Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-10-25
NJ NIB ER 43.

service or labor does not and cannot the
claimant ;--arh finally if the claim set up against
him is founded on the fact that the individual is
known in law as properly and not as person, then
as the constitution recognizes no such claim, the
obligation to deliver up ceases. And on this point
| shall urge but one consideration more, and this,
it seems to me must settle the question beyond dis
pute 1t is this, slaves by the laws Of our land
are deprived of their liberties without due process
of law, which could not be the case if they were
known as persons, for the constitution expressly
says in the seventh article of the amendments
that "no person shall be deprived of lifc liberty or
property withoutdue process of law"
From due considerations | have come to the
conclusion, that, the personality of slaves has
ceased throughout the land, that with it has ceas-
ed all obIgation with either nation or as in
dividuaI states if such obligation ever existed un-
der the constitution to sustain the slave power
If these views are correct, Mr.. President, then
it follows that the constitution, far from throw
ing any mpediment in the way of emancipation
offers every facility for advancing it and that those
friends of the slave have been wholly mistaken,
who have from conscientious scrupIes been led to
either wholly withdraw from the political contest,
or when under oaths to sustain the constitution to
excind or object to a part of that instrument as
being no part of it, on account, it is conceived
= of its being at variance with the law of God.
n The law Of God is paramount to all law and
" no human law can disannul it or lay any human
j. being under any obligation to dsobey it; yet it Is
l. far the safest way when an instrument like the
IS constitution proposes to be founded in righteous
!. ness to so consrue its different parts when they
can be made to bear such sruction 0swiIl make
IL them harmonize both with the laws of God and
re each other. And instead of Directing to such parts
as may be construed wrong, to object only to such
re construction
y Having said what I wished to say, on the reso-
luton, might be disposed to have let the subject
d rest, were not that in the minds Of some, the
&c constitution and the compromise are so identified
Is that they are disposed to consider and treat them
~ as one and the same.
he Why, after having contended strenously and
re- so efectually against the demands of the slave
ds power, to have slavery acknowledged in the con-
VI stiution, the friends of freedom should at last
III, consent to enter into a compromise, may still be
"' mystery in the minds Of some But it is all ex-
we plained in that one significant word erped'ency.
"o They having Just gained their independence, after
OF having had some years of war, during which they
had lost many lives and spent most OF their prop
*" erty were now assembled the representatives OF
Wy the people for the purpose of framing govern
u" ment for the mutual protection of all. If they
Vi were to separate without accomplishing their OBJ
ha' iect they apprehended that in fulflment of the
HIN predictions of their enemies, they should never
=. b,,to hor 9th
And as it was the opinion of most people that tn
slaves were not prepared for freedom, and that tn
emancipation of so many slaves at once, would b.
""" fraugbt with the worst of consequences it wa
u deemed expedent to leave this subject for the sew
eral states to dispose of, expecting that as the lib
erty of speech and of the pess were fully toera
e'"' ed throughout the land gradual emancpatlo
"o' would soou he broug hit about, that would be
n0' once safe the master and beneficial to the slav
=! In view of all these things, we can hardly
" surprised that the friends of freedom at last cam
IT, to the conclusions that it expedient TO yle
may and enter into a compromise with the slave pow
v we m + r which WINS THAT SLAYER
hou 80. Ell - .o,,o;o IN thoso statos who,
WI" it then existed, until the friends Of freedom viii
the free use of such mighty agencies as the pulp
the mail and the ballot box, miSht erect us aoo
'S'"- ton. Nor need we wonder that they should be
Tue lated with the prospects and think it hardly poss
W. bic to fail OF success.
"'' a. But they were only deceived, as men may ev
expect to be, who substitute eXpediency for righ
do evil that good may come, or OF the two ev
gun" choose the best The slave power, paying no a
INV tention to the compromise any further then it ser
0"00, ed its own interests, kept straight forward in
"''' aggressons on the rights ofthe people from tn
day to the present. And eXpedency had becor
the rule of acliou the friends OF freedom in ord
l'o" to keep pace, found it eXpedient to make contn
S"Vef al overures Thus it soon became inexpedie
"'"- to preach, or print, or publish, or act agalI
) no slavery. SO the pulpit and the press, the mail a
unue' the ballot box were all delivered up and plac
'' :" under the supervision of Judge Lynch for ST
III 10 keeping.
"' NC As it regards the duty of the General Govei
49, ment in reference to slavery, have come to
=" ~. following conclusion 1st That Congress has
authority under the constitution TO establish sla'
nv anywhere, but, as the servants of the people
,I, is bound to abolish it in the District of Column
;,;d and in the territories.
wv cd. That the mail is the property of the