The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-02-20

ment is founded, every State has n legitimate right
to discuss the subject, TO express its opinions upon
it aud osend its opinions here. 1t does not belong
to US, no, sir, IL does not belong to u.s. to say what
the State Legislatures shall what they shall not
discuss.
If we look into he report of tho committee,
which, perhaps unnecessarily, accompanies the
resolutions, there is nothing in it, in my apprehen-
sion, at all offensive; certainly nothing INTENTIONAL
ly disrespectiul. The report is an argument against
| the annexation of Texas to the United States. Its
whole scope and object to show the mpolicy
and danger of such measure. Slavery being no.
cessarily connected with the main subject, being
indeed, one of the most important considerations
belonging to it, it was unavoidable 10 SPEAK OF H.
and 10 speak of il with freedom too. The language
used may be strong; the opinions expressed may
be erroneous; tho whole argument may be wrong
but there is surely nothing offensive in 1t. In tue
resolutions and memorials which were presented
here upon tho Missouri question, upon the tariff,
upon notification, upon the right and power OF tins
body TO cxpunge part ofits journal, you had full
as much freedom Of thought and boldness OF eX-
pressions, and yet the papers woro received, not
only without objection, but without complaint
Sir how did these resolutions originate They
grew out of numerous petitions presented by tho
People TO the Legislature Of Vermont; which the
Lcgisla was bound to receive and act upon. 1t
could not do otherwise. 1t did receive and act up
on them; and in so dong, it did what it conceived
to be its duty, and nothing more than its duty We
have refused 10 receive the petitions Of the people,
and they are now going, us you perceive, and might
have expected, TO the State Legislatures.
Sir, gentlemen may be assured that have no dis
position to interfere do these resolutions profess
To set up any claim to interfere in the slightest
ner, with any Of the rights of the South. Their
institutions their own, peculiarly their own, and
will leave them to themselves. / have no dis2o-
sition, more than any one, to threw this Union into
commotion, by unnecessarily raising amy disturbing
questions here. If that is done, it will not be my
fault. But while / say this, wish not to be mis-
understood. lam opposed to slavery in any and
every form. A system that dooms Il part of the hu
man race TO hopeless bondage, from generation TO
generation, for all time to come; dcprlvlng them Of
all personal rights without even the right of their
own offspring; and which dooms them, asc, to per-
petual, everlasting, brutal Ignorance; torbiddng
their instruction in knowledge, religion, or morals,
by heavy and severe pansnn penalties of law, has
place in my appreciation aeciion, and can re-
ceive no countonance or favor from me. In what
ever | say do, that subject, if on no other,
will leave nothing equivocal. while, therefore, l
discaim, totally dscaim, any right to intermediate
with the domestic concerns any OF theSGlcsl MUS!
insist upon the right of petition, upon the right Of
discussion. upon the right of opinion These rights
can never be surrendered abandoned. To my
mind it is plain, that much Of the excitement which
prevails among the people Is owing TO the uniuuud
ed, the cXtravugant, and arrogant doctrines which
have been advanced here That Congress has no
power abolish slavery in this District no right to
discuss the subject, and the people right to pc
titIOn concerning it, prCtenSi0ns which nCv
er be silently acquiesced in. They must and will
be resisted. If the question put, as it should
be, upon the ground of eXpedlency, without deny
ing plain constitutional rights there would be less
for colhplain and, am well persuaded less
agitation in the country.