Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-04-06
The Union not vet ont Of Danger |!

our last article on the subject of "Abolion Null.
LITIGATION" and applauds the 'candOr' of the Free
man,--whlie it was pleased 10 denomlnate our
previous remarks on the same subject "n0St rtdic-
ut0uS puerhty." This encourages us to try again,
hoping yet to meet on common ground. Aud here
we will say, what should have been stated in the
outset, that we alone are responsible for the posi-
! tons we have taken, or may take, upon this sub
lject We assume not to speak as the oracle of
the Liberty party, but as a single, humble ndiyid-
ual. Let this be borne in mind.
| The Waterman says that, in our admission that
the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme
Court, provides for the snrrendry offugitye slaves,
we place abolition notification in strong ght-
and asks, what is the attempt to annul this (sur-
rendry) law but null fcation-treason? 1t is adj
mitted that the Constitution, as interpreted
/ Ohough falsely Webelieve,) by Congress and sane
toned by the Supreme Court, makes it incumbent
on the officers of the Federal Government in the
several States to surrender fugitive slaves; but
(and we take the Watchnibn for authority the
Supreme Court have also decided that the several
State Legislatures may prohibit their own officers
and citizens from so doing We confess this
grant Of power to the States seems rather implied
than eXpresSedn the case alluded oby the Watch
man--that of Prigg ". Pennsylvania SO the
"supreme law of The land" about which the w.
croaks 50 loudly, only requires that the officers of
the Federal Government shall give up fugltives-
which officers are, in proportion to those of the
State, and the citizens generally, in the proportion,
perhaps of one to five thousand. Now bear in mind
the Resolution Of the Buffalo Convention, over
which so many patriotic tears and d0leful groanS
have been eXpended-Whlch was, that whether as
private citizens, or public lunCtonares sworn to
support the Constitution, they would regard the
surrendry clause when (maS- construed so as to
provide for the giving up of fugitive slaves, as null
and void. The officers of the several States, be-
ing ''publiC funCtlonarles, sworn to support the
Constitution together with the "private citizens, "
constitute the mass of the people; SO that, as we
have previously seen, there is left bu perhaps one
chance in fUe thousand to convict the Buffalo con-
vention of "treason," and make a "public exam
Pile" of them! Can you not, Mr.. Watchman, in
the udgl ent Of charity, admit it possible that the
Buffalo Convention, elatcd as they were with the
hope of seeing the mass in the Free States reIeas-
ed from playing the part of bIoodhounds to South
ern shareholders, entirely forgot Capt. Tyer's
Iguard-Ijke angels visits, as they are, few and far
between?
Seriously, however, zoe are prepared to take the
position, that as officer of the Federal Govern
ment we would uot surrender Il fugitive slave
Nothing but gross pcrverson of the Constitution
requires such a surrender. We believe that in
strumcnt when properly interpreted, goes to pro-
mote "lhe benefit ofthe governed" to ''secnre to
ourselves and our poserlty the blessings OF Lt6er-
ty;" and because shareholders have secured an in
Z
slaves, shall we therefore obey, and by doing
commit the same crime as to originally reduce him
to slavery-a crime with which petty theft and
robbery sink into utter insignfcance? No. 1t is
il violation of the higher law, printed by the fin
ger Of God on the heart Of man, and our own con-
sciences repeal aud annul it. 1t was the funda-
mental principle of the Revolution thai when a
government failed to secure the benefit ST the gov
ierned, it should be changed by the people; and
, ItVh non Sti DESTROY
aienUble rights of man-tO reduce him to a chG!tel
personal, to he bought, and sold, and robbed and
-Iplundered, and murdered, no good can be secured
IN that instrument equaL to he euu IL enjoinS, and
the quicker it is set at naught, the better. The
decision Of the celebrated Judge Harrington-or
rather of the Supreme Court, delivered by Judge
H. for such it was us exactly in point, and is
the pride and glory of every Vermonter. We UNI
der5tand, ALSO that the present Chief Justice OF
Vermont has declared he will never recognize in
any manner the principle Of property in man, OF
the right Of master to recover fugitive slave.
t Ii is still argued by the Watchman, that the
Constition is liable to the same objection OH the
ground that war and Sabbath mails are required
under it., that it is for providing the surrendry Of
slave. We shall not stop to show the difference
f between the failing of the Constitution to make
men perfect in every respect, and its absolutely
requiring of us the commission OF as fragrant Sit
against God and man as ever entered into the
mind of Satan himself. Honest men can see, and
will acknowledge the difference.
The Watchman's surprise continues, that we
cannot see the distinction between the moral righ
of an individual to torbear obedience, and the po
litcal right to annul, sinful law-and it insnu-
ates that we ,viH not see. In the case to which
alluSon has been made, the Supreme Court do moi
decide that the officers citizens Of any State are
bound to restore fugitves but says they may do it
in the absence ofany State law to the contrary
So we may safely conclude that there is neither
moral nor political obligation to obey this sinfu
law, except in the case of U. S. officers; and ,Ct
t contend that even they should refuse obedience
Our first duties are not to the government. We
belong first to God, and next to humanity. 10 be
sure we owe respect for, and obedience to, gov
eminent; but our respect and obedience must be
limited by the regard of that government for the
laws of universal Justice and humanity. Christi
anty, or morality, was meant to be brought into
actual life; and TO remnve any sphere of human
action from its controlling power, is to deny its di
vnity, and to absoive all men from its binding
force. 1t is this which has made earth the image
of hell, and nothing but repentance and reform
will restore il to its paradisica state. The idea
entertained by the two great political parties OF
the country that first duties are the govern
-ment, and under that we may bring our refuse
SerUiCe-'the halt and the ame'-to the service OF
5 our Maker; that is, we may serve the Devil in
politics, but God in our reRgi0D-is sheer basphe-
my! 1t reminds us OF the man who held an office
under both Church and State--bish0p and judge
we believe, who, on being reproYed for gross
profanity, said he swore as Judge not as bishop
' The W 9tchman says, if the Liberty Party had
the Iep SIatUre. nOthinU nOFn could he done than