Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-02-14

va nrn,s and r,rs,ssnns ms we think fitted To induce
vou 10 do So Thu' far men lhe guarantees OF the
Constitution are IN danger from the action of alb
But' sir, as have arcadcd hir,cd word will suf
flee 10 show that the people OF the South arc unnp.
r,ssnrilv alarmed and that not nnly Their consttl-
tioral but their assumed privileges are in little dan.
ger fro anv source, unless lc from n change Of
opinion among themselves. The power is virtually
in their own hands. Even the great and venerable
champion of human rnhts who Leads the van Of the
supporters Of the right Of petition on this ilor, has
declared that he is GOT prepared 10 vote for the nbo-
lion nf slavery in the District of Columbia and the
pr hlb lily that majority of Congress will be found
convinced both of their power to grant the PRAYER Of
those who petition for that object and of the expedi-
and Justice Of lis exercise aga nsi, only the
known wishes Of the unrcprcscntcl people Of the Dis
rlct but the unanimous prnies' atoms Of the South,
is indeed too remote to be a legitimate cause OF alarm
10 the most anS Gus Suuthrrncr.
The power of Congress 10 abolish the internal
tlavc.iradc is very questionable so delicate and so
difficult 10 enforce that there is no prospect of its *
trcise ever being seriously ailcmpcd; and as to the
great question of the change m the ratio of represent
aun. the power is absolutely in the hands Of the
South, and we Of the North appeal on this question:
not to our strength, hat 10 your sen Of Justice
The Constitution can be amended only by the as
sent of three fnurhs ct the States. The pre- num-
Ter of slavc-hndlng States Is thirteen. To obtain
then tn" constitutional maj rlty Of the States unless
you surrender the question, We must wait until the
free States sh,ll increase from their present number
Of thirteen TO thirty Within what period will
this he accompl shrdl The iirtnest believer in the
rernc,ui,y Of oar institutions scarcely dares TO look
forward TO so distant future as this.
This sir, is all think it worth while TO say on that
part of the subject, which srcmei TO me mos to re-
qIire further discussion; and now word on tie
moral BEARINGS Of the question, Gentlemen of the
South who participate in debates involving the discus
son of these topics somewhat l1v h Of e.theis,
and indulge pretty freely in personalities They have
s'I2matisrd the people of the North. n whole and
in terms broad rrourh TO include every mcmhe. If
pf "a y D.
oil ibniss, fanatics, ncendaiies. II bv the fire. of
these terws, gentlemen mean that the North. End its
representatives here, both desire and hrf- The ulii
nate Abolition of slavery tn" charge Is Just; hut lbV
thus mud the other hlrsher terms, they moan 70 nc
cuse us Of fixed Do ,ien to accomplish this object by
Illegal UNIONS itutnu1l, immoral means. or even
hv IN 4kin1 it political test, rhev do rs rr nj mi Istc,
They Clarre uR with having coutticrIttd N n com.
mon leauir. ng11- ,th Oh" interests AMI the rights
o the South, aid with entertaining settled purpose
81 vinning solemn compact, Y which, not only
federal rights bat those Invoked in the sovereignty
of the States, were formally secured, and even with
nsiicaiinp n sIyl'c Before gen lemcn ma 'c
these CHARGES. ttov should have remembered, that
there j. not political ahr''jonst on this floor. re-
peat sir, TINT, wh the OK cp;i1n o. some of The ma
j,rv, who oHe beir seats to the indirect aid Of he
liberty pistv there is not member IN this floor orc
ted hv the yui's " ahuluonls's md proba' " not
ono in whose election that party was oven neutral.
Sir we come here not rs the tools Of those who are
rrepnreo TO trnmpc On the Constitution, bit IN spite
Of them Ne are rs defenders, not lis nssnilnns.--
We Lnr ok nor dps 20 infringe unOn vour CON
stiiu'ionll privileges. In interfere with ynnr dnmes
TIC p)'.rv. Within the limits Ia which the origin NJ
COMPROMISE extended we are content to leave the
continuancn abolition of slavery 10 the operation of
natural cnuses md the wisdom Of Providence; tUt
W. make sacrifices Of national honor or private
principle, ,rjts extension Or porpciunrnn That there
ia great degree of excitement on this torir shall
not DENY. Men, who intend lgr principle, arc a.
WAYS enthusiasts Nui if this eX lrmrnt plt'a''s "
tha character of ovcrheaied zeal Southern gentlemen
have themselves t. thank for IT, Ins end o ontteuch
ING themselves behind the hulwn'ks Of the Cons'i.
tim and III, rlhls Inherent in the States in Of
their s0ve,rgr'v. thcV hove chosen 10 mt themselves
in the wrong. by deny,ng IL the exercise Of y rrhr
t;nestimable to freenen and formidable only to
rants and the effect of this mpolc step they have
now before hem.
The coni>o If the South unon this whole matter,
ia FIR from being characterized hv the discretion wh;rh
has marked heir action in rra1r1 to their olcr Great
interests Therpsa f,vcrish res lessne in relation
o. slavery which seems to Indicate lurking con-
seriousness that they nre in the wrong on this great
question Of the ape where they are opposed 10 Tho
main b,iy orthoir own countrvmnn, and not to them
only bu, to all Chrstendnm. and the whole civilized
world; not 10 This world only, but. | firmly be
-ve the universal empire of that nsi and Impartial
G,d who created all men in his own image and there
fore free and equal
Because Nirthern gentlemen insist npon the s1cre-
rinh Of nnt,nr the riuht of the worm 10 turn ,yer
il ia ,roiden un,n they arc CHARGED with a rcc,lrs:
hatred Of the South anI its institutions. Sir mcr
truly hate onlv those whom they f.ay,nnd those whom
thev have wrnnred. Tothe South we saw, we ,rr,n
bl, NOT nj your manances we have done you II,
wrong
The North has been charged with ignorance Of tho
true oh irn Of tive scryc relation and Of blindness
the palpabn an nvincbl" Obstacles which are NJ
lared hv Snuhnrn gentlemen To Orppse themselves
10 abolition present or prospective. Il hes in the very
nature Of Things that this charge should be in some
degree true Nohling bnt prrs onl observation con
ach tho extent ether of the evils Of slavery, or Of
the dIirnuas which impede the abolition ofthS. If
nj, other rDoini and general abuses Inbred | have