Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-04
DISUNIONl

Howard G0y, Maria Weston Chapman,
and EdDord Quincy:
''DIsUNIoN PLEDGE.-Whereas, in the
formation and adoption of the Consitu-
ton Of the United States, the following
criminal and dangerous concessions were
made 10 sIaveholding power, namely;th
the foreign Slave Trade should be safely
prosecuted under the national flag, as a
lawful branch Of American commerce for
a period ol not less than twenty years;
that lugatIye slaves should find no protec-
tIonSlrom their pnrsuers on any portion Of
the American soil; that slave insurrec-
tons should be suppressed by the combin.
ed military and naval power orthe coun-
try, if needed in any emergency; and
that slaveholding oligarchy, created by
allowing three flths of the whole slave
population to be represented as property
by their masters, should be allowed a
place in Congrcss;-
Therefore, regarding that Constitution
as covenant with death and an agree
ment with hell" the mighty prop that
sustains the entire slave system, we, the
undersigned, to signify our adherence Of
injustice and oppression, and to clear our
skirts from innocent blood, do hereby
pledge ourselves not to elect, or in any
way aid or countenance the election OF
any candidate for any Office, the entrance
upon which requires an oath or affirmation
to support the Constitution of the United
States but in all suitable ways to strive
for the peaceable dissolution of the Union
as the most consistent, fersibIe means OF
abolishing Slavery"
"Treason against the United States, -
according to Section 3d. Art. Sd, Of the
Constitution "ShaI consist only in lev
ying war against them, or in adhering to
their enemies, giving them aid or com
fort" 1t would appear that those persons
who are engaged in circulating these Pc
titions are not guilty of treason, but it
would seem probable, at least, if not Ger.
tain, that the persons who held such sen.
timcnts, would not hesitate to join con-
spiracy for the overthrow of the Govern
ment by force of arms.
One of two things ere evident, the cdi-
tors Of the STANDARD" are crazy, or they
are dangerous citizens. We prefer to
think the former, and hope that they may
soon recover their senses, and see the er-
rors Of their WAYS.
The Russians again whipped by The
Circassiams. Accounts from the Caucus
us, by the steamer Cambria, bring the
important intelligence that the Circas-
slams have taken from the Russians, at-
ter some hard fighting and great blood
she'd the castle of Sotcha, on the coast o.
Abasca. Sheikh Shamil had arrived
at the head of the river Kouban with 80,
900 men and had called upon the inbab-
itants TO furnish one man per house, which
would make very large force. Noron-
zoh's troops have been beaten by the
Gaghislanteer, and three or four ship
load of wounded have been sent to Grim
ca. Many of Poles IN the Russian army
had deserted to Shamil, so that Woron-
zot' being in want ofmcn, ordered a car
bovanz each worth IS, Cd, sterling, to
raise reinforcement at Akhcska, without
being able to get many. He further sen,
a number of Musslemca elcmas doctors
of law from Crlmca, with this mufll TO
Shaml, to try if they could open negolIa-
tions TO treat for terms of peace, of course
merely TO set the Clrcassians TO sleep
ShamiI ava re Of the lrcachcry, had three
Of them put to death. The Russian army
was suffering dreadiuIy from scarcity
of provisions, and the soldiers will have TO
wait for the new crop before they will
have sulliclcncy of food The crops in
Circassia, though very scaniy last year,
are good this season.
In consequence Of this long succession
of reverses experienced by the Russians,
the Emperor is said TO have adjourned
the defnitive qualification of the Caucas.
US" We trust such will prove to be the
fact. Already the war has continued scv-
eral years, and hosts of brave Russians
have persisted, without being able to make
any permanent impression upon the still
drawer mountaincers, who are fighting Tor
their affairs and their hearths, under al
most the indenlcal Declaration of Rights
which formed the basis of the American
Revolutionary Y Journal of Commerce.
SAFETY IN THUNDER STORMS.
People are often led to inquire what is
the best means of safety during a thun.
derstorm. If out of doors we should a.
void trees and elevated objects of every
kind, and if The flash is instantly followed
by the report, which indicates that the
cloud IS very near, recumbent condI-
- ~