Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-06-28
PHOENIX.
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
MIR. ADAMS, LETTER.
LETTER II.

To The Citi5eas of the United States, qchose
Petitions, Memorials, and Remonstraaccs.
hare been entrusted TO me, 10 be presented
10 The House Of Representatives. Of The Uni
ted States, at Tie Third session Of Tie 25M
Congress.
(Coacladed)
I had long INDUCED the hope that the alb
clifton Of slavery in this Conlederacy would
be effected by The People of the several
States in which it exists as has actually
been done in the States OF New York and
Pennsylvania Proposals for this most de-
sirable consummation have, at different
times, been actually made and discussed in
the Legislatures of Maryland, Virginia and
kentucky and the time had been when in
all those States majority, or very nearly
majority of the People would have sanction
ed the measure. Within very few years
petition from many hundreds Of the inhabit.
ants of the District Of Columbia itself was
presented 10 Congress praying for the aboli.
ton Of slavery there.-The same spirit was
then powerful. both in Virginia s. Maryland
In both those States il is now silent, If not ex-
tinct The spirit Of slavery has acquired not
only an overruling ascendancy, but has be-
come at once intolerant, prospective & soph-
istical 1t has crept into The philosophical
chairs the schools. lis cloven.foot has en-
tered the pulpits oflhe churches Professors
of colleges teach it lesson ofmorals Min
listers Of the Gospel seek and profess 10 find
sanction for it in the Word OF God
l can, therefore. no longer fatter myself
with the expectation that in the short rem
nant Of my life slavery will be abolished in
the States of Virginia and Maryland by their
Legislatures, and with the consent ofthe peo
pie of those States themselves & have new
er contemplated any other mode Of abolition
as desirable or susceptible Of receiving any
countenance from an American citizen, faith
full to his country & friendly 10 the continu-
ance ofthe Union. So long as the people of
hose two States shall be so decidedly averse
District of Columbia will be favorable to the
very little ground 10 hope that the People of
to the general abolition OF slavery, there is
it among themselves.
That a change OF sentiment on this sub
ject WILL 10 the course of time. take place
both in the States and in the District, still
hope, though | have little reason to antic-
ipate that it will happen in my time.
The danger which | believe at this time
most imminently threatens the Union, arises
from the struggle of the States in which sla-
very has taken TOO deep root 10 be peaceably
eradicated, 10 preserve, extend, and perpetu-
ate that peculiar institution. The principles
assumed and so earnestly maintained by
them, that neither the People of The free
States nor Congress have any right TO inter-
fere in any manner with their institutions, is
not sufficient 10 serve their turn. They are
continually summoning the free States 10
sacrifice their own principles, to sustain the
institution of slavery. We have seen them
cali unfortunately upon the free States for
penal laws 10 punish their own citizens for
harboring or performing the offices of com
mon humanity TO fugitive slaves. We have
Witnessed a negotiation olseyen years, claim
ing from foreign Government indemnify for
slaves, liberated by shpwreck, beyond the
jurisdiction of the slave Stale itself, and en-
croaching upon the free jurisdiction OF the
foreign Stale. We have seen the sacred
protection Of the post Office violated with i'm
puni:y, aud with the ayowed connivance oil
The officer at the head Of the Depa 10
whom was committed The trust of that pro-
lection. And we have read resolutions OF a
slave State Legislature threatening yenge-
ance against a sister State should she persist
in refusing TO deliver up for merciless pun
ishment, mol a iugitivs slave, but one oil her
own citizens charged, without proof, with
connlvng at "a slaves escape. The demand
for the enactment Of penal laws in the free
States, to rlvel the chains of the slave, has
not always been unsuccessful. The Legs
lature OF the State of Ohio. at their very last
session. at the demand Of the Legislature oil
Kentucky, enacted law for the delivering
up OF persons claimed as fugitive slaves by
The fiat OF single magistrate, and denying
TO the arrested party the benefit of a trial by
jury, and made it an offence punishable by
flne and Imprisonment to obslruct or impede
the process. II is also a notorious fact thai
the same Legislature, by majority devoted 10
The present administration OF the general
government. dismissed from thei: service, as
"a member ofihe Senate ofthe United States,
an individual of their own party, fol no 9TH
er cause than that he adhered tothe princi-
pies of the Declaration OF Independence, and
spurned proffered pledge OF servilty 10 the
peculiar Institutions
The policy of the South with regard to the
affairs OF the Union is exclusively devoted
to that object. That was the impulse under
which they effected the dismembernent o.
Mexico, aud the establishment ofthe Repub
lie OF Texas. A part Of that plan, as you
now know, was TO annex to this Union III,
new Republic, with an additional bell Of five
degrees of latitude across this Continent to
The South Sea. Had that plan been consum
mated N tarriforv su f1iriant for the foundo.