Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-17

SEVERAL. STATES IN REGARD TO SLAVERY
esir1 .,ris Of Es,oys, published in TIE U..t.rn
As~'s c"ronis!', tOhio) qfi'r'h' 'i's'on Of ls42.
~ WHO or ONO.
iNTRoD CT1oN.
To hs Editor Of the Chronicle. The election 10
past, and our opponents have triumphed. They are
now charged with tbs responsibility Of Administering
Our State Government, ,y r, This being the case, we
who will vote to rcpes the tariff and TO abandon the
protection OF the free labor Of the North. We must
expect The election of such man as will exert his
influence against our harbor improvements and A
completion Of the Cumberland road and who will
oppose the distribution Of the proceeds Of the public
lands. We must look for the election OF man who
will vote for the annexation Of Texas TO this Union
and who will lend his influence generally to the
sla,choldine interests. The State will be so distcted
% TO elect the greatest possible number of Represen
Ntves in Congress- who wi sustain the same policy
end who will vote for John G. Calhoun to the Off e
Of Presidenin 1874 should the election devove upon
the House of Representatives.
Had the friends Of northern rights united their po-
hteal Efforts At the recent election, these consequent
sss would have been avoided; but we were divided,
and OF course were conquered. elimination and re.
srntnation will no. eItricas us from the difficulties
Into which our unhappy divisions have precIpned
%. Future triumph can only be secured by future
snish; we should, therefore, profit by experience
Lot us iseatch out the rock on which have split,
cha, VIC may avoid it hereafter II there be any po-
l,icai or mornl principle involved in the controversy,
Ist us understand what it is. Let be developed and
placed before the people, that we may all distinctly
understand ii. In order to do this il is the intention
OF the writer enter into examination of this sub
sct. He will endravor to do so with such painness
end sincerity the subject demands; false delica
ey shall deter him from full fair, and candid ex-
preston OF truth shall feelings of cxrtsInen
induce him to use terms OF ep,hets tina, may offend
the sincere inquirer after truth, whether he lives in
free or slave State, or belongs to ihe Wing, the
Democrat, or the Liberty party
In order to be distinctly understood. your readers
may expect An examination Of the subject in the fol.
tswing order:
lat, He will inquire into the righ's and privileges
q tho several States in regard 10 slavery.
~. Tho encroachnents upon these rights, OF
which the anti slavery men complain.
u: Tho remedy which, think, all will agree
should be adopted.
The whole will occupy several columns Of your
DApsr and will he furnished the writer finds leisure
70 communicate with your readeas
November l, lS42. PAClFlCUS.
NUMBER l.
aisIPs AHD PRIVILEGES or THE SEVERAL STATES
CONCERNING SLAVERY.
Ms Eoiros: For the purpose of fixing in the
mind definite idea Of our rights and privileges res
psctne slavery, it becom necessary to look back to
The time of forming tho Constitution. At that PERIOD
the spirit Of unvers, liberty pervaded the minds OF
eur people generally, particular, those OF New Eng
land AMI the northern States. The snges and patriots
q! i776 had put forth the undying truth, "that man
v born free" as "a ,.lfeoident fact" In obedience
10 this declaration, Massachusetts, ever forward IN
tbs cause OF liberty, BY .lmilnr assertion OF the
rights OF man. had stricken the shnckles from every
slave within her territories. The soil of Vermont had
never been con animated with the footsteps OF a
slave Pennsylvania, and indeed nearly all of he
northern Stntcs, had commenced 81 stem Of gradual
emancipation. The delegates from the north carried
with them strong Predisposl,ion in favor of unver-
cal liberty While in convention they spoke OF slave
a,l tha on
81. hared. Not so with the Southern States. They
regarded slavery az necessary 10 their prosperity
They refused to enter into the constitutional compact
upon any terms tina, would snhJec, that institution &c
tbs control Of the General Government. Up 10 THU
period each State had acted in regard to slavery
eording to the dictates Of its own will. Each, 70
Itself held supreme. indlsputabc, and uncontrole
Jurisdiction over that institution within its own limit:
This entire power WAS reserved to itself by eac
State and no portion Of it was delegated to the Ger
sral Government and to place the subject in sue
plain and pslpable light that IT should never be qne'
tioned or disputed; article TO- of the amendment
that the powers no, delegated by the Constitute
were reserved 10 the several States. It's therefor
plain, that the General Government have now n
more power over the institution of slavery than i. hu
prior TO the adoption of the Constitution. The pei
pie Of the southern States hold tina, institution as il
der.ndeny of the Federal Government as they d
snder tho old confederation.
Precisely TO the same extent do the people Of Il
ne, delegated 10 the Federal Govcrnmer
no more power to involve them in slavery than tn
south did tolnvove item in lis abolition. The RICH,
o. the States on this subject were mutual and pei
tscilv reciprocal. Those States who desired to do
could continue the institution Of slavery; and tho
who desired 10 be free and entirely exempt from tn
expense, the disgrace, and the guilt of it, reserved
themselves the full and indispn'nbe right to rema
altogeihcr separate from, and unconnected with
evils. The sons of the pilgrims regarded slavery
vioainn of The will of Heaven, and frngra
transgresslon Of the law of God. They would
sooner have been prevailed upon 10 involve then
selves in its moral turptndc than they would in tn
4 - piracy or murder The people of the free State
sherefore, secured TO themselves the absolute right
remaining flee from the guilt, the disgrace, and I,
expense Of slavery, by Withholding from the FEEDER
Government all constitutional power in regard
that institution; while the slave States secured
themselves an eGunl privilege TO ENJOY the benef
(.s they supposedly resulting from continuance
slavery.
These doctrines are not ne,o-ihey nre q. old
the Constitution. They not local, for they ha
been substantially asserted in Congress, ard both
tho north and the south They are not anti-slare
Tor they have been, for halt century, the decar
doctrines of the Stare States. If any nnli-slnve
man claims for the Free S,aics any further rights
regard to slavery than those expressed above, he
requested TO make them known. II anyWhig
Democrat Of Ohio is willing to deny TO the people
che free Sta the rights above forth he is inv
10 express his views, in order that the pubic mi
may be informed upon this very important 81
Nct.
II these be the constitutional rights of the f
States, NIL will agree that they should bo maintain
and supported On this point it would appear imp
sloie that Wings and anti slavery men should di
gree !, therefore, submit the question TO our e
torsand the conductors of the public press genera
whether they ough. not to speak out boldly aud te
rerately upon this subject Ought they not TO III
forward our State and National legislators TO ma
tain and defend the rights of the free States as ass
sously as they do those of the slave States7 7
question is also submitted TO the members of {
State Legislature, and to our members of Congre
whether they are not as much bound by their OF
OF once 10 preserve the free States from all par,ic
sion N the guilt, the disgrace, and the expense
slavery they are TO preserve the slave States fr
ihe abolition Of that institution by Congress7 Ou
they not to put forth their influence TO separate
wholly divorce the Federal Government from all $
portof slavery, and to bringit back to the position
which the Constitution placed ii in relation TO
institution7
Having thus stated, generally, the rights of
State, shall, in my next communications exam
the subject of fugitive slaves which has some
been urged Us nm exception to the general prime
thst we, OF the free States, are constiiutionallv
connected with slavery. PAClFICUS
ir Hon. HEsRY A. WISE publishes in tho NJ
sonian long Address to his constituents concerI