Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-03-02

galy slaves for life. Some who are emit.
tied to freedom, and many who have
limited time to serve, are sold into uncon
dItional slavery; and, owing to the defec-
tiveness of our laws, they are generally
carried out Of the District before the Deces.
sary steps can be taken for their release.
We behold these scenes continually taking
place among us, aud lament our inability
to prevent them"
Sir, you have here picture Of the evils
Of tho slave trade, as carried on in this
District, drawn by men who could have
had no conceivable nducemcnt to give it
too high ot too strong a colorlug. They
lived in the midst Of the traffic. knew its
abuses. and had no poss bic motive TO mis-
represent or cxaggers,e. After speaking
Of It's enormiies, its detcslable ntrocl'le
which, fear have undergone no mitigation
since they add
1--WE ate aware Of the difficulties that
would attend any attempt to relieve US from
these grievances by n sudden emancipation
ct the slaves in this District. and we would
therefore, DE far from Recommending 50 rash
measr.fc. Bur the course pursued by
many Of the States Of this Contcderacy.
mat have happily succeeded 10 relieving
the mSolves from similar burden, together
It'll the bright example which has been
set us by the South American Republics.
proves. most conclusive'y. that a course Of
gradnsI emancipation, to commence al
some fixed period, and to take effect only
upon those who may thereafter be born or
removed INTO the District, might BE- pursued
without dCtrlmcnt to the present ptoprl"-
tors, and would greatly rcdound to the
prosperity and honor of our country. The
existence among rs Of a distinct class of
people who, by their condition as slaves,
are deprived OF almost every incentive to
virtue and industry, and shut out from
many Of the sontces Of light and knowledge
mas an evident tendency to corrupt the
morals Of The People, and to damp he spirit
OF enterprise, by accustomlng the rising
generation to look with contempt upon
homes, labor, and to depend upon the labor
Of others ], prevents useful and indus.
trlOus class Of people from settling among
us, by rendering the means of subsistence
more precarous TO the lOborlHg class %
whites. 1t dlminshes The resources Of the
community, by throwing the earning Of the
poor into he Golfers fine rich; thus rem
dering the former dependents scrvlle, and
lmprOvident: while the latter are tempted
TO become, in the same proportion luxuri
Gus and prod,gal. That these disastrous
results flow from the existence Of slavery
among us is sufficiently conspicuous. when
we contrast the languishing condition of
this District, and the surrounding country,
with the prosperity Of those pats Of the
Union which are less favored in pom, of
climate and location, bu. blessed with a
free and industrious population. We
would, therefore, respectfully pray that
these grievances may claim the attention
Of your honorable body, and that a law Of
oil children of slaves, born in the District
Of Columbia after The fourth day Of July,
1928, shall be free at the age Of twenty. five
years"
This petition, which also prays that laws
may be enacted TO prevent the introduction
Of slaves from abroad, is signed by eleven
hundred and SIX citizens of this District,
compromising as may be seen from the
list of names annexed, n large portion of
the most respectable aud enlightened men
in it; men OF property and business, men
Of all classes and collngs. professional men,
men holding high jndclal and other offcla
stations.
Sir, it has often been asserted. it has been
repeated on this floor from time to time,
that those who send resolutions and petit
tons here for the abolition of slavery in
this District are not only intermeddng
with that which does not concern them,
but are asking for a measure opposed to
the wishes and interest of the People ofihe
District. From the document have read,
you have seen, not only that this is mis-
take, but, what is more Immediately to the
purpose, that the People Of this District
can speak as freely and as strongly on the
subject of slavery. "a the Legislature OF
Vermont, or as any Of your memorlaists
1.-THE People Of Vermont are fanatics for
holding the opinions they do, so are the
People of his District. and so are most #
the civilized and enlightened nations of the
earth.
Mr.. CALHOUN said, as State Rights
man. he thought the State Of Vernon, had
u right to appear here; he considered HIN
self bound to regard that right and did not
intend to argue against It. lie could not
90 against receiving these resnlulons.-
How then should he act' Could he vote
TO receive them' This was impossible
The language of the report, which was
part oflhe proceedings, was such, that IT
was impossible that he, representing a por-
ton Of the slaveholdmg States, could vote
for their reception. lie could, therefore,
act neither one way nor the other, but must
leave gentlemen to dispose OF them as they
might think proper.
1t was owing to this difficulty, in part,
that he had brought forward counler-reso-
buttons, for The purpose Of freely express
ing oil his opinions on the subjects to
which they related. lie saw that the
question of receiving and laying on the
table the Vermont resolutions would not