Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-04-10

and not by any municipal regulations
! The dominion of man over things, as
property, was settled by his, Creator when
man Was first placed upon the earth. He
was to subdue the earth, and have domin-
ion over the fish Of the sea, the fowls of
the air, aud over every living thing that
moveth upon the earth; every herb bear
ing seed, and the fruit of Tree yielding
seed, was given for his use. This is the
foundation Of all right III property of eve-
ry description. h Is for the use Of man
the gran, is made, and Of course man can
not be included in the grant. Every mu-
nicipal regulation then, of any State, or
any of Ms peculiar Institutions, which
makes man property, is violation of this
grelt law of nature, and is founded in
usurpation and tyranny, and is accom-
plished by force, fraad, or abuse of pow
er. Ii is violation of the principles of
truth and justice, in subjecting the weak
er to the stronger man. In a christian
nation, such property can form no just
ground for commercial regulations, but
ought e be strictly prohibited. | there
fore believe it is the duty Of Congress, by
virtue ofthis power to regulate commerce,
10 prohlbi', at once, slaves being used as
articles of trade. .
The gentleman says, the Constitution
left the subject of slavery entirely to the
states. To this position, assent; and,
as the states cannot regulate their own
commerce, but the same being the right
of Congress, that body cannot make slaves
an article of commerce, because slavery
lis left entirely 10 the safes in which it ex-
lists, aud slaves within those states, accord
ing to the gentleman, are excluded from
the power of Congress. Can Congress,
) in regulating commerce among the sever
!al states, authorize the transportation of
: articles from one state, and their sale in
another, which they have not power SO to
| authorize in any state? | cannot believe
, in such doctrine and now solemnly
protest against the power of Congress to
: authorize the transportation TO, and the
5 sale in, Ohio, of any negro slave whatev-
r er, or for any possible purpose under the
sun. Who is there in Ohio, or elsewhere,
that will dare deny this posi.ion2 If O.
stitution and policy, l hope he may have
the boldness to stand forth and avow it.
If the states in which slavery exists love
it as household god, let them keep il
5 there, and not call upon US in the free
/ states 10 Offer incense TO their idol. We
do not seek to touch it with unhallowed
hands, but with pure hands, appraised in
the cause oftruth and suffering humanity
The gentleman admits that, at the form
t alton of our government, it was feared
t that slavery might eventually divide OF
! distract our country; and, as the BALLOT
i BOX seems continually TO haunt his mag
: nation, he says there is real danger o.
t dissolution of the Union, if Abolitionis,s,
0 as is evident they do, will carry their pin
: ci2les into the BALLoT-Box. If not dis.
= union in fact, at least in feeling, in the
= country. which is always the precursor &c
: the clash of arms. And the gentleman
n further says, we are taught in holy writ,
i "that the race is not 10 the swift, nor the
:. battle TO the strong" The moral of the
n gentlemdns alignment is, that truth anC
righteousness will prevail, though oppos
If ed by power and influence that abolition
lists, though few in number. are greatly t.
t be feared; one, as l have said may chase
d a thousand, and two put ten thousand t
L flight; and, as their weapons of warfar,
. are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling
: down Of strong hoids,'' even slavery it
II self; and as the ballot-box is the grea
s moral lever in political action, the gentle
man would exclude abolitionsts entirely
S from its use. and, for opinions sake, deny
st them this high privilege of every Ameri
j. can citizen. Permit me. Sir, to remint
IF the gentlemen Of another text of holv
e writ. The wicked fee when no mai
t. pursueth, but the righteous are bold as
p ion." The senator says, that those wh'
Y have slaves are sometimes supposed to b
l. under too much alarm. Does this prov
e the application of the text | have jus
: quo!ed2 Conscience sometimes make
a. towards of US all" The senator appeal
e 10 abolitionists, and beseeches them Il
d. cease their efforts on the subjec: of slave
l. ry, if they wish, says he, "to exercis
e their benevolence." What Abolitionist
e benevolent ? He hopes they will selec
: some object not so terrible. Oh. Sir, h
n is willing they should pay ti:hes of "miu
ii and rue" but the weightier matters of tn
II law. judgment and mercy, he would hav
,r them entirely overlook. fought to than
( the senator for introducing holy writ int
e this debate. and inform him his argument
Of are no, the sentiments of Him who, whe
l on earth, went about doing good.
s. The senator further entreats the clerg
Q, to desist from their efforts in behalf c
O. abolitonism. Who authorized the ser
OF ator, as politician, to use bis infuenc