Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-01-05
VOL. 80, NO. 1s.-WHoLE NO. 1912.

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Hall, however any portion of il may, in practice,
have been turned ont OF doors. But while saying
thIs, wish to make no unmeaning, insigDificans
professions OF attachment the liberties of this
country or 10 the Union of the States. wish, in
deed, that the Union pay lpst forever and,,as one
important means OF securing that result, wish for
the abolition of slavery throughout the Union. |
believe this to be indispensable to its preservation,
ah" mink II will turn out so. But then, wish
70 % Erected peaceaby and quietly, by the ,vii
OF NOSE who now hold The slaves in bondage:
convinced, MS believe they will be- that such an
issue is as much their own interest as il lossibIy
can be those who are disenthraled. l wish no
interference whatever with the institutions of the
south wish 10 have nothing TO do with them.
iho; Is The prayer OF many petitions now be-
lore the Committee on the judiciary. These pe-
tlllons ask, not that Congress should interfere with
slavery as il exists in the States, but only that they
may be liberated from all connexion with il. They
ask TO be delivered FROM burdens that they feel TO
be TOO onerous upon them. For myself, wish II
to he clearly understood that dgctn. al p9rpcso
or desire TO interfere with the institutions of the
coulh. claim to entertain as strong aud ardent
a desire Tor the continuance of this Union as eny
man in this House, in this community and
such believe TO be the feeling of the great mass
es whom l represent, and of the people Of the
State OF Massachusetts who passed the resolutions
have had the honor TO present
The time has been when for presenting here a
petition asking Congress TO take measuresfor
peaceable dissolution of the Union, was brought
before The House as n crimina-os a culbrit--
guilty OF constructive treason and perjury, or sub
ornation of perjury. Was that an assault on the
institutions of the South !? 1t was a simple
quest to which the petitioners felt themselves re-
lhuced ny the obstinate refusal of this House to
receive their petitions and f the South do not
Know II, will tell them that this is one of the very
causes which go to weaken the attachment, of the
people OF the whole North and Northwest 10 the
does w nh on and chn, thar fora
consider the abandonment OF these restrictive
rules against the reception of petitions one of
we most fortunate occurrences that can take
place Tor the peace of The country and the perpe
'uiiy OF Its present form of Government
But gentlemen have commended that this is I'M
constitutional. On this point l would ask my
friend from South Carolina near me, (hlr.Holmes,)
whether he recollects the decision of Judge VIII
lam Johnson, in the case of certain citizen of
Rhode Island, who was imprisoned, bound, aud
know not but scourged, in South Carolina, for the
crime of-having dark complexion.
Mr.. Holmes (staIding, unfortunately for the re-
porter, in the very depth Of "Sleepy Holloway
was understood 10 say, Yes, that he did remainder
T. and that he had ever after honored the name of
William Johnson; but that ON subsequent oc-
casloii, ). NJ. Berrlen, then Attorney General of
the United Staes but now n representative in the
Senate gave it as his opinion that The law was in
conformity with the Constitution, and the Govern.
nent had sanctioned that opinion. That learned
IJurist held The law TO he valid and of full force
and effect.
Mr.; Adams. Yes; and so. nfter decision BY
a Judge of the Supreme Court of the United
States-hiinself, loo, a naive Of South Carojina-
that law was so utterly constitutional that. il
would not hear an argument six or seven wears
after, an Attorney General of the United States
held an opinion that it was constitutional and ergo
Inc law Is vahd mus It stands at this hour and
lls, in the opinion OF the Attorney General of the
United Suites, the law OF this land /! I have al.
ways understood that The official opinion of
Judge OF the Supreme Court of tile United States
unuppealed from, is the law of the land and
believe, us much as believe the sun will rise to-
morrow, that the decision of Judge johnson, in
reference to that law OF South Carolina, is atths
day the law OF this land, viz: that the State law is
so unconstitutional that it will not bear an argu.
ment.
But will inquire of my friend from South
Carolina whether he recollects another instsnces
certain Juuge OF South Carolina, when pro-
Inouncing his opinion on that law alluded IN the
opinion expressed by my honorable friend himself
that a the enforcement OF that law would produce
u dissolution OF the Union, South Carolina ought
10 adhere to it. Was it SO
Mr. Holmes, (still less perfectly heard than be-
fore,) was understood to avow having said so. and
add, that he had never seen reason n chs ~ H.
opinion; ana farther, that il the law of Sou,b
Carolina was to be repealed aud the So,ub mus,
submit to the influx of that sort of persons which
that law kept out, he had thought then, and he
thought now, the quicker The Union WINS dissolved
IN peace, SO that Southern rights and Southern
property could be respected and maintained. the
| better '"N
MIR. Adams resumed. l am satisfied. The
gentleman admits that no did put himself on the
issue between The continued existence of this I'm.
ion and the constiiulionaty of the State law in
question. | will NOT ask the gentleman how ba
voted in the case of the petition presented from
persons holding the very reverse Of his opjnion
but agreeing with him in substantially the same
issue, and asking for a peaceable dissolution of
the Union. ~
MIR. Holmes spoke in reply, but the re- Mortar
could not hear word he said.
MIR. ADAMS. How the gentleman voted he has
NOT Ioid us, and did not hold it very material
nut IN both cases the issue was substantially and
in principle the same.
There has been another effort TO carry OUT the
nw-not by South Carolina Judge, bur by me-
gotlaon with foreign power, TO effect The same
species oil oppression in relation colored marin
ers, such as the cooks aud stewards Of mercbant
vessels And here let me say, that The enormous
and terrifying danger-a danger SO terrible TO the
mli'lary and chivalrous gentleman a taught that
rather than risk H. the Union itself is 10 be dissoIv
ed is this, that South Carolina will not be ube tn
sustain her power over her slaves because free
colored cook or steward should remain on board
vessel al Charleston Tor n few days IL cannot
DO endured-nis TOO terrible; you must nab the
poor mortal citizen, most likely, of my own
Stale, or OF Rhode Island, or the subject of some
loreign power, to whom we are bound by treaty
that her subjects shall be treated by us with Kind.
ness aud hospitality. Ia the case Of This 10 which
allude, the Government fihe United States and
the Government Of South Carolina had both 10
deal WIN foreign power on that question.
Not hive years ago, believe, there occurred an
other case at Charleston, when a complaint was
made by the British Consul, and something very
like u threat was uttered, that IL The men seized
were not released, it might lead to a quarrel be-
tween The United States aud Great Bsalu and in
HE end II came to this, that another highly dIstin-
guished Attorney General OF the Uniled Stules
from South Carolina, a gentleman for whose
memory cherish, % we all must the most sim
cere respect, wrote 20 the British Consul that he