Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-23
& STATE JOURNAL.
FRIDAY. FEB. %. 1914.
THE UNION IN DANGER.
Northern .Nuitifrs-.Northern enemies Of The I'M


Northern .NtttlferS-gNorttefn enemies o. Me IN
ion.
When, in our last, we made the remark that in
reference to Dis-unon the extremes Of ultra pro-
slavery and ultra anti-savery men were meeting
we had nc intention of inditng series upon this
all important subject. We have not now that in
tention, have not by any means the ability to
treat the matter as it ought to be treated-ought
in our Judgment al to be so treated as to set
public opinion right, and avert the impending dam
ger. Having alledged the fact, that there are Nor
ticrn men tcto are hostile 10 the Union, and who are
acting 10Th the McDufies and Calhouns and Rhetts
of the South, though not in formal alliance with
them--it is perhaps our duty to sustain the alega-
ton by indsputable proof This we shall now do,
though we shall not give all the proof which might
be presented.
Northern .Nullifers.
The Liberty party so called, adopts doctrine OF
Modification more dangerous than that of Mr. CAL
houn, inusmuch as he claimed the right only Of
state to ntllify law which that state regards as
unconstitutional and breach of the Federal COM
pact while the Liberty party tcouid annuL The Con-
stitution ITSELF The acknowledged organ Of that
party--its National Convention, whose nominations
each member of that party supports solcmnly re-
solved on the ground that the clause in question is
morally wrong
-" whether as private citizens, or as public
hnctionu,ies sworn to support the Constitution of
the United States, to regard and treat the third
clause of the fourth article of that instrument,
whenever applied to the case of fugitive slave, as
utterly null and void, and consequently as forming
no part of the Constitution of the United States,
whenever we are called upon, or sworn, to support
it."
AS mere matter of proof the simple citation of
this resolution is sufficient. But the doctrine is IA
tai to the Union--to the entire Constitution. What
is the doctrine? II is mol simply that any part Of
the Constitution which is morally wrong is not NOR
ally binding. Such doctrine may be, and doubtless
is, held by patriotic lovers of the Union; and such
men, when called under the Constitution to do an
immoral act, will refuse, under their conscences
and submit to the legal penalty if need be. The
doctrine goes beyond this it totally annuls the
clause, and therefore assumes that it has no place
in the Constitutions neither morally nor legally
binding 1t goes further still, for it assumes that
there is tribunal to judge what is the Constitu-
tion either legally or morally; every man is his own
Judge, unless he chooses, like the third party, to
surrender his liberty of judging to irresponsible
convention If this doctrine be true, the Consttu-
ton is worcestershire Federal Government has no
foundation-the bond of Union is fpossible, even
weaker than " u rope of sand" The Quakers and
the Peace Men may suy-do say-that war is i'm
moral and therefore the clauses of the Constitu-
ton, empowering Congress to declare war and
maintain armies, are null and void. 1t follows not
only that they may refuse as individuals to bear
arms, but also refuse to furnish supplies of provs
ions-refuse to pay taxes, or the duties now impos
ed by the Tariff or refuse to purchase articles
which duties are imposed, because the revenue thus
derived goes, or may go by and by, to support a
War. Others believe that all oaths are morally
wrong and they therefore may annul the clause re-
quiring oaths to support the Constitution. Others
believe that it is morally wrong to impose gov
eminent upon any community against its wishes ;
and they may annu the clause guaranteeing re-
publican government to the states. Others still are
no government men and they may annul the whole.
There is no end to the variety of opinions about
subjects embraced within the Constitution; and So
according to this new sort of Modification, we
should soon have Constitution as varied as the
different shades of individual opinion-in fact, no
Constitution at all, for each mans WILL or notions
of morality, would form to him his constitu-
ton. 1t comes to this-we dissolve completely the
bonds of civil union, and every man, as in state
of nature, is a law unto himself Such is the doc
trine of the third party Perhaps, when carried
out, many third party men will repudiate it yet it
is theirs after all, and such men can prevent the
fruits of it only by abandoning the party, forcing
the party to abandon the doctrine.
But we pass to the
Northern enemies of the Union.
There is another class of anti-slavery men
class which denounces the third party as being as
bad as any pro-savery party-as dangerous to the
anti-savery cause; class which "repudates
strongly that any enlightened abolitionist
tain the third party" and resolves that James G.
Birney third party candidate for Presidency sis
not deserving Of the approval or support of any
genuine abolitonist,s' and that the political party
which sustains such man for the Presidency of
the United States is demonstraby either corrupt
or misguided and in either case, unworthy of anti
slavery countenance." But this class nevertheless
is more openly and decidedly hostile to the Union
and more consistent and reasonable in it, for ac
knowledges the binding force Of the ,chole Consti-
tuition while they live under it. In their results,
both come TO the same end. The Massachusetts
Anti-Savery Society comes within this class; and
we quote from the proceedings ofthe annual meet
ing, commenced in Faneu Hall, Boston, on the
2lth We q,ote for proof of our assertions not
for the sake Of comment
Resolved That while we give great COMPARE
tive appreciation to the scattering votes, or to indie
pendent temporary nomination for the more efec-
tuay influencing the existing parties to act for
cause IRE deem Il The only true and consistent posi-
tion, 10 withhold support and sanction from the Con-
sttption of the United States and TO present to the
consciences of countrymen, the duty of dissOl-
uing their connection icih The government until 1t
J shall hove abolished slavery" (Adopted)