The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-21

of the free states have no right " inquire
into the lawfulness of slavery, or to COM
plain, by petition or remonstrance' OF us
pernicious influence on their rights and IN
terests. To these doctrines, | can never
assent, and / hold, with vast majority oil
the freemen of the North. that slavery is an
enormous injustice to the slave, an enor'
nous moral and social evil TO the master,
and an enormous wrong and injury to the
best interests of the whole people, both OF
the North and of the South. / hold more
over that the free states only may but ought
to avail themselves of the right of petition,
legislation, amendment, and in short OF all
constitutional means to free themselves and
their common country from an evil, which
threatens to involve us in common ruin, I'M
less its further progress be arrested, and
measures Immediately taken for its final
extirpation. Many persons of much intel
ligence believe, that change of opinion Is
gradually taking place in the South, which
will at no distant period result in the volun-
tary abandonment of this iniquitous system,
and therefore that the North should leave
the whole subject to the spontaneous action
of the slave states. Whenever the South
shall heartily and sincerely engage in the
work of emancipation, shall be first to say,
that they shall be left free. within all rea-
sonable bonds, to act for themselves. as to
the mode and the conditions, but see lit
| lie evidence of any such desirable change
of opinion, and fear that the peculiar in
stitution" Of the South is destined 10 die the
natural death of all slavery, which
is, that the slave will shake off his fetters
when he finds himself strong enough to cut
the throat of his master. and it is perhaps
not profane to conjecture, that in the scheme
of Providence, the black man may be re.
served as the chosen instrument for aveng-
ing the wrongs of the red.
The system Of domestic slavery is advo-
cnted, and the protection OF that labor,
which free and intelligent hands alone can
perform, is resisted by The people Of the
South, for the reason that in their judgment
the former tends 10 diminish. and the latter
10 promote, the political influence Of the
North, and We are now again threatened
with such an addition to the slave-holding
stales as would give The South decided
preponderance. nnd leave 10 the North the
choice between unconditional submission
and dissolution. That deliberate purpose
! is entertained BY nearly the whole South !o
annexing the republic of Texas 10 the union
and this project. i favored by a powerful
party at the North is beyond all doubt oil
question. and there is great reason 10 ap.
prehend that the present crisis Of party dis.
organization and governmental imbecility
and venalry will be taken advantage of for
the accomplishment of this object. The
annexation of Texas believe to be clearly
unconstitutional and most manifcslly mex.
pedient, and have no hesitation in saving,
that not only should the people protest, but
that the legislatures of the several states
should warn Congress, that they will moi
submit to be forced into a union with for.
eign power so little likely 10 contribute 10
the strength or prosperity Of the nation as
the republic of Texas.
There is, so far as | know, not the least
ground of hope that the great question of the
currency will be satisfactorily adjusted du-
ring the term of the present administration
and shall therefore forbear to discuss the
topic. Nevertheless, think proper TO say.
that concur with the wings of Vermont in
believing, that the overwhelming embarrass.
ments of our people are in a great measure
due TO the unauthorized interference of the
government with the currency. believe il
! was part of the plan of operations of the
administration of 1929. to make the Bank Of
the United States political engine, and tina
/ thai institution owes its downfall to its refu
sal to become the instrument of the execu
tive. | have no disposition to palate what
all men must hold to be inJefensible, the mis-
conduct of the Bank after the government
had declared war, upon it, but it is due tc
the Bank to say that until assailed by the
executive, 1t furnished the soundest and best
uIrency which was ever enjoyed by a ira.
ding people. That currency at once equal.
ly sound and convenient will be provided by
any of the substitutes which have been rec.
commended | do not expect, nor as have al
ready intimated, do even hope that the next
congress will accomplish any thing valuable
in the restoration of the currency, though
hold the providing of circulating medium
whether metallic or representative to be not
only clearly within the power, but among
the most imperative OF the duties of Con-
gress.
shall now Mr.. President and gentlemen
ask your indulgence for closing as began,
Win little egOtlSm. nave heretofore Ia
ken little part in active politics, though
have never shunned frank avowal of my
political sentiments, and my legislative expe-
rience is limited to a single term of service
! in our old council, during one of the short
sessions ofthe general assembly Of Vermont.
| have therefore much to learn in regard to
! the forms of parliamentary proceeding, and
the tactics practical Legislation, before can
hope to be useful as your representative, but
my most industrious endeavors shall not be
wanting to qualify me to serve you accepta-
bly,. In regard to the general interests OF
my own District and State fatter myself
that | am not altogether ignorant. | was
born and have spent my life among the peo-
pie of Vermont Though still not old, re-
member when Vermont was comparatively
new State, and my own advancement in
, life and intellectual development are associa-
ted in my memory with the growth and i'm
provement of our population, our agricultu-
raj, our manufactures, and consequently our
! resources. have besides, not only, as
have said, lived among the people of of my
native State, but for many long years of mis-
!