Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-10-18

arrangement because it embraced within our
formerly claimed limits Who would be willing
to hazard the peace or the honor of the country
upon such a claim as this? And yet such is the
claim for remuneration.
But there is another insurmountable consttu-
tonal objection. 1t is found in the purpose of an
nexaton. That purpose is to establish and per-
petuate slavery-any attempt to do which, by the
general Government is, of itself, n manifest viola
ton of the national compact. For where is to be
found among the powers granted in the conStitu
ton, the sembance of power to establish or per-
petuatc slavery, any where? With the exception
of the provisions for delivering up fugitives, and
the suppression of Instruction, and the three
ffths representation in one branch of congress,
the constitution cOnfers on slavery no privilege;
and imposes no duty and cOnferS no power on
congress looking, in the remoest degree, to its
support. 1t was State institution before the
constitution was formed and, so far that con-
stitution is concerned, it remains so stI-free to
live, if it can, but certain to die without consttu
tional aid for its support. That aid it is the pur
pose Of annexation to afford.
The onward progress of freedom, under its high
impulses. is rapidly changing the balance of pow
Ell and leaving slavery to perish; and now the ma
ton is suddenly called on to come to its rescue-to
save it from snkiny--to nfuse into it fresh life
and vigor, and to proong and perpetuatc its pow
err And this at the expiration of more than half
a century from the formation Of the constitution,
when the entire nation entertained the belief that
slavery could not survive the first quarter of our
national existence.
1t is said, indeed, that annexation will not have
the effect of charging and sustaining the power
of slavery. But whoever considers the relation
between demand and supply in the commerce of
the world, will be at no loss to perceive the con-
nection between the consumption of human ener-
gy and human life in the enlarged cultivation of
Texas annexed, and the increased production in
our lave-breedng states for the supply of the de-
mand thus created. Such was the effect of the &C
QUESTION of Louisiana. That slavery is destined,
with annexation, to recede gradually to the South,
until it meIts away and becomes lost in mixture
of races somewhere between the line of Mason &
Dixon, and the Sthmus of Darien, is a vision of
fancy as baseless as the fabric of dream. Moth
ING in the past will justify US in believing 1t can
ever become reality.
To attempt for any purpose, a transformation of
the present, into the new union which annexation
would create, would be an insufferabe invasion
of our rights; but to attempt it for the purpose of
sustaining slavery. aud ubjecting the tenants of
these mountains to its prolonged power, is to be
thought of with no dream of submission to it for
an hour. Upon the consummation Of the threat
ened measure do not hesitate to say that it would
be The duty Of Vermont to declare her unalterabIe
determination to have no connection with the un-
ion thus 70, med without her consent, and against
her will. To carry out this determination would
not be to dissolve the Union, but to refuse to sub
NIT to its dssoluton,-not to nullify but to resist
notification.
do not undervalue the Union. | greatly val
ne, and would preserve it. But it is the Union of
which the present constitution is the bond If the
question were properly submitted to Vermont
whether she would come int Il Union, she
would deliberate upon it; but the question whether
we will submit to be forced into it, under pretence
Of IN do which n not viz
be debated for a moment any more than we would
debate the question Of submission to a foreign
yoke.
But why after ALL should annexation be desired
by any body? What conceivable motive is there
for it, having reference to the good of the whole
country? How is it to benefit the Union? Who
can assure us, indeed, of the capacity Of our Union
to resist the strong tendencies to dissolution of
such an acquisition? What wise and prudent
statesman will be willing to hazard such an exper-
ment upon this Union? Wiser aud better is it to
endeavor to strengthen and consolidate it upon its
present basis-to get rid as soon as can be proper
y and rghtfully done, of every thing that will
danger it, ard especially of that greatest of al
sources of danger, the institution Of slavery-ant
thus, having laid aside every weight, to run the
race of freedom and philanthropy and solid glory
which is set before us.
The relation Of Slavery to the confederacy, the
evident danger from the existence of such an ele
ment in our Union, and the increasing excitement
in regard to it, suggest few additional remarks
in regard to it.
The question of slavery is among the creates
that can occupy the mind of the nation. The true
position in which it was left by the constitution
the expectation of the country in regard to its ther
future conditon-the history of its subsequent in
croachments, and its irreconcIabe hostility t
freedom, are matters which must and will occupy
the public attention. The ac0rLd is moving on the
subject and the progress which has been made
within the last quarter of century, in the work o
human emancipation has materially changed thu
aspect of the whole question. To attempt to pu
down abolition is vain The statesmen OF this ia
ton must look the question in the face 1t is no
one Of mere philanthropy. but has other bearings
Slavery is an element of political power; and how
long, and to what extent, it shall be suffered II
control the policy and mould the destiny of thu
nation, is question whose consideration canno
be postponed indefinitely.
What direction can be given to the strong an
growing feeling on this bject, is among tn
most important questions that occupy tn
minds of our statesmen There are evident
great dangers to be encountered 1.-THE purpos
Of the fathers had been carried out, and SLAYER
had gradually yielded and given place to the in
stitutions of freedom, this crisis would not hav
been thrown upon the country But the contrar
policy has prevailed. Slavery has planted tse
in new feds--has struggled for ascendancy, an
maintained it; and has finally come to take tn
ground that il must be fostered, and cherished, an
extended, SO as to be able to maintain ts.baianct
as an element of power in the Union. What is
be the character and issue of the conflict whc
the growing spirit of freedom is to have wit
tins struoOlinU tn inainto in ITS