The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-13
woe 1--WE e II.
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VERMONT ANTI
SLAVERY SOCIETY.
(CONCLUDED.)

SLAVERY SOCIETY.
(coNCLUDED)
In this short extract the whole doctrine upon which the above
resolutions based exploded and its sophsry clearly
posed The argument of the President meets, moeover the
strongest which be supposed where that doctrine would
have any force that of the admitted existence of nconSt-
onM purpose in the law makersso that granting his arou-
to sound if Congress should pass law aboshng slave
ny in the District of Coumbahe passage of such law being
clearly within its constitutional power- would be violation
Of the constitutions though done with the purpose Of aboshng
slavery in the states
Suppose that the design of the petitioners for the abolition of
slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia be eff
Iec the overthrow of slavery the that fact if admitted
does not decide the question whether slavery and the slave trade
IN the District OF Columbia not grievances which demand
redress and which constutonay be remedied But that
IS the question which is presented by the petitions and that
must be determined independently the motives othe petitioners
II slavery be an evil of ITSELF the object which petitioner for its
abolition has i'll view though wrong, render it less
evil make its abolition less duty. The resolution seems
moreover to imply that if the abolition Of slavery and the slave
trade in the District of Columbia be agad carried into
effect with rieO Of destroying oOerrov5ng Slavery IN
the Se0era ateS such agitation abolition would be proper
thus making the inquiry to the motives of the petitioners the
only question to be determined If the principles of the reou
non therefore, be carried out should at this result
that the abolition osavery and the slave trade should be grant
ed to those who petition for the with of disturbing
or overhrowng slavery in the and denied those who
ask for a1 such vew To dignity such with the
name of argument would be abuse of and be grave
IN the contemplation of such specimens of raocnaon exceeds
all power of face"
The fourth of the above resolutions exhibits the doc
rne as that have been considering, different phase 1t
asserts That Congress right, the OF
stuona powers discriminate between the institutions of
different portions of the Union with vD of aboishng the
and promoting the other The principle of the resolution,
when stated without any Disguise is that the Congress of the
United States has right give preference Free slave
lnSuutlons IN Its legislation. This proposition to be
sort OF cooary from the assumption in the resolution that the
Constitution rests the broad principle of equality among the
members of the conderacy This certainly strike every
we-inormed and rejecting mind a strange propositions
What equality is there in giving New York and Delaware the
same representation the Senate in giving those
equal vote for President when the people have failed elect?
ton OF the Union TO be represented in Congress- and that of
among the members of this concdeacy matter of compact
and the result of general and Interchangeable principle The
Constitution does manilesty upon equality which
does and did exist and which its provisions do
If the Constitution upon any broad principles they
the principles of government asserted by the Declaration of
Independence based upon the inaenabe rights of
the great principles in short which lie at the foundation of pop
uar and free nstutonsthe right of every human being
liberty and the right and capacity of the people govern them
selves The preamble the Constitution sets forth the objects
for which established the of which is to the
blessings of h6ey to the people Of the United States and their
posterity Now unless the Constitution binds Congress
legae in favor Of slavery it have any regard for the great
and paramount objects for which the government establish
ed it is sacrcdy bound by proper regard the spirit Of the
Constitution exercise all the powers therein granted for
the extension and pepeuation of free principles of government
and free institutions and above ALL for the securing of liberty
every human being within the limits of its jurisdiction. But
the Constitution contains provisions by which Congress
bound egae sustain extend perpeuae the existence
of domestic slavery in the States territories District of Column.