Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-04-21
VOL. IX.-NO. 81.


ed up, in order to purchase continuance
Of the union. The act is vet quoted BIZ
some as an example Of patriotism ON the
part of the free States. Our press, OUR
statesmen, and politicians treated il as such:
and our people were thus led TO believe.
that the sacrifice Of northern rights to tho
interests Of the slave States, was, in fact.
duty and virtue.
Whenever the interests of the north and
the south came in conflict, southern men,
bers were, for more than quarter Of a cen
tury, in the habit of threatening "a dissolk-
ton Of the Union," as the most effectusI
argument in favor of the measures; and il
seldom failed TO convince their opponents.
This practice became so common, that die
tation appears to have been regarded as tho
right of the south, and submission was look
ed upon as the the duty of the north. This
feeling prevailed so long, and TO such an
extent, that any deviation from the accus-
toned submission was regarded as suspi-
cious.
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 fur
Their examination, was regarded as dishonor-
able to him who propo ed it. Our public
nen became unwilling to raise any ques-
ton that should affect slavery, lest they
should thereby, jeopardize their political
standing aud the public press discouraged,
every attempt to assert the rights Of the free
States in opposition to the interests OF the
South. To support slavery, il is absolutely.
necessary to suppress all knowledge Of ha-
man rights among 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 TO the murder of fugitive
slaves, and we're silent under the outrage.
The spirit of independence and honor SEEM
+ ed to have fed from our people. We saw
our Presidents our Heads Of Departments;
our Speakers of The House of Representa-
tives, and Of the Senate our foreign Min
listers our officers in the army and navy,
mostly taken from the slave States, and we
meekly submitted TO the abuse We saw
our respectful petitions TO Congress treated
with contempt; and our citizens who dared
thus to approach their servants, were insult
ted and abused by the supercious advo-
, Gates of slavery; while scarcely solitary
voice was heard in defence OF northern hon.
or. Even such as dared to stand forth in
defence of our rights and interests, were
generally condemned by the press, or damn
/ ed with faint praise" This was the point
/ Of our lowest degradation. History will
mark the commencement of 1912 as the Pc
Rod Of the deepest humiliation OF the free
2 States. 1t was the time when the slave pow
er ruled triumphant; and, untrammeled By
I the Constitution, held the freemen of tho
# north in almost willing subsection to its die
! tates when the rights, the interests, and
e the honor of the free States were regarded
S as OF little Importance, except as a means Of
e promoting the interests Of the slave States
d AT this period, when all hope of supporting
S the rights of the north appeared about 10
n expire, a most important incident transpired
J. in the House of Representatives OF the Uni
e ted States. John Quincy Adams presented
l. petition to dissoipe the Union l say moth
e ing in favor Of this petition, it was however,
# a request that Congress would carry into
: effect the threats which, for TWENTY-FIVE
ID years, had been put forth by southern states
,e men. 1t was arequest that those States,
,e which had assumed to themselves the con-
troll of the Federal Government, might be
T. ieIt 10 take care OF anu protect themselves.
d The proposition Mortified those who had so
n often menanced us with the consequences
b. now prayed for by northern men.
of The effect produced by this petition was
N most important. Southern Statesmen ex-
b. hbited TO the world consciousness Of their
NJ entire dependence upon the free States 1t
ID was distinctly avowod, by one Of their ablest
in and most influential members, that "fhe dis
70 solution of the Union goUld be The dissoli-
a. tion Of sidpery." II showed to the people
IS of the free States, and to the world, that our
We institutions and national independence must
m ever depend upon northern freemen for sup
10 port. From this moment northern men felt
so more conscious Of their power, and Of the
e. importance of our free institutions Of the
~ north The sceptre of power then depart
u ed from the south, and must hereafter be
r. swayed by the north, if our people prove
s themselves worthy of the high trust reposed
Is in them. 1t is true great efforts were subse-
Sc quently made, and will continue to be made.
in by members from the slave States, assisted
n by northern Democrats, TO stop the wheels
err of that revolution in the public mind, which
ee originated in the attempt TO censure the
il venerable Adams. But their efforts have
TO only served to awaken our people more full
n y 10 the maintenance Of our rights
es ' PACIFICUS.
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