Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-02-26


meaning BY a comparison of IFS provis-
ions with each other, and With The previ-
Gus situation of the several States who
were parties to It. In portion of these,
slavery was recognized, and they took
care to have the right secured to them, TO
follow and reclaim such of them as were
fugi,ives to other States. The laws Of
Congress passed under this power, have
provided punishment TO any who shalt
oppose or interrupt the exercise Of this
right Now can any one believe that
the instrument which contains a provis-
ion of this kind, which authorizes
master to pursue his slave into another
State, take him back, and promises a
punishment for any citizen or citizens of
hat State who should oppose him, should
at the same time authorize the latter 10
assemble together, to pass resolutions and
adopt addresses, not only to encourage
the slaves to leave their masters, but to
cot their Threats before they do 500
insist, that If the citizens of the non
siaVehoding States, can avail themselves
of the article of the constitution which
pfohlbts the restriction Of speech or the
press to publish anything injurious to tile
rights oft the slaveholding States, that they
can go to the extreme that have men
toned, and effect anything further, which
writing or speaking could effect. But.
fellow citizens, these are not the princj
pies of the constitution. Such a constitu-
ton would defeat one of the great objects
OF Its formation, which was that of secur-
ing the peace and harmony of the States
which were parties TO it, The liberty of
speech and of the press were given as the
most ettectual means to preserve to each
and every citizen their own rights. and to
the States the rights which appe,tained to
them at the time of its adoption.
1t could never have been expected that
1t would be used by the citizens Of one
portion OF the States for the purpose of
deprlvIn9 those of another portion, of the
rights which they had reserved at The
adoption of the Constitution, and in the
exercise of which, none but themselves
have any concern or interest. Ifslaverv
be an evil, land no one more readily ac-
knowledges it than do) the evil is with
them. Ii there Is guilt in it, the Guilt is
theirs, not ours, since neither the States
where 1t does not exist, nor the govern
ment of the United States can, without
usurpatlon of power, and the violation of
a solemn compact, do anything TO remove
1t, without the consent of those who are
lmmedateIy interested. With that con-
sent there is not man in the whole world
who would more willingly contribute his
aid to accomplish it than would. Ifmv
vote could effect it, every surplus dollar in
the treasury should be appropriated to
that object. But they will neither ask for
ald' or consent to be aided, so long as the
Illegal, prosecuting and dangerous move
ments arc in progress, of which com.
PLAIN; the interest of all concerned re-
qnireS that these should be Immediately
stopped. This can only be- done bv the
lorce OF public opinion, and that can not
too soon be brought into operation. Every
movement which is made by the abolition
lists In the non -slaveholdnc States. is
viewed by our southern brethren ms an
attack upon their rights, and which. if
persisted IN, must in the end eradicate
those feelings of attachment and affection
between the citizens of all the STATES
which was produced BY community of
interests and dangers in the war of the
revolution, which was the foundation of
oar happy union, and BY continuance Of
which, it can alone be preserved. en-.
treat you then, fellow citizens, to frown
nPon the measures which are to produce
Results so much to be deprecated.