Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-07
, VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY MARCH 7. 1888.


FouarH ANNUAL MEETNo OF THE YER
MONT Aar-sLAvGRT socETY.--ReHdrks
on A. SiepGrt--cOntinHed.-The Constitu-
lion Of the United States, he said, was only
fence around the precious rights OF con-
science-it was not the title-deed. The
fence around his farm did not constitute his
title-deed to il. He held It from a better
and higher consideration.
In the first draught Of the Constitution OF
the United States, the liberty of speech and
right Of petition were left out. These inVal-
liable provisions will be found among the a
mendments. Suppose that the proposition
to invade the right Of petition had seen pre-
sented to the trainers Of that venerable in
sirument. This government would have
exploded in ITS inception, and gone of in va
por. No-to.invade the right Of petition was
a work left 70 be done by the Congress of
this Republic at this late day. Where or
when was this right ever denied before p
The charge Of so infamous proceeding
cannot be brought against old England
whatever else she may be chargeable with.
No--nor against any tyrannical government
Of the east, ancient or modern. II entered
not into the codes of Draco or Of Dionysiu
Nor can il be shown that Nero, or any 9TH
or villain or monster Of antiquity was guilty
Of this refinement Of tyranny. He deGed
any man to point out the atrocious act on
the page Of the history Of any other country
but our own. .s,r .'sF "' H
There was another practice, growing t.
bsvery prevalent in Congress, which, TO ev
cry liberal mind, was odious enough in al
conscience-a practice which, as often as i
isresorted to, renders every man as tongue
less as though their tongues had all dropped
out Of their heads. II was the resort to thu
"previous question:" But the invasion o
the right Of petition is going one step beyond
or back Of, the previous question. 1t is meet
ing the people and laying violent hands Of
their mouths, at the very threshold, befor
they have entered the door, or any othe
question has been raised I! The preViou
question, applied to banking, or any othe
hackneyed subject, is matter Of utter 10
significance compared with this.
The speaker humorously alluded 10
curious fact connected with the late inf;
nous proceeding Of Congress on this sui
iect. Il was on the 21st Of December
the very time there is the most darkness
the Northern hemisphere that this concoc
ed villainy Of the South, all in perfect kesI
ing with slavery, was brought forward ar
carried. It was then that the sacred rig
Of petition was cloven down by gull
maiority-it was the height Of moral tire
son. What good reason could be render,
for the foul deed7 None. The petition
the people trampled under feet unread al
uncorsidered p How could anything
Known OF what was unread7 When or
whom was ever. such leap taken in
dark7-a leap taken through the meshes
our own Constitution, over the head Of
mainly and all right. y a1@ 'E.@ =, 90
Our speaker; while he was up, would
form the audience that the friends Of
right Of petition in the State Of New-Y'
4 are pe,iiioning their Legislature to call
) Congress 10 rescind the infamous resoluti
Of Dec. 2lst, and thus blot the foul stig1
from the journals Of that body. And
could assure his hearers, almost to c
tainty, that, before the month Of March
out, rthere will be an opportunity Of know
whether Congress will turn a deaf ear
the petitions Of the Empire State"
He concluded for this time, by urging
duty Of exercising our political infiuen
Tor the overthrow Of the execrable system
The next resolution discussed and ado
ed was the following: .a, ras.n .'a
Resolved, That the allegation that
Constitution Of the United States has GU,
anteed the perpetual existence, Of slav,
amongst this people, is unsupported by a
evidence, and is an unmerited reprpach On
the memories -four revolutionary fathers
A.stewart maintained that Congress
consitutloual power to enact laws Il
shall accomplish the object He feu
proof 10 this point 10 ihs act Of I7ss, ?
hibiiink fhs. foreign slave trade after IS
IA satr# a.