Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-02
JUNIUS TRACT5-No. 5, ON POLITICAL
ABOLITION.


very man's consideration.
What The people of his country toiH mol permit.
In our opinion they will not permit the Cousti-
tuition of the United Suites TO be broken, to nc.
conpish the ends of Abolition. The Conslitu-
tlona boundaries Of influence aud control over
slavery nre now pretty well recognised by all par
ties. They have been much better defined since
The movement Of Northern political Abolition
commenced, than before. This debate and this
recognition OF the Constitutional rule Oh IT, sub
| Jcct, have brought uuttudes in the Tree Suites to
| pause, who were otherwise disposed TO favor
tins movement, and who ure always ready 10 do
everything Constitutional Tor the Abolition of sia-
very throughout the union. THIS feeling of re-
spect Tor the Constitution, aud Of opposition to
slavery, is the prevailing feeling OF the Tree States
and Tor our part, we desire it may ever be 80. In
| THIS State OF things, since the people of the free
| States can not COnsuionally, IN The use Of their
political rights, step over The bounds into the slave
States, TO act upon the institution OF slavery, they
| VIII very naturally, and for uuglt we can see,
may very properly, desire and require 10 lie rid
OF lis responsibility being, as they generally IRE,
cohsclenuously opposed TO IT, This, we doubt
not, the slave States will be disposed grant. Ii
cul hardly be denied, that the people oil the free
States have had reason TO feel that heretofore hey
have been mad III some degree responsible for
slavery Ivy the action OF the Federal authorizes,
| by requirements made OF their own State author
lies, aud in other Ways 1t Is probable, however,
satisfactorily relieved, by the operation vi the
! principles settled in 1912 by the Supreme Court
OF the United States, III the case Oi Prtgg vs. The
Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. ! hat decision
must necessarily be respected ny all rites We
have assumed, ia the former part OF This Tract
that the Tree states are not responsible for slavery,
which we believe to be sound doctrine resulting
from the terms OF tie Uuon. Consequently they
can not larry be made practically Responsibility
Let thus lie understood aud acted upon by all par-
lies, aud we do not see any inSuperabIe difficulty
IN maintaining harmoniOusy the original terms
OF The Union OF these States. All MINOR conlro.
verted questions arising oul of slavery, can only
be settled by TINE aud lh= regular action OF Con-
stiiutlOnal authorities.
What j1llops.
BY such an adjustment OF the slave question:
which has so long aud SO greatly agAtGd the pub.
lie mud OF this country, it will follow, # we mis-
take not, that slavery must he lett where the Con-
sItutIon has placed it, OH he responsibility, and
under the control oil Tire States in which it exists
Ii will also follow, that any political action or Il
nallng III the Tree States, To ac on The slavery oil
slave States VIII not only he necessarily incffec-
tua, but improper aud injurious. 1t win follow,
moreover, that return 10 The original mode of
action Oh slavery for lis abolition 6y moral means
is The only course, which tie oppusers of slnyery
in the free States, can Coustiluiionally pursue
With this. will also follow the hope OF an ultimate
attainment OF the end. ManiiestIy, there is no
hope for as result OF political Abolition in the
free States Every aspect OF the question has on
ly waxed worse aud worse, an the end in view
has been placed at a farther remove by this ag-
iaIion, us we have before had occusion to notice,
and the facts Of which are undispnled. .uorai
means have heretofore operated well. They are
the means of Chris;iauity-u cans which Cop
himself has ordained, benevolent in character,
and beneiicent in their effect.
The duty Of anIi.s Stare mtn in he free States as
american citizens.
They can not Of course disregard their obliga.
tons OF ically TO The Constitution of The Unl!ed
States, Tor any foreign object, however good aud
merltorious II might be IN itself considered. 1t
would he equaily proper Tor them 10 violate the
CONSTITUTION TO suppress slavery IN any of tho ma
uons oi Europe, or in any other foreign parts, as
10 violate II TO suppress slavery in any OF the
States OF this Unon. As regards slavery, the
States are as independent OF each other, and of
the General Government, MS any TWO nations are
in their relations.
All citizens Of tho free States, therefore, who
desire to see all end of slavery in this Union, by
CONSTITUTIONAL means, can hardly have failed TO
have their attention arrested by the deplorable
spectacle exhibited in the slave States, as the re-
suit OF Northern political Abolition, IN the put
ting back of the work of emancipation so far and
SO greatly, IN destroying the better feelings of
masters toward their slaves, and in creating a
strong current OF feeling in those States against
any purpose or plan OF emancipation whatever.
They must have seen, that political Abolition in
The free Siates has committed an error, not only
of infinite magnitude, but OF corresponding re-
spoasibillty. AS friends Of the snve, therefore,
as the enemies OF slavery in all orms, and as good
CITIZENS, owing allegiance 10 the Constitution, we
think they can no, fail 10 line OF duty mark
ed out 10 lhem which will induce them not only
10 abstain from counlenanclng, but TO lend all their
influence IN opposing so destructive and hopeless
All enterprise as political Abolition IL tree
Ina hv its cr,,it tIo a,ri, e,l,o
acier in this case, one would think, ought TO be
deemed sufficient.
Indications Of Providence.
il is the preroga.ive Of Providence 10 bring
good out of evil, and of the evil actions Of
men. Observe The following facts |. 4 fricnn
slavery, in the West, was begun by the nations of
Europe 2. Those very nations, Including those
which sprung from them in this " esIern world
IRE now, for the most part, acting in concert TO
suppress the slave trade. 3. CHI tslian panlIro-
piss, from among these nations. are making sim.
ulIaneous efforts, 10 explore Africa, TO develope
its resources and capabilities, to Chrislianize and
clvlllze its tribes, and 10 present Inducements Tor
lawful commerce. Witness the plans aud pro.
gress OF African Colonization from tho United
States and corresponding labors in Great Britain
for the benefit Of the African race. 4. The tor
lid regions OF Africa appear 10 be The natural
home Of the cUOred races, and as such constitute
u PfOydeh,ia Indication OF the course To he pur-
strrj by those who seek to elevate aud establish
,lem in a social aud political standing among The
nations Of the earth. 5. Great, aro:ious and,
indsputable, as was the CRIME OF the slave trade
which has justly received the Reproduction OF all
mankind, il has nevertheless been SO overruied by
Providence, that those portions OF The race which
have survived The cruel'ieS aud uhumanilies in
flcted, have been improved aud elevated in a
stale of slavery. They are The best portions OF tho
rnce aud most capable of doing good to their
brethren, whenever general emancipation shall
lao oft, n sin AZ I,aI
are the best aud most capable portions of the race
anywhere TO be found z. And consequently, the
crime Of man. for which neither defence, nor pal
alion, can be made, may he oyerrued by Provi.
dence for the general good o! the race when a
plan of universal emancipation shall be perfected
aud carried out. That the tendencies OF human
society are in lha; direction is sufficiently evident
Ia raInrl lLia InnYeIneuI. hL allnunIinn a nrl.