Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-05-05

So then ii is time for the States 10 vlndicate their
rights, to assert their sovereignty, and TO demand
that the national compact be amended, that it
can not break down and run over the State con-
stitutions. For if any power eau come ino YER
mont, and ride over all the provisions OF our con-
stiluIion, then is our liberty goue aud we are no
longer a free and sovereign state. what would
the people of Vermont say, should foreign pow
| or attempt TO enforce her laws upon subjects who
had taken refuge in this state ? Would they let
n military officer pursue fugitive soldier from
Canada and in violation of our rights as a sover-
eign State take and carry off the deserter? And
what is the difference whether our sovereignty be
invaded by domestic power, or by foreign pow.
er? lf our constitutional rights be tratnped in
! the Dust they may as well he the sport of a for
eign domestic foe. II the Shareholder may
come from the SOUTH and seize freeman aud re-
duce him to slavery in despite of our State Con-
stituIion, why may not British officer come from
the north and seize deserter who has taken shell
ter under our laws, and carry him to Canada ? In
principle where is the difference In point Of
danger to our sovereign rights, there is far moro
to be apprehended from the slave power, than
from any foreign power For if slave laws may
he extended iGlo all the free States, aud uullity
our State constitutions in one case, il will not lie
long before the slave power will find good reasons
to extend the influence of slave laws into The free
States in other cases. and thus etfectually destroy
ali our boosted freedom, and reduce the Tree States
10 mere VHSShlS OF Inc SOuln. ICl nO uiit say
such thing is impossible. Who would have be-
leved fifty years ago, that the doctrine would ey-
er be advanced, that the free aud sovereign States
had consented TO lay opsn their whole territory
tor save-hunters to occupyat pleasure, that tue
fundamental provisions oil their constitutions
should he suspended their citizens dragged into
slavery, aud the sovereignty Of the Suites tramp
led upon, whenever slave hunter peases: yet
now this sentiment seems 10 he Admitted MS or
thodox, and fear many Of our State officers are
willing to sanction The hOrrd dOCt inc. Well, let
this point he yielded, and what will come next 2
II is folly to believe that the all grasping slave
power will ever he satisfied with any concession,
until her dominioG is as complete at the north az
at the SOUTH And those free states that can mean.
ly stoop to any power foreign or domestic and
see their own ci'izens dragged away in chains, de.
serve to be hetCerS Of rood aud drdtUtrs of wnter
to their southern mas,ers They must be 100 de-.
graded 10 hold rank among ireemen; they have
the spirit OF slaves, and with slaves they ought to
he ranked Is this the spirit that row rpgns IN
Vermont How dnlike the high born, indepen
dent SPIRIT that once, ia the days Of my boyhood
reused the Green Mountain Bays to assert and
to lnnininin their independence? In those days
there Tere giants IN The land where are now their
sons : Tamey looking on, while save.hunter
comes into Vermont. as he would into Il petty state
OF Africa, seizes neiglbor, n citizen, under The
sacred protection of The ldtp chains him, and with
Wnlp IN mana ullNe5 MN from Iatnly ais farm, all
his connections, all his civil rights all his religious
privileges, changes the man into Thing, and redu-
ces him to d slave in our free, sovereign State
in spite and in defiance of our laws, constitution
and all our state rights. Tell me not, that our
soil was never polluted with slavery. Here is one
of your citizens, under the full protection OF your
government, reduced TO a slave on your SOL, be =
fore your eyes, and even your government dare
not move Il finger to rescue its own citizen. Are
they rot then all slaves, the mere tools OF some
other master' Aud with such spectacle before
their eyes, would not the old founders Of this Re.
public say, there Vas not freeman left to tread
the soil of Vernont--not "a man TO assert those
sacred rights for " hich they fought and bIed, aud
died. Vermont, like Africa, the hunting ground
for shareholders Citizens of Vermont hunted
and seized, and chained, aud carried into slavery
just as easy as the poor Africans are stolen from
their home and all under the full powers of ou
glorious National Constitution An OH Man.