Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-11

VI thio Bicdt icpuOliC W purge Tue CONSTITUTE
ton of these clauses, which blot the fair es-
cutcheon, and make its great fabric indeed
the temple of the free. The National Gov
eminent has no power over slavery in The
slave States, because none was given il by
these then independent sovereignties. Let
each State act on its own responsibility
looking to its own interests, to conscience,
and to God. I stand by the Constitutions
yes, 'cith my life wiu defend it, Blu, as
the General Government has no power to
abolish slavery-and the admission Of slave
States into this Union / declare to be un-
constitutional-an the permission of sIaUe-
ry is its establishment Within the District
of Columbia and in the territories of the Un-
ion, slavery does not consttutionally exist.
For the 9Th article of the amendments says
expressly that "no person shall be deprived
Of life, liberty or property without the pro-
cess Of law"-which means without some
crime committed, and ascertained, and pun
ished by law. Then if Congress cannot
make slave, she cannot allow new State
TO do it-she cannot transfer 10 others more
power than she has herself-the agent can
not do more than the principal--then she
cannot permit slavery in States or Terrific
ries, or any other place where she has sover-
eign and uncontrolled power Nor can the
miserable pretence be set up, that blacks are
not persons" for slaves are called "per-
sons" in eUery clause where they are allu-
ded 10 IN the constitution. And If A, B
and G. calling themselves States, or Con-
gress ITSELF can make or allow TO be made a
black man a slave, then aud the best man
| N Massachusetts ho raIuc cd N 81
and there is no power in the constitution TO
restore us to liberty. The States of Louis
lana, and Missouri, and Arkansas, which
have been unconstitutionalIy admitted slave
States, have now been by US, the Union, adj
mitted to be SOVEREIGN, and entitled to all
the privileges of the other States. | would
not, if / could, now interfere with slavery
there. Experience teaches us that stability
in the affairs of men is much, and it is Of
ten better to bear some ills than lose all good
by an attempt too late to remedy. But
say that in the District of Columbia and in
the Flordas, las we have contrary to the con-
stitution, allowed slavery, we should now
pay the masters, and let the slaves go free.
Yes, would tax myself doubly to liquidate
the penalty of the bond-give them two pri-
| CGS, " uCCCSSdf 7, tudt Cdphdi VI tuiS
great Republic. and throughout its vast ju-
risdic,ion the American Eagle should spread
its shetering wings forever over all, of what
ever tongue, cline or color. Here. then.
on this broad ground, take my stand, and
defy the combined talent of all the law
yers and statesmen of the republic TO move
me.
Thus far, the pro-slavery power, by the
concentrated interest Of having $780,
600, 900 of so called property represented,
has triumphed over the power of liberty and
free labor. Our Offices OF honor and profit
have been monopolised almost by slavehold-
+ ers, our foreign policy has been subsidiary
to the fostering Of slaus labor, at the ex.
pense of free labor The system Of inter.
nal improvements, as carried on by the Gen
era Government-the land bll-a national
currency, and above all, the Tariff, have all
been Frustrated at the feet Of the slave pow
err. And now, when the people Of the NORTH
seem to be opening their eyes TO the real sa
crifices which they have made in the desc
Grated name Of Democracy, TO the rule O
slavery, by the ruinous results of the reduc
, ton Of the Tariff from 1882 to 40, John
c. Calhoun and his Southern clique, seek
once more an accession of slave territory tC
strengthen their power and assist them il
overriding the Tariff Of Protection, and tC
reduce us once more to free trade and per
petual slavery They are determined to rul,
or run-to WELD the whole power Of III,
j Union, or else dissolve the Union, and es
tablish slave despotism in the South
Hence the democratic party, in 1874, atho
S they went up to Baltimore instructed tovot'
/ for MIR Van Buren,, threw him overheard
I SO they rejected Cass, and Buchanan, an'
4 Stewart, and took the unheard Of name o
I James X. Polk of Tennessee, Mr. Calhoun
: and Andrew Jackson's most supple tool
\ imposed upon them by the same nuuifca
!, ton power which had Frustrated all the in
: terest of free labor at the feet of the fire.
: trade and perpetual slavery party of tn
n South And Mr. Polk was suited to thei
/ purposes, not only because he was for Tex
; as and free irade-but because he was, from
o his position in slave State, necessarily iden
: titled with the great scheme of ultimate dis
/. union. Do state untruth? What say TIL
Y Convention? They are for immediate an
If nexalion What says Mr. Calhoun? II
e is for Texas, to prevent the ultimate over
It throw of slavery What says r.. M. John
+ son? We want Texas to form new slay
+ States, to balance the coming in of the FIRE
$ States Of Wisconsin and Iowa. What sa
n Messrs Holmes and Rhett? They will hay
/. Texas with the Union, or if necessary will
J. out the Union. What says the ex-nullifici
l. ton Governor james Hamilton He wi
II resort to arms for Texas and dissolution !
l. And last, not least, what says Thomas /
y, Benton, the leader Of the democratic part
a. for the last quarter of a century, up to Ma