Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-02-25

W." - eNchlng, ana though intense intcrrs
was created, and fears entertained, lest som
Of the best men in community should DC be
traycd into the adoption of measures of dan
gerous tendency, l will cndcavor to s,a,
the progress Of the convention in all cool
ness.
In the evening preceding, Mr.. Burleipi
gave an address of an alarming character
the tendency of which was to weaken III,
force Of the Constitution of the Unite,
States, and with some ability, bu, more ar
to steal upon the feelings of those who on
pose Slavery and lead them on to disrcpar,
that sacred instrument. 1 do not think j
necessary 10 give his argument, in detail
those who heard j, will probably well re
member it, but in the sequel, it will appca
that II had an effect, insomucl, tina, the Com
vcn''on were not then prepared TO sa,
whether they admitted its binding force o.
not.
Inc convention was not numcrously at.
tended, and when the last vote was taken i
is said that the number of those who vote,
in the affirmative was ten, though il is ais,
said, the chairman afirn,s there were four
teen. Mr.. Burlcigh was placed at the head
OF what was called the business committee,
and indeed he may be said TO have been the
sole manager, and almost the only speaker;
at least, nine tcnths of all that was said being
said ly him. His manner was bo;s,rous in
the extreme, and the spirit and temper dis
played will be best seen by an examination of
the resolutions, all of which were prcrared
by him, excepting two offered by another.
Preshmlng the resolutions will bc publish
cd, | shall not refer 10 them, and shall only
speak of their tenor. 1t should be stated,
however, that they politely voted that all
presen. should be invited to take par, in the
deliberations, and some gentlemen. no,
technically abolilionis,s, joined in the dis.
c~ussion.
The first resolution a0irms TINT Slavery
Is great evil. &C., and in the discus. ion j,
was said by those not technical abolitionists,
that the. were decidedly in favor of the rcso.
''on' and that they presumed all in the State
were; that the only difference was as to the
mode of getting rid of Slavery.
In another resolution, they declared that
every person who did not openly testify
against Slavery, placed himself in the atti-
tude OF hostility TO the Christian religion:
and in yet another, they declared that every
minister and every church that did NOT in Ike
manner testify, were in the same condcmna.
ton. Not having access to the resolutions.
their import is given from memory. Win,
was meant by testJyi"g openly, appeared
IN the discussion to be joining an abolition
The bitterness of the resolutions
was only eqnalIed by the %fcrocity displayed
in the discussion. In the evening two rcso-
Iu'ions were offered by a gentleman not n
aboliliouist, to the effect that each
State had IA right to regulate its own internal
affairs as it should think best, and that the
Constitution of the United States was the
bond OF union among the people, indispcnsi.
1'e 10 their safety, and that every at,cmp,
10 weaken its force should be frowncd npop.
they chose not to adopt these resolutions on
he ground that that they had not sulicien,
TO examine their claims.
We may not be authorized to saw ,bo,
he meeting was a failure but i, was worse.
t was IA frebrand thrown into a pcaccabl.
community, and has left n sting IN the minds
# many that will long remain.
Has it come to this. that individual.
pastors, nay the mass Of the
'eople of this State, are to be denounced
or an honest exercise of an opinion
shall a little knot of men, well mean.
hough they may be, under the lead of , ma,
'ot an inlabilant of this State, assume to 81,
y judgment upon all who decline to ioin
|ein' and brand them all as enemies =,
Instantly Have they gone SO far in
''e'r purposes to effect a particular object
hat they are willing to tear the cons,;,u,;or :
I the the United States in pieces in order
0 carry h' We had supposed tina, no man
o"'d be found who did not feel bound to $
Import the glorious constitution under which
'e live, but it seems our friend. MAN,
'"e to consider before they acknowledge t
Is binding force. How far they were led !,
D tins conclusion by the bold assertion of =
ir' burleIgh that he had not sworn 10 SUI.
II and nscer could. IS not for me 10 say. !.
t is to be hoped that our friends will We, c
what they have done, and by a
recantation endcavor 10 allay the !
Indignation of injured men. A. B.. h
Mr. Jay mas written TO the Governor of Kentucky =
L. 1. Hagf NJ rh. ,-I r. ''fAp " J..