are against them.
N-rer;h., IS Mr.. Brooks is righ, in the
general conclusion tha; slavery is doomed,
the opposition presses and politicians show
more ihan Their usual sagaci;y in de,ermin-
ing Ihey VIII not sacrifice themselves in the
vain Effort TO resist the current of events.
lheir denial. however, that the democracy
has ever defended or protected slavery is a
little too impudert. Why, even after the
war commenced, they organized suciety in
NeS York " for The diffusion of political n
formation, and The tracts they have scatter
ed most l'rotnsrly over the country have been
the scrlrtural Arguments for slavery as
divine institution, written by Rev. DIR. Lord
and Rev Bishop Hopkins. two Of the tough
est old theological .brcisers of this aseuho. If
they I've long enough, viii probably be
found, after the sla'e has been freed. still
arguing The Christian duty of compelling the
sons Of Ham n work without wages.
What The democrats mean to say about
slavery and their Own politics is, that seces-
sior and abolition have killed it; and they
wash their lands y. all responsibility for It's
death, but are not such fools as 10 aitsmpt TO
saivanize The corpse; that they DO not vet
know as they vii oppose a constitutional
amendment abolishing and prohibiting sla-
rery-;hey wait 10 see how public opinion
sets IN ihat matter; and they Will make all
they can ont Of the alleged unconstitutional
and oppressive acts of the administration,
the official corruption, the military blunders,
and the general faults of the party in power;
and especially they will DO their utmost to
stimulate the feuds and personal rivalries
which threaten division and weakness TO the
Republican party of course they vii make
the most of Gen. Mcclellan as a martyr to
radlcalism and military Ignorance in the gov
eminent, but that is already dead issue.
The people have no interest in If, and If il
could be proved that Mcclellan is the great
est captain Of ;he age and has been badly
abused, il by 10 means follows that he is the
man for President. The Presidential CON-
test must turn upon some issue Of more vital
and national importance than The reputation
of any general If the slavery issue is TO
taken ont OF the Canvass by general consent,
as would now seem likely, then modes
reeonsirue;ion and questions of finance will
become prominent, and the issue Will be
shall We go Through with and settle tie
whole ihi- & according 10 present politics, or
shall We change and so f.car the RISKS of un-
tried and doubtful experiments. There is nc,
mistake as 10 what is the general feeling at
this moment: Abraham, Won are doing We'll
put it through.-Springfeld Republican.