The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-07-05

ted iE Congress in proportion 10 the mum
Der of their slaves, and to pursue their fugi.
tive slaves into The free States, and arrest
and carry them back. These concessions
we're sacrifices Of northern sentiments and
northern interests, make for the purpose Of
obtaining more efficient government, in
order TO strengthen and perpetuate the insti.
iutions of our covntry. ln this manner the
Constitution was purchased by the free
Sat's. Since the adoption Of the Consiiiu-
ton. we have been constantly called on to
make further sacrifices 10 purchase its con-
tinuance. Thus, in 1920, the slave States
demanded an extension of the slavehoding
influence, BY the admission of Missouri as
a slave Stale, 10 order to check The increas.
ingipreponderence of the free States. The
free States objected. The south threatened
an immediate dissolution OF the Union, IN.
less their demands were complied with
The north submitted for the purpose ofpre-
serving the Union. The sacrifice was de-
clared an act of patriotism, and an example
worthy 10 be initiated b. statesmen and pol
i,icians. In 1888 South Carolina demand
ed surrender of the tariff, and distinctly
Informed us, that. unless her demands were
complied with, she would dissolve the UD.
ion. The statesmen of the free States hes
iiated, trembled, AMI submitted. The tariff
was repealed, and the interests OF the free
States yielded up, in order TO purchase
continuance of the Union. The act is vet
quoted by some as an example of patriotism
on The part of the free States. Our press,
GU: statesmen, our politicians treated it as
such and our people were thus led to be-
lieve, that the sacrifice of northern rights 10
The interests ofthe slave Silies, was, in feat.
duty and virtue.
Whenever the interests of the north and
south came in conflict. southern members
were, for more than a quarter of century,
in the habit Of threatening "a dissolution Of
the Union" as lie most effeciual argumen;
in favor of their measures and it seldom
failed to convince their opponents. This
practice became so common, that dictation
appears to have been regarded as the right
of the south, and submission was looked up
on as the duty of the north. This feeling
prevailed so long, and 10 such an ex:en;,
that any deviation from the accustomed sub
mission was regarded as suspicious.
In our circles at home, the agitation Of
any question which embraced the institution
Of slavery, or the slave trade, was usually
denounced as abolition; and, without further
examination, was regarded as dishonorable
10 him who proposed it. Our public men
became unwilling TO raise any question thai
should affect slavery, lest they should there
by jeopardi@e their political standing and
the public press discouraged every attempt
10 assert the rights of the free States in op-
position TO the Interests of the south. To
support slavery, it is absolutely necessary 10
suppress all knowledge of human rights a
mong those held in bondage.
To the suppression of such knowledge
our people of the free States became access
sorry. in doing this, our own rights were
lost sight of; we saw our money taken from
our pockets and appropriated 10 the recap
ture, and even 10 the murder of fugitive
slaves, and were silent under the outrage.
The spirit of independence and honor SEEM
ed 10 have fled from our people. We saw
our Presidents our Heads Of Departments
our Speakers ofihe House of Representa-
hNGSI VI SCuohC Oul
ters; our officers in the army and navy,
mostly taken from .he slave States, and we
meekly submitted TO the abuse. We saw
our respectful petitions TO Congress treated
with contempt and our citizens, who thus
TO approach their servants, were insulted
and abused by the supercilious advocates Of
slavery while scarcely solitary voice was
heard in defence of northern honor. Even
such as dared to stard forth in defence Of
our rights and interests, were generally
condemned by the press. or ''damn'd with
faint praise" This was the point OF our
lowest degradation. History will mark the |
of 1912 as the period of the
deepest humiliation of the free States. Il
was the time when The slave power ruled tri-
umphant and, untrammeled by the CoDsti- |
Iuiiol. held the freemen Of the north in al
most willing subsection to its dictates: when
he rights, the interests, and the honor of |
he free States were regarded as Of little i'm.
portance, except as means of promoting
The interests of The slave States. At this
period, when all hope of supporting the
rights of the north appeared about to expire,
1 most important incident TRANSFERRED in the
House of Representatives of the United
States. John Quincy Adams presented
petition to dissolre the Union | say MOTH
ng in favor of this petition it was, howev
,r, request that Congress would carry in
o effect the threats which. for twenty-five
years, had been put forth by southern states
men. 1t was a request TINT those States,
which had assumed TO themselves the con-
rol of the Federal Government, might be
eft to take care of aid protect themselves.
The proposition Mortified those who had 50
,ften menaced US with the consequences
low PRAYED for by northern men.
The effect produced by this petition was
most important. Southern statesmen ex>
ibited 10 the world consciousness Of their
ntire dependence upon the free States. 1t
'as distinctly avowed. by one of their ab-
,st and mos, influential members, that 'the ,
issolutIon Of The Union would be the dis :
olution of slavery" 1t showed 10 the PEG. !
lie of the free States, and 10 the world, that
ur institutions and national independence :,
Jus, ever depend upon northern freemen !;
NJ sunnor, Fem, fhiS nn0neut northern .