Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-07
June Z, 1897

Of Hon. John Quincy Adams IN Con-
,cress during the past winter, Of the prog
ress Of the abolition cause, and OF what h I'd
been done by the abolitionists for The lib
Grafton Of the slave.
The resolutions were next taken up in
order. The FIRST was the following, dlvi-
ded into four parts: ...@.
I. RssOlred, That slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia has no warrant or sane
ton from the Constitution Of the United
States. but IS direct contravention Of the
grea' purposes for which that instrument
was framed
2. RssoIref, That slavery in the Dis
1rict Of Columbia owes its present existence
solely to an Act Of Congress restoring
and psrpetuating il, where it would other
wise have been left, without any legal
support or sanction whatever. and stand
ing upon its own execrabIe foundation OF
robbery and wrong. .
8. Rssolued. That the people Of the
free StItes, by permitting their own Rep
1 resentatives, TO perpetuate and to re-estab-
lish SLAVERY in the District. and TO exact
laws from time to time for rs recognition
and security. have given and ale still Civ
ing direct and powerful support to the en-
tire system Of Slavery, and to all the I'M
counted horrors Of the traffic in human
flesh, which is making the American
name by.word and reproach. and
kindling against US the dispIeasure Of
Heaven.
1. RssoIred, Therefore, that it is the
4 solemn duty Of the citizens Of the free
States to Offer at the next sessirn Of Con-
gre3s their united and earnest remonstrance
Against the continuance Of Slavery in the
District Of Columbia, and to see to it. that
through the rtjudicts The party pied yes,
and political connexion Of tn ir Represent
atives, they are no longer made partak-
ers in the abomination.
"a The above resolutions were discussed
during the foreno On session Of the Con-
.Fention. The points upon which the most
|discussion was had were, that slavery in
|the District CT Columbia. his no warrant
or sanction from the Constitution of the
4 United States but is direct 10 alton oil
the great purposes ofthat instrument, aud
uron the point, TINT slavery in the District
OF Columbia owes IT'S present existence
solely to an Act Of Congress.
Upon the first point, Mr.. Burleieh, Of
liOhio, sp, Ike at some length. The tcnden-
81 Of his remarks was to show the uncon-,
stitutionalitv OF slavery from the nature OF
the case. He expatated upon the eIemen-
tary principles Of government showing
that no instrument or enactments what
ever, could make that right which is
clearly wrong. What is The object Of
Consthution7 In the language Of the
preamble TO the Constitution Of the United
States, il is Ito form a more perfect union,
establish Justice" &c. This, he contend
ed. was the object OF every Constitution.
written or unwritten, and this every Court
in the Ipd would adludge 10 be its object
No Cons tuition whatever can legaIize
crime. He considered. therefore, the
question to be narrowed down to this sim
Ele point, l. slavery Injustice If it is un-
ust. il is uncor stitu,ional.
The other point engaged spirited dis
eussion. Many facts were adduced 10
how, that had Congress left the subject Of
&|avery 10 itself in the District Of CoIum-
q, slavery would have ceased of its own
.tcord, II, the time ofthe session ofthe Dis
Irict, by Maryland and Virginia.
The afternoon session was spent in dis
eussing sundry resolutions. One approx
ing the course tak.n by the Massachusetts
Legislature at its last session, was advo-
eated BY Mr. Stanton. The purport ofthe
RESOLUTION vas, that the stand taken By the
Aassachust tts Legislature indicated re-
living ofthe former spirit Of liberty.
Mr.. s. remarked, that the difficulty
nth Massachusetts had been, not that she
eas recreanl 10 her principles, but that she
Id been silent Only get her to speak
nd she will speak right The stand ia
Zen by her Legislature is a noble one
BE inquired what would be the effect o
his stand. This movement will nightly
Influence another class Of men. He alIu
II to the effect produced on other States
- The effect Of Congress. The effect on
Va GINA had been powerful. Old Wiz
/. Iinia bad said that Massnchr sets hac
sin,ted from her sphere. The effect or
New.York and New Jersey was very
11fcu. They are accustomed TO look 4
Massachusetts, as the pioneers. in thi
tarse: and the stand taken by the MasSa
rhuset,s Legislature had given new i'm
betus u the cause in those States. Not
Wi, hstanding all that had been done. b.
'snred there might be a reaction. Shoult
his be so. may the Lord have mercy OF
i! f Massachusetts proved recreunt Il
81 principles, the Republic is gone
The resolutions passed by the Lrgislatur
gere obtained by hard drilling. He EtiI
cared that they might be dragged to n
hltar and sacrificed. The alarm bell hs
tlready been rung by noisy politician
That the Senate has got ahead ofthe peopI,
L..