Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-10

The Old Era.
There Is no surer indication Of the birth OF
new era than the passing away Of a race OF
Statesmen who marked and honored the old
one The prevailing character of statesmen
and statc-man.hip Is the chief mark
that distinguishes the periods in our
history. The war of 1872 was bu. a
ripple in the national sea, bu, tie principle.
involved in the struggle, the political con
t-Jycrsies and the prominent actors of the
period, are never to be forgotten. The de-
tails Of the Mexican war are but little
known, while the pro-slayery policy which
stole Texas from Mexico and bound her 10
the United States. gives character to a de-
cale. IN the Old World monarchs and con-
qucrors give names to their ages. '' 1t il the
privilege Of genius, says Carlyle some
where, " to name the epoch in which
reEns Time itself Is but the succession o.;
great men. 1t is the age of Charlemagnc,
Charles Y. or Napoleon Bonaparte. Our
reckonings take new departure from their
death Not SO in ou- more democratic c1un-
try. We are jealous of individual pre-emi-
nence. The worst thing that can be done
for a man is to elect him president. He is
then target Tor all arrows-anI his friends
often fly the most poisonous shait, Il is
this intensely democratic spirit that prevents
any individual graspins monopoly of power
and influence. Not even Washington him
self can shape an epoch. He has no ahso
lutte superiority. lie Is only drs; among
equals.
BY the recent death Of so many eminent
politician, Of the old school we are forcibIy
reminded of an era which is now passed away.
John Bell, Amos Kendall, Frank Pierce,
Robert ). Walker, belonged to another age.
1t was the long period stretching from the
close Of the last war with Great Britain t,
the election Of Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
1t might he defined as the period of slavery
agitation. In the first half Of the time sla-
very YVES successfully pursuing the policy Of
selfa-grandizcment. The South was extend
ing her territory and grasping the control Of
the Government. She made our presidents,
and shaped our laws. She dictated our for
eign policy, a7i with strange blindness
fought the Urine Of domestic improve
men:s. Yer the growing influence OF slavery
did MT alarm the statesmen Of that period.
Even when the notification difficulty arose .
there were but two men IN the country who /
saw through the question. Andrew jackson .
and John Quincy Adams. Daniel Webster
himself was too weak a statesman or too
shrewd politician to plant himself upon the
real issue
The failure Of notification opened the
real question \ band Of aholiti0nists then
began to make Itself heard ami felt This
is the last half Of the period which We are
describing. Slavery then commenced veer-
Ing slowly toward its apheion. Heretofore
it had been aggressive, striving for power.
Now it assumed the defensive and struggled
for life The monster died slowly. At
times i, appeared to be stronger than ever.
At the close OF the Mexican war, for in
stance, slavery was confident, and appa-
rently vigorous as never before. Yet the
deadly disease was already upon its vitals
The South did not know it, nor tho North.
Tor the aholtionists themselves 1t is notice
lble that the South did not ut this time seek
% force slavery upon the territories as a mat
er of conquest, hut a. Il measure of self
lelence In this she was logically right.
slavery must grow and expand, or die. The
wo sections brsced themselves for the strug- /
lie, and the free North won. Slavery could :
rot. exprnd, and she died. California and :
Kansas were the fatal shots with which the J
bolitionists took It's life.
The period Of slavery agitation ended with {
he election Of Lincoln TIE contest WAS
hen transferred from the clhiuct aad the +,
ouncl t. the field of battle liz adminis- d
-ation ,lnsummatei :hc victory Or which Z
ing years Of agitation had h,,en preparing. ,
he new era dates front the Inauguration uf 5
n anti-slayery president. !.
The regularity of the era Of slavery agi- ii
Ition was the tmid manner in which s'
atesmen approached the question. They II
bored earnestly to keep it cat Of politic-
he part taken by John Bell, Amos Kendall. a,
I'd the Others whom we have named, was bl
1t the most prominent. Their fame was Il
'ershadowed by that of many ADLER and =,
eater men. But they fitlY represent the eA
,irit Of the statesmanship Of those DAYS pl
be leaders were no holder Even the broad u
uuiders of Daniel Webster could not bear II
lie Unpopular burden which every abolition -
was bound to assume. John Quincy no
dams saw the coming storm and prepared bl
meet it. But his colleagues laughed at be
5 fears. and slavery quietly gagged his dan tn
rous voice. The characteristic of the pO- ba
les of this period was " compromise." The TIC
nth compromised as a matter Of policy: M
e North, to avoid diSagreeabls subjects III
e occasional death of some politician of bu
e old school brings forcibly to mind this era sa
great men and small results, of much po- pa
zeal wisdom and little faith and courage IN
: era of the politician and the trimmer. ss