Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-04-20
For the Green Mountain Freeman
Liberty Party Modification.

rotary OF state ana tnen cry nuluHcdtiOu aSdluot
the aboltonsts Yet as we do not wish to cover
any defective principles of ours by the dishonesty
and fraud of our opponents, we will see for mo-
ment if they have any tendency to nullIticatlon'-
We plead no offsets of wrong, for however sue
cessful we might be in showing the wrongs of 9TH
ers, it would not prove ourselves right. 1t Is
charged that the principles of the abolltonlsts lead
to notification. Ifit were so, those who make the
charge would not care, for they have just made
the Prince of the Nulfers the Premier of the gov
eminent. 1t is not therefore to cancel any obJec-
ton in the minds of those who charge us, but to
show to honest men the fasity of the charge, that
we examine it. The only pretended justification
for this accusation that have seen is the Buffalo
resolves The 97h in the series declares, in sub
stance, that whatever human law is urged in OPP
position to the laws of God and the rights of man,
is null and void, and ought to be so regarded and
treated. The resolve does not say that any part
of the Constitution, or any law made in conforni-
ty thereto, is opposed to the laws Of God or the
rights of man. But when certain section is APP
piled to slaves, and so construed as to require
violation of the divine law, then, such false con-
struction, misapplicaon and abuse of that charter
of freedom, shall be deemed void. Is this MULTI
cation? We say that any such construction ofthe
Constitution as denies to the people the right of
petition is void and if the Constitution itself de-
MED this right, than that instrument would be
void. Is Mr.. Adams nulIifier therefore because
he insists upon the right Of petition' The slave
boIJ - o1otoc tboi. IriUh
for Congress to receive abolition petitions. There
is the same authority then, to prove Mr.. Adams Il
nulfer for his adhesion to the right of petition,
there is to prove the abotionists for their adhe-
sion to the supremacy of the divine law. The
Constitution recognizes both But shareholders
deny both, and claim tbe Constitution on their side
Now the resolves say in fact when the ConSttu-
ton is so warped from its legitimate design and
meaning, it becomes void though in its true spirit
and intent it is the paramount law of the land and
all are bound to regard it. We say the Consttu-
ston does not guarantee to two hundred thousand
'despots the right to enforce the enslave-
ment Of one sixth part of the entire population of
the land. We say the Constitution does not obge
all the free States to be partakers in this foul crime
by helping the despot hold his victim. We say the
Constitution does not require the people of YER
mont to return back to the prison of bondage the
poor slave who escapes to US Tor protection. If it
did require these things it would be null and void
by the painest and best settled principles of law
Our fathers would not bind themselves, much less
their posterity to Go such things. 1t would be a
mere nudem uctum if they had agreed to it, on the
ground of its inherent immortality. On the same
principle that the promise of an individual can moi
be enforced if founded upon an illegal construc-
ton. may covenant with to pay him $500
in consideration that he will steal my neighbour.
horse. Such compact is void Suppose our faith
ers entered into an agreement to help Southern
despots rob the colored people of their liberties
such compact is null and void upon the principle
that it is derogatory to the law of God and the
rights of man. But we say our fathers have done
no such thing. 1t is not in the bond. And wher
sections ofthat compact are so applied as to give
it this character they are void. We say our faith
ers have been guilty of no such thing as an attempt
to bind themselves or their rosterity to war upor
humanity and the law of God. They pledged
tHeulSelVeS W Ine CduS6 Ol H6euOU anu humanity
not against it. Who then will come forward fo
the purpose of getting an objection to the aboli
zionist, and despoil the makers of our Constitution
of the high reputation they have hitherto enjoyed
and send their names down to posterity covere'
with that infamy they would so well deserve,
the Buffalo resolves would violate that Constitu
tion-those guarantees and compromises they hav
imposed on us. Pause! Think if it is best thus t
attack with your pens dipped in gall, or you
tongues dropping calumny, the illustrous deat
dor the sake of beating down the liberty party an
promoting the interests of slavery Such hels
undertakings as the return of runaway slaves
fOrms no part Of the instrument which was hum
out to the gaze of an asonished world by the grea
and good of America. Our fathers We're guilty
NO such infamy as guaranteeing slavery. TIL
Constitution they formed is not a compromis
with despotism. Those who defend that Const
tuition and its makers from these foul charges al
not nullifers. Yet we will not turn the defame
of the American patriots to avoid the charge fro
pro-slavery politicians. We do not intend to Sc
that the makers of the Constitution did all for Il
relief of the colored population that justice al
humanity demanded, yet we insist they entered i
to no compact to perpetuate their bondage, or pr
vent their enfranchisement, and that all such co
structions, if legitimate, would only prove I
Constitution void.
The article in tho Constitution unon which I