Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-20
Governors Message, No. III,
Executive Department,
Columbia, Nov. 80, 1874.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatIves: The accompanying communication was
received by the last mail land | deem it proper that
it should be laid before you for your information.
1t will be seen that the State Of Massachusetts has
appointed a special agent to reside in this State,
for the purpose Of cOnteStlng, by Il series oil law
suits; a long standing law of peculiar character,
which. is deemed Of vital importance to the securi-
ty Of our property, and the peace Of citizens. She
has also appropriated a fund for the purpose eide
traying the expense of the litigation. The facts |
gather only from the communication Of her agent,
which is transmitted to you. | have received no
notification from the authorities of the State. Ii is
for you to determine whether any and what meas
ures should be taken to maintain the poliece repu-
lations Of this State within her limits.
J. H. HAMMOND.
Whereupton the following RESOLUTIONS passed the
House of Representatives with but one dissenting
voice.
Resolved, LIST, That the right to exclude from
their territories, seditious persons, or o, hers whose
presence may be dangerous to their peace, is es-
%scntiaI to every independent State.
Resolved, Cd, That free negroes and persons of
color are not citizens of the United States, with
in the meaning of the constitution, which coniers
upon the citizens of the several states,
Resolved, Sd, That the emnissAry sent by the
OlAtN vi NIuSSdCIuNCllo W IL 0hNfS u .AOhtu CN'
olina, with the avowed purpose of interfering with
her institutions and disturbing her peace, is to be
regarded in the character he has assumed, and TO
be treated accordingly.
Resolved, 4lh, That his Fxrellency the Govern
or, be requested to expel from our territory the
said agent, after due notice to depart, aud that the
legislature will sustain the executive authority, in
any measure it may adopt for the purpose atore-
said.
Mr.. Northrop proposed the following amend
ment to the last resolution:
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to
have the said agent immediately arrested, and with
the advice of the attorney general: to take such
measures as may be %etfectual to protect our inStl-
t%utions, and punish the individual according to the
laws of this State; ard in case it shall appear that
be has not yet committed any ouert act against our
laws, "to rXpel from our territory" nc.
Resolved, That the whole subject be referred TO
the Com. on Federal Relations, with instructions
to report a bill providing adequate enactnents and
penalties for the further protection OF our institu-
tons, as this or similar eXlgencies may require.
1t was at once objected to this amendments, that
it would expose the state 10 The trouble OF the Old
writ of hadeas corpus, and might thus bring the le-
giSlatlVe and judicial authorities into conflict! The
hot impaticnce Of the House could not be restrain
ed, and the resolutions, unmiti4ated We're passed,
with Lut one dissenting v",e, that OF MNrnemmin-
ger OF Charleston. He did not lack zeal for the pe-
ruIIar institution, but was not willing u let down
the "dlgnity of the state'' nor to violate the consti-
tuition so openly as the rest were determined to do.
Thus was the venerable representative of Mas
sachnsetts, with contumely and scorn, expelled
from the state of South Carolina. he left Charles
ton according to the papers of that city, on the 9th
in the Wilmington boat"
The South CaroIininn, the Calhoun organ at the
seat of government, thus comments on the above
documents:
.4rrOgGnt and insulting hterference!-lt viii! be
seen by reference to the Governors message, NO,
8, and the letter accompanying it, which we pub
fish to-day, that the State of Massachusetts has
undertaken to interfere with the slave laws OF our
State IN the most impairment ard arrogant man
ner. That State, after taking the lead IN official
action against the domestic institution OF the South
has now actually appointed a special agent to re-
sac Wlthin our state, with instructions to contest
heactlcn ota law absolutely necessaryto the peace
anu security OF our people, and appropriated mo-
neY tor that purpose! Thus, on the one hand, she
stimulates her citizens to incendiury aggressions
on our property and peace, and on the other seeks
10 ahnul the very law made to exclude the colored
membranes she would thrust upon our shores, and
Whlch her own persevering aggreSsions have made
aDsoluteIy necessary for our protection She open
y violates the sacred principles OF christianity
anu the constitution of our country-all laws, hui
man or dlvlne-to thrust the deadliest of all posi-
ple weapons al our very vitals; and then seeks, un-
uef lhe shallow pretence of law and humanity, to
stilke from our arm the shield extended to ward