Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-06

without injury to the enslaved in the adj
ininint- Stnfnn

SziiEsKs sE ssz5lzs lsslis
without injury to the enslaved in the adj
joining States.
Mn. You've moved TO erase The express
sions which he understood from their
Gpnnoclion necessarily in volycd this doubt
"one which did not, in his mind, at least,
exist.
Ma. WATERMAN said, he hoped the pro-
proposed amendment would not prevail
The resolution read very well in its present
shape and as 20 the constitutional right
Of Congress TO lcgisate upon the subject,
or of the necessity or expediency Of IN
strucllng our Senators, and requesting our
Representatives TO take part in question
so - saIing in its very nature, and filing
the country with excitement, he at least for
one, thought we might well hesitate
The question was one Of great moment,
and required the decision, not of a moment,
but Of time, and Of men well versed in con-
sHtutienal law.
Mr. RANNEY said, the resolution now en-
pressed not only doubt OF the constitu,
liona power of Congress TO abolish the ev-
il Of slavery in the District Of Columbia,
the very heart of ihis nation, boasling Of
its freedom, and the excellency Of its free
intiutons; but it went even further-it
expressed an opinion, an implied one, at
least, and gave it currency, that the aboli-
ton of slavery in the District Of Columbia,
would add to the misercs of the slave ano-
Their link in the chain OF his bondage, if he
happened to be dragging out life OF in
voluntary servitude in State adjoining 10 g,
or in the vicinity Of that district. He en-
teriained no such opinion, and would vote
against any resolution expressing such
opinion, as the one now under considera-
ton would, unless the amendment pre-
vailed.
MR. Young said, the form and intended
effect Of the resolution as first introduced
had been neutralized, if not entirely done
away, by the mist or log ofdoubt in which
the amendments had enveloped it. This
proposition was intended 10 clear the reso-
luton of all mysticaton and doubt, and TO
make il eneaL cut IN 'rinin L ., ,-i:~l ;--.i-
" ruth and soberness. II the resolution
passed without the amendment he propos-
ed, or something similar from other gen.
tlemen he should care neither yea nor nay
about il; it would not be worth the effort
required 10 sound the one or the other.
Mr.. PoRTaR said, he would not agree
entirely with the views expressed by the
gentleman from Orleans, (Mr. Young,) as
he understood the resolution even as am
ended. 1t recognised slavery as an evil.
and had reference 10 its abolition; not, how
ever, unless it could be effected in a con-
slitulional and legal manner. Senators,
surely, were not prepared to preach insur-
recion-no! The resolution as it now
reads, contemplates the removal Of slavery
in accordance with the constitution and
laws.
Mr.. HEBARD remarked that, narrowed
down and neuralized as the resolution had
been by amendments, if it expressed any
opinion upon the subject lslavery as it OK
isis 10 the District Of Columbia, that en-
preston was made only in the preamble as
a new form of introduction. The only re-
naming reference TO the subject left in the
resolution was an if, calculated to perpeiu-
ate doubts, and engender difficulties real or
imaginary. He was in favor Of no insur-
recionary movement-the constitution and
the laws must be our guide in this as in
every other question OF national concern
ment; but will Senator's pass this resolution
with an if engraiel on its visage, and SeuI
out TO tell the country and the world, tnaI
Vermont is enveloped in a fog of doubt
whether man, whatever may be the color OF
his skin, :" lis, or OF right ought to be free'
in The Capital Of the American Republic ?
1t would be stigma upon the Senate, and
Il reproach upon the intelligence Of the
State. The resolution permitted, if it did
not design to do 50, an inference which
did not exist either in the head or the heart.
Another branch of the subect-he did not
intend TO express an opinion as To the right
or the duty OF insructing our delegation in
Congress upon the subject Of slavery--lhat
was an important question which he did not
rise to discuss; but he waa unwilling to
pass a resolution, which created doubt
even OF the constitutional right OF Senators
anl Representatives in Congress, to egis-
late upon the subject a their discretion.
Mn, SHELDON said, he entertained no