Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-02-17

NUMBER ].
Rights and Privileges IF the several States concern.
ing SiuUery.
Ma EDrroR For the purpose Of fixing in the
mind definite idea vi rigns and rriy ileges
respecting shvery. IL becomes necessary TO look
hnck To the time OF forming the Constitution. At
that period the spirit OF universal liberty perva-
died The minds o. oar people generally, particular
Iy those OF HE New England and the northern
! States. The rages aud patriots Of l776 had put
forth the undyin truth, =" that man is born free"
us Il srlf erideni tact. In obedience To this decar-
nlon, Massachusetts ever forward in the c0use of
! liberty, 10y similar assertion of tile rights OF man,
had stricken the shackles from every slave within
her territory. The soil II Vermont had never
been contaminated with the footsteps of slave.
Peunsy lVauia, aud indeed nearly all Of the north
ern StHIes, had commenced Il system -u gradual
euIaHc pnuon. he delegates from the north car
ried wits them strong predisposon in favor Of
universal liberty. While in convention they spoke
oft With deep abliOrrence 81 the most rreconcilea-
bic hatred MOI so with tie Southern States. They
regarded slavery ss necessary To their prosperity
They relNseditA enter into the constitutional COM
pacl upon any terms that would subject that in
sululIon 70 the control of the General Government
Up TO this period each State had acted IN regard
to slavery, according the dictates of lis own
will. EACH for seli, he d supreme, indispulable
and uncontrolled jurisdiction over that institution
within its own limits This entire mower was re-
scIycd TO Itself by each state, and no portion OF il
whS Delegated 10 TIE tIenefhi Government and
To place The subect in such plain aud palpabe
light thai it should never be questioned or dspu-
led ar icle TO- vi the amendments, was subse-
qurutiA adopted by which il was declared, thar
tie poNers not delegated by the Constitution wers
reserved To the sr,era States. Ii is, therefore,
plain, HAT The General Government have now no
more power over the Institution Of slavery then il
had prior TO the adoption of the Constitution
The people Of the southern States hold HAT ilsl-
IuIiou as Independently Of the Federal Govern
uienl Us lley did under the old Confederation.
Precisely 10 the same extent do the people of
tue !rc States mold hi ENJOY the blessings oil per-
souui liberty. They delegated 10 the Federal Gov
crnilent 10 more power 10 involve them in sla-
very, tlau the soul did TO involve them in lis abo-
l.liun. The rights OF The States on this subecr
wetr uItual, anJ perfectly reciprocal. Those
States WHO desired TO do SO, could continue the
institution oi slavery and those who desired to
bu free and enIireiy exempt from the expense, tho
disgrace, and the Sul OF il, reserved TO them
selves lie fun and indSpuiabie right to remain al
together separate rutii, ad unconnecled with, lis
evils. 'lhc suns Of the pilgrims regarded slavery
as violation OF The will oil Heaven, aud u fla
giant rhnsgressiun Of The lazy Of God. They
would 10 sooner have been prevailed upon to in
NOlvc themselves III It's moral turpitude, than
they would ia ihil al piracy or murder. The Iieu-
pie Of the free States, therefore, secured to them
selves lhe absolute right oil remaining freq from
The guilt, The Disgrace and the exp 0t slavery,
by Withholding rom lie feuerul Government ali
constitutional power ia regard 10 that institution;
while tho slavr States secured to themselves an
equal priSleg 10 enjoy the benefits rs they sup
pOsrd) resulting from continuance OF slavery.
The doctrines are moi neW they are as old as
the Constitution They not local, for they
have been substantially asserted ia Congress- and
both in Tie north aud the south. They nrc not
dnli-sLdusry Tor they have heen for half u century,
lie dtcar doctrines al the sidpe Stdtss. lfany
HnIl-savery man claims for the free States any fur
her rights ia regard To slavery than those express
sed above he 10 requested 10 maku them known.
1t any Wing OF Democrat OF Ohio il willing TO
deny tn the people Of the free States The rights
bUte sci lurlh, lie is Invited 10 express his views III
order that HE public mind may be informed upon
this Important subject
II these be the constitutional rights Of the FREQ
States, all will agree thai they should be maintain
ed aud supported. On this point il would appear
impossible lhut Wings aud anislayery men should
Disagree. therefore, submit the question to our
editors, aud the conductors of The public press
generally, whether they Ougii not to speak out
/ boldly and temporarily upon this subject Ought
they not 10 urge forward our State and National
| legislators 10 maintain aud defend the rights oflhe
free States us assiduously they do those of the
| slave States The question is also submitted 10
! the members of our State Legislature and to our
members of Congress, whether they are or not as
much bound by their oath OF Office TO preserve
the free States from all participation in the guilt,
the disgrace, aud the expense of slavery, as they
are to preserve the slave States from tie abolition
of that institution by Congress? Ought they not
10 put forth their influence to separate and wholly
divorce the Federal Government from all support
of slavery, and 10 bring it back to The position in
which the Constitution placed il in relation to that
| institution
Having thus stated, generally, the rights Of the
States, | shall in my next communication, examine
the subject OF fugitive slaves which has some
times been urged az an exception TO the general
principle tina, we, OF The free States, are cons''u
"'"' N'' PAClFICUs,