The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-11-23
To the House of Representatives uolo in session

were about thirty nays,-in the Senate, three.
To the House Of Representatives ',o,o IN session.
Your select committee to whom were referred
sundry memorials, upon the subject OF slavery
and the slavc-trade praying this Legislature to in
struct our senators and request our members of
Congress from this state, to use all constitutional
means to procure the abolition of slavery and the
slave trade in the District of Columbia, and the
slave trade between the several states OF this
Union. Also praying that this legislature will pro-
test against any Infringement upon the right OF
petition by Congress, and against the annexation
Of Texas to the United States-would respectfully
present the following Report:
Your committee believe that slavery as it ex-
lists in some of our sister States is contrary to the
spirit and genius Of our institutions, and is deeply
deplored and deprecated by the citizens of YER
mont,-but they are not aware that the opinion
is any where entertained, that the General Gov
eminent is invested with power to abolish tina; in
stitution in any of the states Of this Union.
Your committee are Of opinion that Congress
has full power over that subject, in the District of
Columbia, and in the Territories, and that this
power is acknowledged to exist by very large
majority of the citizens of this republic.
The slave trade at the seat of our national gov
eminent, is blot upon our otherwise free insttu-
TONS and should be abolished.
TAe committee are also Of opinion, that Con.
gress has power to regulate the slave trade be-
tween the several states, and that the traffic, which
sends thousands of slaves from the more norther-
ly to the more southerly of the slave states, by
means Of which, their suferings are augmented
and their healths and lives jeopardized is alike
inhuman and unchristian, and ought to be redress
sed.
The committee think our territory is already
sufficiently large to secure the blessings of good
government, that an increase of territory would
endanger rather than subserve the public veal :
and to add another province, where slavery is toll
Grated, would be adding another blot to our ma
tional character, and they believe they express the
views Of the legislature, and the great body of the
people of this state, when they declare themselves
entirely opposed to the annexation of Texas to the
Union.
Your committee believe that the right Of petit
&ion is not only guaranteed by the constitution,
but is a right which the God of nature has be-
slowed upon the whole human family, and any
Invasion of this sacred privilege violates the first
principles of Liberty, and strikes at the foundation
ofgovernment.
Your committee would therefore recommend
the passage of the following resolutions
JOHN SMITH, for committee.
/. Resolved, BY the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives, that Congress possess the power to
abolish slavery and the slave trade in the District
ofCoumbia, and to prohibit the slave trade be-
tween the several states.
9. Resolved, That our Senators in Congress be
instructed, and our Representatives requested, 10
use their influence to prevent the annexation OF
Texas to the United States.
3. Resolved, That the passage Of a resolution,
by the House of Representatives Of the United
States, in December lS37-in which it was or
dered that all papers touching the subject of slave.
ry, should "be laid upon the table, without being
read, printed, debaed or referred" and the adop-
ton Of similar resolution by the last Congress
was daring violation Of the constitution Of the
United States, and fragrant abuse of the right
of peti,ion and in the name Of the people Of this
State we solemnly protest against the adoption Of
a similar resolution by the next or any succeeding
Congress.
A. Resolved, That the Governor be reques-
ted to transmit copyof The foregoing resolutions
to each ofour Senators and Representatives in
Congress-.