Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-02-22

reason and persuasion, have made their
cause political, and have appealed TO thu
baloi-bos, that ! an induced. upon this oc-
casion. 10 address you,
There have been three ppochs in the histo-
/ nv OF our country. at which the spirit OF nbo'
ilion displayed itself The fist was immc-
diuiely after the Formation OF the present
Federal Government. When The Constitu-
ton was about going into operation, its pow
ers were not well understood by the com
munity at large. and remained TO be accu-
rately Interpreted and defined. Al that pc
Rod numerous abolition societies were form
ed. comprising not merely the Society oil
Friends, but many other good men. Petl-
lions were presented 10 Congress, praying
for the abolition Of slavery. They were re-
ceived without serious opposition. referred
and reported upon by committee. The re-
port stated that the General Government
had no power to abolish slavery as it existed
in the several States, and that these States
themselves had exclusive Jurisdiction over
The subject The report was generally &c
quiesced in. and satisfaction and tranquility
ensued; the abolition societies thereafter
limiting their exrrlions, in respect 10 the
black population, 10 Offices of humanity with
in the scope Of existing laws.
The next period when the subject oil
slavery, and abolition incidentally was
brough, into notice and discussion. was
that on the memorable occasion Of the
admission Of the State Of Missouri into the
Union. The Struggle was long, strenuous
and fearful. II is TOO recent 10 make II nee
essary 10 do more than merely advert TO it,
and 10 say, that i, was finally composed BY
one OF those compromises characteristic oil
our institutions, and of which the Consiitu.
lion itself is the most signal instance.
The third is that in which we now find
ourselves. Various causes. Mr. President
have contributed TO produce the existing ex.
ciiemen, on the subject Of abolition The
principal one. perhaps, is the example oil
British emancipation Of the slaves in the isl.
lands adjacent TO our country. Such is the
similarity in laws, in language. in nstitu-
tons. aud 10 common origin, between Great
Britain and the Unied States. that no great
measure Of national policy can be adopted
in the one country without producing q
considerable degree OF influence in the 9th.
err Coniounding the totally different cases
together, oil the powers oflhe British Parlia-
ment and those Of the Congress Of the Uni
sd aSiBfs, cpd Tbs, iqialx dlGsgsal situations
slaves in the sovereign and independent
States ofthis Confederacy. superficial men
have inferred from the undecided British ex
pertinent the practicabilily of the abolition
Of slavery in these States. The powers o.
lthc British Parliament are unlimited. anC
are often described TO DE omnipo,ent The
powers of the American Congress. on the
! contrary, are few, cautiously limited scru
pulously excluding all that are not granted
and, above all. carefully and absolutely ex
GLIDING all power over the existence or con
: tinuance of slavery in the several States
: The slaves, TOO. upon which British legisla
ton operated, were not in the bosom OF thu
kingdom, bun in remote and feeble colonies
, having no voice in Parliament. The Yves
India Shareholder was neither represented
nor representative in that Parliament. Ant
whilst most fervently wish complete sue
cess TO the British experiment OF West lndli
emancipation. confess that hive feariu
forebodings Of disastrous termination OF u
Whatever i, may be. | think il must be nd
I mitted that. If the British Parliament treated
: the West India slaves ns freemen, II als'
treated the West India freemen as slaves Ii
: instead Of these slaves being separated by
wide ocean from the parent country, three o
:. four millions Of African negro slaves ha'
been dispersed over England, Scotland
7 Wales. and ireland, and their owners ha'
: been members ofihe British Parliament
: case which would have Presented some anal
e opyto that of our own country-does any on
!. believe that il would have been expedieni o
] nrncticable to have emancpated them, leay
J, ing 70 them remain with all their embittere'
d feelings in the United Kingdom, boundles
:, as the powers Of the British Parliament are
t Other causes have conspired with tn
: British example to produce the existing ex
Q element from abolition. ! say il with pro
d found regret, but with no intention to occas
ion irritation here or elsewhere, that Their
Y are persons in both parts of the Union VIII
s have sought 10 mingle abolition with politics
: and to array one portion oil me Union
> painsl the other, II is the misfortune Il
y free countries that, in high party times
e disposilion too often prevails TO seize bold
|. every thing which can strengthen the on
l. side or weaken the Other Charges oil los
IS terino abolition designs have been needless
d ly aud unjuslly made by one party agaln'
v he other. Prior 20 the late election OF th
e present Presidentof the United States, h
J. was charged with being on abolllionst, an
d abolition designs were imputed to many {
l. his supporters Much as | was opposed
S, his election. and am TO his Administrator
5 neither shared in making nor beievin
v the truth OF the charge He was scarcel
B. installed in Office before the same chare