Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-05-16
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REPLY TO CEPHAS.

sitution has invested ihcm with powcr, and
they are unstcernbie 10 Cod and men for right
use ui that power.
Again, il Congress has this controlling pow
or, then we see the proprioty ond Importance
of presenting our petitions 10 That honofGote
body and should this rec them, we hope they
viii do, as did the unjust judge, grant our re-
quest, so that we may no longer weary them.
Again, granting our position 10 be correct,
we may well hope that Ccphas, and otkcr
powerful minds, will cease TO doubt and begin
to act. We shall cheerCulIy resign the lerer,
and rejoice to sec them plying it with all their
might. But we would forwarn them, that
even their names should not sooM the south,
nor prevent their being erasperated by every
attempt TO intcrdict the slave trade even at
Washington Ono has well said. 'The nbo-
ltion of slavery in the District Of Colombia
would be like a milestone around The neck OF
the whole system of slavery, which would
soon drown il in q sea OF popular adherence.
Such an act would be the verdict Of the whole
peop,e in condemnation Of slavery, pronounced
by the highest legislative court OF the nation.
Il would be .9merica deliberately ndjudsing
slavery to be worthy Of death. The system
ncrid not suv,ve the srn lce five yoare. Wei
has the Hon. Mr. Preston Of South Carolina
said, that The question n,usi be met here; for
Tie District is he main gale al The entrance of
The citadel; il is the bridge orer the moGt and
ercry aggression here mast be resisted No
wcnder, then, that in direct violation Of the
constitution the right ol petition has been
piriual'y denied by the Representatives of the
nn;io1. And ii wc must shrink from all
creicment, it is Of little consequence what
power over the question Congress possess
For even Ccphus rlrst be sensible, that Con-
gross can no NOR, intcrdict the slave trade at
Washington without opposition and excite
ment, than they can interdct it at New Or
leans. Must we then fold cur hands, ard
consent that slavery should clank her chains
forever? For ono, frankly say, am not
willing. ! believe God requires us TO break
every yoke, and 10 let the oppressed 90 free
And believe we ought 10 obey God rather
than man.
Mcssrs. Walton--Y venerable cores
pendent Cephas has the kndck Of raising DIFF
fcultes, ard it is much easier 10 raise them
than 10 answer them. | must then request you
To have patience with me little lnnGer.--
There is a question proposed by Cephos, IN
der which censlre seems TO he implied and
am willing TO meet it. Certainly II would
be worse than folly TO rer Congress with petit
lions, requesting them 10 do what they have
no constitutional authority TO do. And know
Of no one that has done this For Cephas says
"he cannot see how the power Of Congress TO
abolish slavery and the slave trude in the
District can be denied" Surely, then, those
who request Congress 10 suppress this trade
do not request them 10 do what they have no
constitutional authority 10 do.
But il Congress have the same constitution
al power 10 regulate the internal slave trade
at They have to regulate the foreign slave
trade, then there may be good reasons why
they should be requested 10 exercise theii
power. | have endeavored 10 show that Con.
gross have all the power, which we wish then
TO exercise and that this power has neve
been restricted By any compromise in tht
constitution. | may, then, in the language 0
Ccphas say, of il be necessary, let US heap GU
1stitions upon the tables Of Congress, unit
those tables groan beneath their weight, ant
give that honorable body no rest, until it shal
asset its constitutional power, which ii ha
90 long neglected 10 use, and pun an end I,
an nbhorred traffic, which is not only the dis
grace Of our land, but an hbominollon in III,
sight OF God" Here, then, according 10 th
celebration Of Cephus, oil those must be justi
fled in pering Congress with their petitions
and in reiterating them until they are regard
cd, and the evil con planned Of removed, wh
really believe that Congrcrs arc authorized l.
do so. They only do what Cephas would d
were he satisfied that their sentiments wcr
correct. He cannot, then, condemn then
for doing giat he rOgId do, in like cream
stances.
lIfTc I WISH " oAdio NY itusOslo lOi 'ANS1
Ing upon Congress our petitions:
l. | believe that slavery, az it exists in lhi
land, is a sin, n great national sin, and often
sivc 10 God, and that am bound to do what
can to remove this sim Blu; have not don
what might do until nave peilioned.
2. believe that Congress have the consi
tutional power 10 abolish slavery aud the sdy
trade at Washington, aud TO inerdict III
slave rade between the sinles.
-. -t 4, Z
constitutional right, they can so cripple III
whole system of slavery, that the say
states would soon devise means 10 remo'
this evil.
4, That until Congress do act, the sin
national, and that the North rs well as ii
South, are guilty in the sight Of God.
s. That Congress will act whenever the
are convinced that the pecplo.wish them 10
il. p1d tho proper way to let them know OF
wisaca i5 by petition,
G Tint If jhe evil is not obatcd, blame ms
be- fastened hero it belongs. wish ~ cei
,.ya.lfin the SIGHT Of God and man.
7. ! believe that the right Of pelioning
IN inolenabe right, secured by the constt
ton; that this right has been rhamctuly Q
sailed, and that tho friends of liberty ought
assert il in The lace Of the world. -~.
8. That | ougbt To assist those, who a
contendng against slavcry--to bear my ties
mony against this sin-0nd to clear my o'
skirls nf the blood Of souls.
That ought to remember those thai
IN bonas-to sympathizo with the oppresse
10 warn the oppressor and thus save him fro
scrviIe war; aad all the judgments OF an
tented God.
TO- / believe TINT slavery is undermining
our free Institutions, and will destroy Them.
not temoyed--lhat il has corruphng inf