The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-16

ished, and extended, so as 10 be able to MAN
| tain lis ballence, as an element of power II
the union. What is TO be the character anC
| issue of the conflict which the growing spiri
offreedom is to have with slavery, thus strue
! oIine 10 maintain it's ascendency is a question
offearluI interest. The pretensions ant
encroachments Of the slave power, and es
pecially the attempt to strengthen it by the
annexation of Texas, have contributed tc
give character of deep and desperate ear
nestness to abolition movements threaten.
ening to draw every other question of mort
ais and politics Within their vortex.
The true ground is not either of these ex-
tremes. But neither is it the ground of in
difference. What will work no deliverence
hither from the evils Of slavery, or of any
over heated and headlong zeal for its aboli-
ton. No attempt should be made 10 suppress
the mighty impulses Of this age towards u
UNIVERSAL emancipation. None will be sue
cessfnl. Rather should il be our effort to
guide them rightly and safely.
Cold apathy and bitter zeal should alike
give place to a calm, steady, patient perse-
vering effort to reach the seat OF the evil--to
overcome in the South the fear of change,
the force of habit, the reluctance to labor,
the love of dominion, and the tenacity ofsup-
posed but mistaken interest, while truth shall
be made TO exert its appropriate power in
quickening the conscience TO Just sense of
the wrongs Of slavery. And along with all
this there must and of necessity will be DO
litical action in some form, gradually chang
ing the character OF state and national legis-
lation while no great interest of the country
shall be left forgotten, uncared for or neg
lected. The position of the North, and the
natural jealousy of its efforts in this cause,
impose on il the duty of moderation and for
bearance; while the claims of humanity and
a Just respect for its own rights, demand that
il steadily resist the enCroachments, expose
the wrongs, and labor in all appropriate ways
to rid the country ofthe evils of slavery.
Suffer me in closing this communication,
again TO advert to our domestic concerns, and
to express the hope that we may come to
the consideration of them with a feeling of
devotion to the interests of our state, which
shall make us forget all party distinctions in
an ardent desire to benefit and bless her.
Let the lines which divide us on questions of
policy be obliterated, when we come
10 consider the matters which concern ex-
clusively our own people; and let the strife
ofparty zeal be lost in generous emulation
TO devise the best means of advancing the
interests of this Commonwealth. And what
a field does she present for our labors. Al
most the whole Of her surface may be con-
verted into garden, rank with luxuriancc,
and teeming with riches for the benefit of
man. A wise domestic policy may, within
no very distant period, have the effect Of dou-
bling the amonnt of our present productions
our population at home-giving
to all the means of comfortable subsistt nee,
and the added means Of universal education,
upon a scale commensurate with the great
purpose of educating a people to govern
themselves. We are, and must, of course,
continue TO be small state but necessari-
y small only in territorial extent. In all that
constitutes true greatness, we may become
The largest state in the Union-in the world
great in the development Of the capacities Of
our soil, but far greater in the mighty ener
gies oil the men that shall live upon it
Here then is large field for our efforts.
Let US survey it fully. and address ourselves
10 its labors with determination to do what
Dur hands find to do, with our might. To all
his we are urged by motives which come up
N the recollections OF the pat, and stand out
n the visions Of the future. How can we
lelp feeling an honest state pride, when we
hink of our origin-of our history-of our
character abroad, and Of our position of influ-
ence and power for good, upon an extended
scale, in our connexion with the Union. We
may, and must concern ourselves with the
questions involved in the national action
but after all, here is Vermont-a name dear
10 us all-at the mention of which our hearts
thrill with honest pride. Vermont! our own
beloved State, that claims our first attention,
and deserves our warmest affection, and our
untiring efforts for her good. In regard to
her let US say,-lf forget thee let my right
cunning iii do not remember
thee, let my tongue cleave 10 the roof of my
mouth, if prefer thee not above my chief
Joy.
In conclusion, l need hardly say 10 the rep
resentatives Of Christian people that the
efforts Of ourhighest wisdom-our most care
fully matured schemes for the advancement
ofthe public good, will be unavailing without
the divine blessing. Let us, amid the cares
and labors and excitement connected with
The performance Of our duties, take fast hold
Of this great truth-maintaining e Just sense
1f the ma gnitude OF the trust committed 10 US
and an abiding conviction of the true char
acter of our responsibilities in connection
with it.
Suffer me TO tender, through you, TO the
people Of Vermont my grateful acknowledge
nents for the recent expression of their con-
sense Of the value Of which,
and of the increased responsibilities it impos-
es on me, shall leave to be expressed, as
may best be done, by a devotion of my life
to the promotion of the highest interests Of
This State, of my country, and the world.
WILLIAM SLADE.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
October IL, 1874.