The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-03-15
From the Montpelier Freeman.
SectiOnGliS7ll.

! week TIE lOllOWlUO
ga New DRESS. - The Montpelier
Freeman comes to Us this week with a
new dress throughout 1t is very pleasant
to the eye, and. if we except its politics, }
to the understanding also. 1t is an ably
conducted paper, and gives considerable
more reading matter than most of the
Vermont journals. We never could quite
understand why 50 sensible man rs friend
Willard should be lead so far away into
the wilderness of radicalism. He doubt
less has some good reasons for losing faith
in the teachings of the fathers, and follow
ING after strange men. He always has 4
reason for his acts But so LONG us the
picture of Washington hangs in our bed
room, we cannot forget his frequent warm
ingS TO the country to avoid sectional
parties, and to adopt only such political
issues as would draw to their support a
fair proportion of the people in every sec
ton Of the country. The Freeman has
for ten years supported a party composed
almost wholly Of Northern men, and, of
course, a sectional party. Were Wash
ington alive, the Freeman would have one
more democrat to oppose"
Expressing our grateful appreciation of
the complimentary part of the above no.
tice, we cannot decline to write Il para
graph Or two respecting the charge of sec
tionaliSm. Our friend of the Union may
try to comfort himself by an effort to draw
political inspiration from the picture of
Washington hanging in his bedroom. but
we suspect he knows ust Is little as we
know, what the politics OF Washington
would now he if he were on the earth.
Washington wasn't much of democrat in
his ltc-time-certainly not Jefferson
democrat-but, we believe. was reckoned
a. 4 Federalist. If he were alive now he
might be Il democrat and might disagree
with the Freeman: but he would tind the
nlted States SO much changed that we
SerlouS Y doubt if he would know whether
he was Il democrat or a republican and
he probably wouldn't vote until he had
read the papers and posted himself" in
the new order of things.
Democrats Of this generation never fail
TO improve an opportunity 10 quote Wash
ington's Farewell address, But it Is lath-
er hard on Washington to press him at
this late day into the service of the party
which, as is now claimed, was founded bv
Jefferson, and was most certainly not in
It's origin entirely agreeable 10 Washing
ton. Indeed We suspect Il great part of
the Farewell address WIS meant and I'M
dcr>tood i'll lis day to he a shot fired di-
rectly into the camp of the young drmoc-
racy OF 1896. 1t is, however. one of the
pecullarltleS OF democratic teachings. tha.
1t finds in the writings of dead statesmen.
whose political career when alive it ALWAYS
opposed, 4 VAST amount OF sound political
wisdom. The democratic party never
gave vote for Daniel Webster living, vet
lis papers and speakers praise without
stint Daniel Webster dead; Just "a the
beardless democracy of the last century did
not much admire the federalism OF Wash
ington, although the d mocratS OF the last
half OF this century hang Wa>hington's
picture in their houses
We have noticed that the democratic
quotations from WASHINGTON usually stop
with the caution against sectional parties
There is another declaration of the great
Nirglnian which we would not have these
democrats overlook. 1t is far above mere
| political wisdom. and was written when
It's author was adjusting his final account
with this world, III view of his final ac-
count III another state of existence 1t
solemnly commences, IN TIE NAME OF
Con, AMEN; and proceeds as follows:
"Hem.-Upon the lecease of my wife, it
is my will and desire that all the slaves
whom hold IN my own right shall receive
their freedom. To emancipate them dur
ing her life would, though earnestly wish
e! by me, be attended with such insuper-
able difficulties, on account of their inter-
mixture by marriage with the dover ne
groes, as to excite the most painful sensa-
| tons, if not disagrecable consequences to
the latter, while beth descriptions are in
the occupancy Of the same proprietor; it
not being In my power, under the tenure
by which the dover negroes are held. to
manumit them. And whereas, among
| those who will receive freedom according
TO this devise, there may be some, who,
from old age, or bodily intirmities, and
Others. who on account of their infancy.
will be unable to support themselves, it is
my will and desire, that all, who come
under the first and second description,
shall be comfortably clothed and fed By
my heirs while they live; and that such of
the latter description as have no parents
living, or, if living, are unable or unwil
ling to provide for them. shall be bound
by the court until they shall arrive at the
age OF twenty-five years; and, in cases
where no record can be produced, whereby
their ages can be ascertained, the judy
ment OF the court, upon its own view Of
the subject, shall be adequate and final. /
The negroes thus bound, are (by their
masters and mistresseS to be taught to
read and write, and to be brought up to
some useful occupation, agreeably TO the
laws OF the Commonwealth of Virginia,
providing for the support Of orphan and
other poor children. And | do hereby
expressly forbid the sale or transportation
out OF the said Commonwealth, OF any
slave | may die possessed OF, under any
pretenve whatsoever. And | do, more
over, most poinicCIly and most solemnly