Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-03-06

apparent force by blending with the OBJ
Ject which they have in view collateral
and totally different question. arising out
OF an alleged violation of the right of Pc
tition. | know full well, and take great
pleasure in testifying, that nothing was
remoter from the intention of the majority
Of the Senate, from which differed, than
to violate The right of petition in any case
IN which, according to its judgment. that
right could be constitutionaIly exercised,
or where the object Of petition could be
safely or properly granted. Still, i! must
be owned that the aboitionists have sez-
ed hold of the fact Of the treatment which
their petitions have received. in Congress,
and made injurious imp essions upon the
minds Of large portion Of the communi-
ity. This, | think, might have been
avoided by the course which | should
have been glad to have seen pursued.
And desire now, Mr.. President, to
advert to some of those topics which |
think might have been usefuIIy embodied
IN report by committee of the Senate,
and which, am persuaded, would have
Checked the progress, if it had not alto.
gether arrested the efforts, of abolition.
am sensible. sir, that this work would
have been accomplished with much great
Ier ability and with much happier effect,
under the auspices ofa committee, than 1t
can be by me. But, anxious as l always
an to contribute whatever is in nv pow
er TO the harmony, concord, and happi-
ness Of this great people, l feel myself IT.
resislbly impelIed to do whatever is in
my power, incompetent as | feel myself
to be, to dissuade the public from contin-
uing to agi'afe subject fraught with the
most direful consequences.
! There are three classes of persons op-
posed, or apparently opposed, to the con-
tinued existence of slavery in the United
States. The first are those who, from
sentiments Of philanthropy and humanity,
are Conscientious y opposed to the exist
ence OF slavery, but who are no less op-
posed, at the same time, to any disturb
ance OF the peace and tranquility Of the
Union, or the Infringement Of the powers
OF the states composing the Confederacy.
In this class may be comprehended that
peaceful & exemplary society of" Friends, y
one Of whose established maxims is, an
adherence of war in all its forms, and the
cultivation of peace and good will among
all mankind. The next class consists of
apparent aboltioniss-that is, those who,
having been persuaded that the right of
petition has been violated by Congress,
Incorporate with the abolilionists for the
sole purpose of asserting and vindicating
that right. And the third class are the
ultra -abolitionists, who are resolved to
persevere in the pursuit of their object at
all hazards, and WITHOUT regard to any
consequences, however calamitous they
may be. With them the rights of prop
erty are nothing; the deficiency of the
powers of the General Government is
nothing the acknowledged and incon.
testible powers of the states are nothing
civil war, dissolution of the Union, and
the overthrow of a government in which
are concentrated the fondest hopes of the
civilized world, are nothing. A single
idea has taken possession of their minds
and onward they pursue it, overlooking
al barriers, reckless and regardless ofal
consequences.
With this Glass; the immediate abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia, anC
: in the Territory Of Florida, the prohib
1 ton of the removal Of slaves from State
: to State, and the refusal to admit any new
t State. comprising within its limits the in
sttuton of domestic slavery. are but 81
n many means conducting to the accomplish
Z ment of the ultimate bat perilous end a
: which they avowedly and boldly aim; =
| are but so many short stages in the lon,
i and bloody road to the distant goal a
: which they would finally arrive. Thei
e purpose is abolition, universal abolition
,, peaceably if it can, forcibly if it must
ST Their object is no longer concealed b
Of the thinnest veil; it is avowed and pre-
claimed. Utterly destitute of constitution
Is aI or other rightful power, living in IL
Y, tally distinct communities, as alien to til
J. communities in which the subject o
" which they would operate resides, so ia
D. as concerns political power over that su1
Id iect, as if they lived in Africa or Asi
IL they nevertheless promulgate to the wor
their purpose to Be TO manumit Forthwith
II. and without compensation, and witho
st moral preparation, three millions Of n
rs gro slaves, under Jurisdictions altogeth
IS. separated from those under which tht
en- live. [ have said that immediate abo
M, ton of slavery in the District Of Colul
ed bia and in the Territory Of Florida, al
as the exclusion of new States, were on
he means toward the attainment of a muc
1t moro important end. Unfortunately, tn
or- are not the only means Another, al
di- much more lamentabie one is that viii
III, this class is endeavoring to employ, of Z
al raging one portion against another pr