Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-05-19
COMMUNICATIONS.
SLAVERY -RIGHTs or THE NORTH.



Congress has 10 control over them. Hence, if
they apprehend that The presence VI northern cit
liens III their pUrts will be injurious, they seize
them, conIine them in prison, TAX them FOR prison
fees, and sell them into slavery, II ,ie fees are not
paid. III n northern citizen goes into those states,
aud tIlev suspect he is aG uboliuonist they insult
him, bring HIM, Ivy violence, before Judge Lynch,
and put his person, liberty, aud life, in jeopardy.
And il they suspect that pnrcrs or letters, unIa-
vofable 10 slavery, ARE conveyed ~ The public mail,
they hesitate not to open The mail and destroy the
papers Al this is done IN direct violstion of the
laws aud Constitution of the United States aud
yet such acts have been sanctioned by men in
high places. Now il would seem, that The free
States ought 10 I've ns tenacious of their instu.
tiOns aud have The snbe right TO guard aud pre-.
serve lhenI that the slave States hive To preserve
their slave institutions. II one may disregard
compncis 50 may the other. II one may hy their
municipal laws, stIpcrse,e The provision OF the
Constitution, may the other. II one may ap
peal to Judge Lynch, so may the other. And II
one may employ an ncvc police To catch aud
hang Hiolillonlss, the other may employ police
as active To ca ell uud hang sIuve.hunters. Clear
ly the north may do as much 10 preserve their free
institutions, MS The South TO preserve their slave
| institutions. II not, ten the lieU STATES do not
stand on eqnal ground with the slave States This
will not be pretunlc,l. The free States my then
as efttclually guard themselves agains iho slave
hunters, by State laws, as the slave States can
guard themselves by State Inws against cnlored
seanien or northern abuiirionists Should II be
said that it would be unconstitutional for the north
10 make such laws then ii is unconslitul !Onnl for
the south to do it. Aud If there is power to
prevent the south from violating the Constitution
to preserve slavery, surely there should be no
power to prevent The north from Violating the
Constitution TO preserve their liberty. Is il, how
ever, Il question clearly settled, that sovereign
States may not tall back on their reserved rights,
sovereignty ? What would our southern salcs-
men say ON This subject: IN This there should
NOT be one ruie for The NOrh aud unOher for The
SOUTH II the doctrine of state rights is orthodox
in South Carolina, when slavery is IN danger, let
the same doctrine be orthodox in Vermont when
liberty is in danger, and her citizens ure dragged
into slavery.
The constitution Of Vermont is the supreme
lazy oil the State, and every citizen and magistrate
is sulennly bound to support the same in all It's
provisions. But our constitution says hat no per-
son Of aye oughtto be holden By taw 10 anohr
person as servant si0ve, or apprentice Unless by his
own consent, or by law tor debts, fines damages,
&c. That every member Of society hath right
TO be protected in he enjoyment Of life, liberty, and
property. That in all prosecutions for criminal
offences, person has right TO be heard 10y him
sell and his counse-und 10 be tired by imparli II
jury that The people have right to hold them
stlUes, their houses, papers, aud POSSESSIONS free
fact, proper for the cDguZance Ola Jury, is joined
in court of law, the parties have right OF trial
Ivy jury, which ought 10 be held sacred. And that
fthe people OF this State, by their legal representa-
lives have the sole inherent aud trcusire right Of
governing aud regulating The internal police Of the
same. Now IL seems, that The compact, for redu-
cling again 10 slavery those who had escaped from
the house OF bondage, Is inconsistent with all
these provisions AMI, therefore, no tizen OF.
fcer Of The STATE ear in any way aiil, or ussst,
the saye-cntchor in sezing his victim, without vi.
Glazing his duty to support the provisions of the
State constitution. How can il be true, that the
citizens of Vermont hive the sole, inherent, and
exclusive right of governing aud regulating the in
ternul police of the STATE, il fifty slave holders
from other States into this State, us spe-
cin constitutes, and seize aud carry Oft her free
citizens Into slavery? Is this the way tie sole
aud trc'usiue right Of Vernon TO regulate her
own police is TO lie maintained? Is this The way
Vermont secures TO all her cliZens Inc right OF
trial lay jury, aud protects them in the enjoy neni
OF lie, liberty and properly Can ii ie that an
independent State, which has declared that M
person ought 10 be deprived OF liberty by law, cah
tatnely allow her clIlzeGe to be seized " ouI law
aud reduced 10 slavery Is tins the proud position
on which Vermont stoiIds IL cannot be. The
compact reduces her 10 vassalnse, trumples upon
hci sovereignty, violates her constitution aud rolls
her cZens of their dearest rights, their most sa
cred privileges. In hdnOr Vermont IS bound TO
resist The execution OF the compact, TO protect
her citizens in The enjoyment OF all their rights TO
MAINTAIN her own sovereignty, aud TO resist every
power which attempts 10 control or regulate her
internal police. III this respect the slave states
set us good example. They act like men, proud
OF their Independence, and will not allow any
power 10 control their internal police. Is tue love
OF liberty less powerful in the free States Than IN
the slave States J? While the south regulate ih,ir
n.erna. police as they please, can il be- that the
| ,Il csIT hns 10 A.
gain, consented like lssachar TO crouch down be-
tween TWO burdens, and 10 allow strangers to reg
ulaie her internal police Surely then the mum.
Der of white slaves al the north is much greater
thnn of black slaves 1T the south aud well they
deserve the scorn Ut the South
What II picture Here is II woman, rather dark
IN complexion, was born in Virginia, married II
free black, came TO Montpelier, has lived there
twenty years, has family of ten children, has
made profession of our holy religion, conduct
ed with great propreiy, and educated her chill
dren IN a christian manner: our General Court IS
sitting, His EAcellenuy The Governor, the hOnora.
bic House and Senate, all The pl,le aud dignity of
Vermont there assembled: gentleman from
tie south steps out Oi Ilc stage, sees the woman,
claims her us his properly, aud attempts 10 srize
her she flies to HE State House foi protection,
npOres tie Representatives, the Senuiors, the
Governor, To espUuse her cause aud protect her
from the brutal violence Of lie Stranger: they are
nOnplused, cUnioundud, aud hesitate the geu'le.
man hxed IN his purpose, walks INTO the Sate
House, SEXES his victim, lends her our, letters and
puts her into q carrage ,und in triumph departs with
this christian mother reduced to II slave, convert
cd into chultei in the streets oi our capitol in
the very presence OF our Stale Government. Cit
lzens of Vermont, we talk OF slavery al Washing
ton, and hive pelion,d that il might be destroyed
is il not lime 10 look nearer home, 10 think OF
slavery at Montp lirr, and TO de wise neasurrs TO
roll away such Disgrace FROM your Green Noun