Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-06-17
VOL. X.-No. 460.

utCpHIS tuc lueutIc VI WuV -CiVus
.servile, or foreign-from that instant the
war powers of Congress extend to inter-
with The institution of slavery, in
every way by which it can be interfered
with from a claim of indemnity for slaves
taken or destroyed, to the %cession of the
81 ate burdened with slavery TO a foreign
power.
Sir. it is by virtue of this same war power
as now brought into exercise by this Indian
war in Florida, Alabama and Georgia, that
vote for the resolution before the COM
mitlee. By Virtue Of this, I have already
voted IN the course of this session to in-
crease your standing army by a second
regiment OF drs goous, To authorize yout
President to accept tho services Of ten
thousand volunteers, and to appropriate
millions Of the public money to suppress
these Indian hostilltles- all for the common
defence. all for the general welfare. Aud
if, on this occasion, | have been compelled
TO avail myself OF the opportunity to assign
my reasons for voting against the first
resolution reported by the slavery commit
tee, it is because it was the pleasure of the
minority of the House this morning To re.
tuse me the permission to assign my reasons
tor my vote, when the question was put
upon those resolutions themselves.
Sir, it is a melancholy contemplation 10 me, mud
raises fearful iorebodings in my mind when con-
slider The manner in which that Report aud those
Resolutions have been disposed Of by the House.
| have Twice asked permission Of this House "
offer two resolutions calling for affirmation from
The President upon subjects Of infinite Importance
to this question Of slavery, to our relations with
Mexico, and to the peace Of the country. WleI
last made the attempt, il majority of The House ,o-
led by yeas and nays 10 suspend The rules To enable
me 10 offer one of the two resolutions -but HE mae
jority not amounting 10 two thirds, my resolution
has moi yet Obtained from The House The favor Of
being considered. Had it been The pleasure Of tho
House To indulge the call, or to allow me the privie
lege Of assigning my reasons for my vote on the res.
luIim this morning, the remarks that | have npw
made might have been deemed more appropriate 10
those topics Of discussion, than to The question
more Immediately now before the committee. They
are refeCt ions, however. which | deem il not Ieas
Indispensable To make than lhev are painful to I've
made -extorted from me bv a condition Of public
affairs unexanpled in the history Of this country. -
Heretofore, calls upon The Executive Department
for infprmaliom, such as that whic, | have proposed
to make, were considered rs among the rights Of
The members Of this House. which il was scarcely
deemed decent to resist. A previous question,
snoihering all discussion upon resolutions reported
by IA committee, affecting The vital principles Of Tho
Constitution, moved by one of the members who
reported the resolutions, and sustained by the mem.
beis OF that committee itself, is an occurrence which
never before %h,ppened in the annals Of this Gov
erument. The adoption of those resolutions Of Ihe
House had 1T even been moved. Upon the mere
question whether an extra number Of the report OF
lhe committee should be printed, n member moves
The recommilmen of The report, with Instructions 10
report IA new resolution. On this motion the pre-
vious question is moved, and The Speaker declarct
that the man question is not on The motion 10 re-
commit not Oh he motion to print an extra NUM-
Y her Of cop'es Of The report, bu, upon the adoption
I oil three 'eso'uIions, reported, but never even ma.
/ we'd IN the House. u this is TO be the sample oil
, our future legi4i alton. i, is time 10 awake from tho
. delusion that f eehon Of speed, is among The rights
Ct he members Of the minority Of this House.
To return, Mr. Chairman, 10 The resolution befhre
! the committee. | shall vote for this application OF
r moneys levied by taxation upon my constituents, to
/, feed he suffering and starving fusi ives from Indian
, desperation AMI revenge. How deeply searching
in The Golfers Of your Treasury this operation viii
u Ultimately be, no man can AT this time iOreteli.--
' he expenditure authorized by this resolution may
be not in itself very considerable; but in iis rO.
: gress it has already stretched from Alabama 10
Georgit-h,w much further il may extend, will lie
, seen hereafter. | turn my eyes away from the
prospect of il now but am prepared 10 meet Tho
l emergency, If IL should come, with all The RESOURCES
. Of The Treasury.
But, sir, | shall not vote fr this relief to tina
:. suffering inhabitants Of Alabama, AMI Of Georgia.
: upon the grounI on which the gentleman from AL
ALBANIA, (Mr Lewis) and the gentleman from South
{ CMolina (MI rIompsonj have been disposed TO
| place it.. L'tile reason have the inhabitants Of Geo
u and Of Alabami 10 complain that the Government
q Of The United States has been remiss or n'sleclf,'
in protecting them from Indian hostilities the fact
is directly the reverse. The People OF Alabama
" and Georgia are now ~sunerin. The recoil OF their
7 own unlawful weapons. Georgia, sir, Georgia. by
n t~rampling upon the faith of our national treaties
u with the Indian Tribes and by subjecIins them TO
n her State laws, first set The example Of that policy
which is now in The process Of " li,ii
. Indian war. In setting this example, she babe de-
v II ,,co 4, ,ha a,tbn.i,, Of tho En,a.np,ept nI the
nation she nullifed your laws: she set at naushi
your Executive and judicial guardians Of the COM
mon Constitution OF The Land. To what extent she
|, carried his policy, the dungeons of her prisons and
h the records OF the Supreme Judicial Court Of the
Uniled States can tell. To those prisons she com.
" mitted inoffensive, innocent, pious ministers Of tbs
Gospel of Frulh, fr ~carryin! HE light, he com
forts, and the consultations of iha: Gospel 10 iia
q hearts and minds If ,iese unhip py Indians. A
~ solemn decision OF The Supreme Court of The u. 5.
pronounced that act u riOlitIon Of yonr treaties
" aud Of your laws. Georgia defed lhdI decision
your Executive Government never carried il intJ
execution the Imprisoned missionaries Of lha
d Gospel were compelled 10 purchase their ransom
a from perpetual captivity 10y sacrificing their right.
8 as freemen to the meekness OF their principles az
- Christians aud you have sanctioned al these out.
RACES upon justice, law, and humanity, by succumb.
q ing 10 The power ana the policy Of Georgia, by &C.
!, conmodating your legislation TO her arbitrary viii
. by tearing 10 tatlers Your old treaties with the In
- dams, and by consirainins them, under peine forte
ct dure 10 The mockery of signing Other treat les
I with you, which al the first moment when it shall
s suit your purpose, you will again leai 10 taters
I AMI scatter 10 The four winds OF Heaven, ill the In.
!, dian race sha u be extinct upon this continent, and
! it shall become IA problem beyond the solution Of
: aniiquaries and historical sOcieties, what The Ted
e man Of the forest was.
7 This sir, is the remote primitive cause Of
I The present Indian war your own injustice
/, sanctioning and sustaining that of Georgia
and klaI.n,a Tbig eu,.. . Ill. =