Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-04-03

Do not suppose, MIR. President, that
feel as if engaged in 9 forbidden or i'm
provideut act. No such thing. am
contendny with a local and peculiar
interest, an interest which has alteldv !
banded together force sufficient TO seize !
upon every avenue b. which petition
can enter this chamber, and exclude all |
without lis leave. Lam not now contend !
ing for the rights Of the negro. rights
which his Creator gave him and which |
his fellow-man has usurpcd and taken !
away. No, sir | am contending for
1.-THE rights of the white person in the free
states, AMI trying to prevent them from be-
ing trodien down and destroyed by that |
power which claims the blaci, person as
property. lam endeavoring TO sound the
alarm to nv feliow-citizens that this pow
er, tremendous as it is, is e:aeayoring to
unite itself with the moneyed power Of
the country, in order to extend its domin-
ion and perpetuate its existence / am
endeavoring TO drive from the back of the
negro S'are the politician who has seated
himself there to ride into Office for the pur-
pose OF carrying out the object Of this un-
holy combination. The chains of slave
ry are sufficiently strong, without being
rlvete6 anew by tinkering politicians in
the free states. | feel myself compelled
into this contest, in defence of institutions
of my own state, the persons and fires:des
of her citizens. from the Unsuitable grasp
of the slaveho!ding power as being used
and felt in the free states. To say that |
am opposed TO slavery in the abstract, are
but cold and unmeaning words; if, how
ever capable of any meaning whatever,
they NAV fairly be construed into a love
for its existence and such | sincerely be-
lieve to be the feeling of many in the free
states who use the phrase. !, sir, am not
only opposed 10 slavery in the abstract,
but also in its whole volume-in lis theo-
nv as well as practice This principle is
deeply implanted within me; it has
grown with my growth. and strengthen
ed with my strength" In my infant years
| learned to hate slavery. Your fathers
taught ME it was wrong, IN their Declara-
ton Of Ind pendence; the doctrines which
they promu gated TO the world, and upon
the truth of which they staked the issue
ofthe contest that made US a nation. They
proclaimed "that all men are created
equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life. liberty, and the
pursuit OF happiness" These truths are
solemn v declared BY them. believed
then, and believe now they are selfevi-
dent. Who can acknowledge this, and
not be opposed to slavery? Il is, then,
because love the principles which bro't
your governmentinto existence, and which
have become the corner stone Of the build
ing supporting you, sir, in that chair, and
giving TO myself and o!her Senators seats
in this body-it is because love all this,
that [ hate slavery. Is it because | con-
tend for the right Of petition, and am op-
posed TO slavery, that | have been de-
nounced by many as an Abolitionist p
r Yes; Virginia newspapers have so dc.
! noumced me, and called upon the Legis!a-
: ture of my state TO dismiss me from pub
t lie confidence Who taught me 10 hate
| slavery, and every other oppression =
5 JeGerSon, the great and the good Jefferson
' Yes, Virginia Senator'S, it was your own
Jefferson, Virginia's favorite son, man
= who did more for the natural liberty o
e man, and the civil liberty OF his country
q than any man that ever lived in our coun
v try; it was him who taught me 10 hat,
j sLarery; it was in his school | was bro
n up. Tint Mr.. Jefferson was as mucE
= opposed to slavery as any man that eve
n lived in our country, there can be az
n doubt; his life and his writings abundant
i " prove the fact. l hold in my hand
= copy, as he penned it, ofthe original drai
j. Of the Declaration of'lndependence. par
10 OF which was stricken out, as he says, IL
of compliance with the wishes of South Car
We oIina and Georgia. l will read it. Speak
at ing of the wrongs done US by the Brilis
lie Government in Introducing slaves anon
at us, he says: He (the British King
I'd has waged cruel war against human ma
&c ture ITSELF violating its most sacred rlgl
It. of life and liberty in the persons OF a dis
st tant people, who never offended him, cal
MS tivating and carrying them into SLAYER
nd in another hemisphere, or 10 incur mise
id able death in their transportation thithe
ur This piraCical warfare, the opprobrium
nr infdeI powers, is the warfare OF the Chri
nj tan King Of Great Britain. Determin'
in to keep open market where MEN shou
ust be BOUGHT and SOLD, he has proslitut
Is. his prerogaliye for SURPRISING every
-bo gisative attempt to prohibit or restra
bu. this execrable commerce, and that this ;
ON semblage of horrors might want no f
ar Of distinguished die, he is now excili
II a those very people TO rise in arms agai
eep US, and purchase that liberty Of which
,r1 ~
aim pie on whom be also obtruded them. tt
f its paying off former crimes committed aga
itu- the liberties Of one people, with cIiO