The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-01-19

At special meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Vermont AntSavery Society, holden at Mddlebury Dec
26, 1888, it was
Resolved uraninouslv That it be recommended to all
friends of liberty within the State, take efficient and i'm
mediate to and forward to Represen-
tatives in Congress decided REMoNsTRANCE against
the gagresoutons the subject of petitions, introduced
into the House by Charles Anterior of New pshire
and adopted on the 18th and 18th inst.
committee were also appointed to prepare and publish
q form of the remonstrance.
In behalf of the Executive Committee,
]. A. ALLEN, Secretary,
Middlebury, Dec. 81, 1888.
The Remonstrance.
To the House of Representatives of the United States
IN session:
Your memorialists inhabitants of County,
Vermont have witnessed with alarm the passage, in your
Honorable body of the following resolutions, to witt
"Resolued, That this government is government of
limited powers and that by the constitution of the United
States, congress has Jurisdiction whatever the in
suton of slavery in the several states of the confedeacy
Resolved, That petitions for the abolition Of slavery in
the District of Columbia and the territories of the United
States, and against the removal of slaves from state to
another, par plan of operations set foot to
affect the institution of slavery in the several States and
thus indirectly to destroy that institution within limits
ReSolued, That congress has right to do that indi-
recty which it cannot do directly; and that the agitation of
the subject of Slavery in the District of Columbia the
territories, and with the view, of disturbing
overhrowing that institution in the several sates is
gans the true spirit and meaning of the constitution,
Infringement of the rights of the states affected, and
breach of the public faith upon which they entered into
the confederacv.
RESOLVED, That the constitution rests upon the broad
principle of equality among the members of this coneder-
acy, and that congress the exercise of its acknowledged
powers, has right to discriminate between the nstu
tons of portion of the states and another with the
view of aboshing the and promoting the other.
Resolved, therefore, That all attempts the part of
congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
Al
state to sate discriminate between the institutions of
portion of the confederacy and another with the views
aforesaid, violation of the constitution, destructive
of the fundamental principles which the union of these
states rests and beyond the jurisdiction of congress- and
that every petition, memorial resolution, proposition
paper touching relating in any way to any extent
whatever to slavery aforesaid the abolition thereof
SHALL the presentation thereof, without any further
ton thereon be laid upon the table without being debated
printed or referred"
Your memorialists in the exercise of their undoubed
and unsurrendered rights citizens of the United Staes
respectfully yet firmly and earnestly demonstrate against
the adoption of the foregoing resolutions and the action of
the House upon the principles and the rule therein laid
down and prescribed, and for the following reasons:
Frst-Because the set forth in said resolutions
unsound and untenabe and afford Just ground for
denying to the petitions mentioned in said resolutions the
rmalites and consideration given petitions 9TH
subjects.
l. Because to grant the prayer of the petitions would
not be assumption of any jurisdiction not expressly
granted to congress IN the Constitution Of the United
States.
2. Because, if it be admitted that the "motiues"
which govern petitioners in asking for redress of griev
be bad that does not prove that the grievances
planned of do not exist and may not rghy be remedied
and can, of course afford just ground for refusing
grant the prayer of the petitions much less for refusing to
consider and them. The ulteror object of the
petitioners may be unconstitutional and 1t may not be in
the power of Congress to effect it, and yet the prayer of
the petitioners, subjects incidental to that object, be
constutionay granted.
g. Because the prayer of the petitions may be granted
without 'any pie,D of disturbing ouerhrowing sla
very IN the several states, but simply act of long
denied justice to the oppressed and of vindi-
eating the nation from the just but dshonorng reproach Of
being false to Its own principles and its own honor
d. Because the great object of the Constitution of
the United States, being to "Secwe the blessings
Of Liberty to" "the people Of the United States"
and their "PoSterity," and provision having been
incorporated into it by which Congress is bound to
eglslae to susan extend pepetuae the existence of
domestic slavery in the States, Territories District of
Columbia Congress is sacredly bound by proper regard
to the spirit of that instrument exercise all the powers
therein granted them for the extension and perpeuaon Of
free principles and free institutions in the land and above
all for securing liberty every human being within the
limits Of their Jurisdiction: and
Because, if it be admitted (Which your memoralsts do
not grant, that Congress has right to discriminate be-
tween the institutions of portion of the states another
WIN view OF aboishing the and promoting the 9TH
en- Congress. by permitting the existence of slavery in
the territories under its jurisdictions and by expressly es
abshlng by Its enactments slavery in the Distrt NJ "