Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-13
POLITICAL PROUIBITION.
some "Reminiscences by an old viii

some "Reminiscences by an old Whig.
To the Editor OF the Free Press:
MILTON Aug. 4, 1856
have read with great interest and en-
tire approval your reply to the request Of
your respected correspondent from Milton
who desires to be informed rs to the flu
ture attitude and action not only of the
FREE PRESS but of the republican party
toward the liquor traffic. Now, Mr.. Edi-
tor, have the conviction that i'll sup
pressing and putting down great and gi-
gantc evils that concern the whole body
polite alike-evls that will require well
organized effort for their suppression and
removal that organization must have
beginning somewhere and it is all i'm
portant that the enterprise shall have an
appropriate, wise, faithful and determine
ed leadership. y case in point is the
great rebellion 1t was very proper, as
the sequel proved, that the republican
party should have leadership in all organ
lied effort to put it down. There we had
rebellion in arms, a rebellion that was the
creature of slavery aud foe of all our peo-
pie both in state and nation as we'll as foe
to all who loved liberty the world over,
and but for the wisdom the faithlulness
and determined persistence of those in
authority the rebellion would have been a
success.
Right here, Mr.. Editor, allow me to re
ply to the admonitiOu of your correspond
ent lest the republican party repeat the
great mistake OF the wing party genera
ton ago. am not clear about the charge
of mistake. ! WAS Whig myself casting
my first vote for president in 1892, and
have still the most proud and precious
memories of the old party aud have to
say this only that they buIlded better
than they knew. How was it Even then
the slavery prOpagandlstS of the south
had become alarmed for the future of
their institution that had thus far eua-
bled them to dominate and dictate in all
the matters of government and admins
tratiuu in their own states, and through
the aid of the democratic party to exercise
the same prerOgatiVes in and over the
whole nation. Notwithstanding the great
advantage given them by the COnstitu-
ton, OF making three-tifths of every slave
voter to perpetuate not only their own
slavery but that Of thelr unborn offspring
as well. They saw that the slave trade
had already been declared piracy and that
by the laws of population and lmmigra-
tiou combined, their slavery was doomed
unless they could establish the dogma
that under the Constitution they had the
their slavery into any or all the terrific
ries of the Union. The lines were now
drawn, The question Of extension or no eN-
tension of slavery was now III conflict and
to men of like mind with Mr.. Seward that
conflict would be irrepre~sible. The dem
OCratiC party of the north were ready to
COnCede their assent to the dogma. Not
so the Whig party. The wings would con
tinue to fulfill all their obligations toward
the people of the slave holding states to
the full letter Of the constitution and they
did it even to the rendition of runaway
slaves, but further they would not 90.
Their dogma was not 'numinated' in the
bond. But this pledge on the part of the
wings did neither satisfy nor appease
them in the least, and furthermore when
Mr.. Webster the great cXpOuuder of the
constitution in his 18th of March speech in
Congress undertook to reassure the south
that they need not fear the action of the
wings as Il party, for should the admins
tratiOn of government affairs come into
their hands again, there would be no in
reference with their rights under the con-
stitutiOn on the subject of slavery. Some
thought that speech of his very clever
bid for their votes, to make himself their
candidate for president. But they would
not dare to trust him, for they remember
ed his language on another occasion and
before another audience when he said, Il
hear the sound of the hammer, | see the
smoke OF the furnace where letters are
still forged for human limbs. Let that
spot be purified, or let it cease to be Of
New England Again the wings pro-
posed to make Henry Clay president
himself a Shareholder and Il man of com
promises. Neither would they trust him.
They remembered that Mr.. Clay had re-
piled to "A certain Mr. Merry when
questioned about his sentiments in regard
to slavery. He said in substance, THAT
is matter for the whole people to regu-
late AMI dispose of under the Cousttu-
ton, while my own personal sentiments
are these; | say to my own slaves, when
ever you think You can do better by leav-
ing me and my service don't run away
but come to me and say SO, and will give
YOU free papers" That would not do, 50
neither would they trust Mr.. Clay.
No, Mr.. Editor, let us cast no reflections
ON the old whig party, Cod bless and
preserve its memory. Il WAS their atti-
tude and their action toward slavery in
hedging its way into the territories that
made republican party possible and es-
pecially to endow it so richly and abuud-
autlY with the elements which could en-
sure success, viz Wisdom, faithfulness,
patience and forbearance witt determine
ton and persistence to preserve and per
petuate liberty AS well rs government of
the people, 10y the people, and for the peo
pie. Respectfully yours,
q. II. RICE.