Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-05-23

the accused spirit of abolitouism
I" This was the high ground Mr.. H. took on this
matter; planting himself on this high ground he
should be sustained by one hundred and lorty-fve
thousand out of the one hundred and fifty thou
sand voters who had honored him with bis seat in
that chamber-voers Of both parties, wings and
democrats.
They held their principles, so did he; and he
had held them throughout life, and should hold
them to his dying day. Never would he yield one
inch to the helllsh spirit of abolition. Others
might do as they pleased; but for himself, nothing
should ever induce him to sanction or bow before
a spirit which was but revival Of that which,
centuries ago. had hunted the Lollards like wild
harris and kndled the fires otthe luquisition. That
spirit was here. Take off the restraints Of law
and of public opinion, and fall quickly would it
leap to its, prey and ravage with fire and sword
the fairest and the happiest land which God had
ever given heritage to man."
rive have thus briefly alluded to the course of
This debate, not for the purpose of showing the
lconstitutonaIity or unconstitutonalty of provis-
ions in the Florida constitution, but TO illustrate
the " one idea" of all parties at the south in sup
port of every measure touching the interests of
slavery and the utter incompetency of the north
to withstand the edicts of the slave power, New
er, since the discussion of the Missouri question,
has there been 50 favorable an opportunity for
northern senators to hear decided testimony n
gains that dark spirit Of slavery which is over
stepping the constitution, dssOlving tho bond OF
union and outragng the moral sense of the civil
lied world; and yet, the merits of that system Of
slavery which they were thus endeavoring to ex-
tend and make perpetual, were not even called in
question during the whole debate No warning
voice was lifted up, as was faithfully done on the
Missouri question, against that institution which
palses the arm of Industrious labor-blots ou
mind MORALS patriotism and religion and in
wolves in one general whirlpool of ignorance
crime and blood both the master and the slave
Not an objection acas made, so far as we car
learn to the admission of Florida, as slave state
although some did have the tenerlty to ask the
south not to claim the privilege of ensaving The
free citizens of the north when they visited Flor
da! What presumption No wonder the whole
south we're enraged at this &C fanatical" request
But northern senators were very forward TO joir
with the south in denouncing the abolitionists as
set of fools and knaves. This could be done will
perfect impunity.
We Inquired last week, where were Yer
mont senators in this emergency To he sure
they were present, and gave a silent vote agans
the admission of Florida, the credit of which we
would not deprive them of; but is silent vote al
that is demanded when the constitution is trampl
ed under the feet of tyrauts-another slave State
added to the Union, which gave them the c0ntro
of the U. S. Senate-the south empowered to make
slaves Of the free citizens of Vermont-and GU
entire population, (unless, indeed, they are "hyp
ocrites,' for they all profess TO he ''aboionists"
denounced as the "BIGGEsT HYPoCRITEs" and tht
GREATEST scoUNDLELs IN the acorldm A parro
could say age and no; but do we not need some
thing more than parrots to represent us in the U
S. Senator NOT, they call be supported at les
expense than eight dollars day. If we recoIec
Alright both of our senators traversed the STATE
last summer, and endeavored to rouse the people
to sense Of their imminent peril from the Ell
croachments of slavery Well, the strife came
and the sequel has shown that the danger wa
great, for slavery has achieved the greatest tri
umph that has marked its course since it came
kissing from the lowest hell. These men wer
our representatives upon the field Of strife. Al
opportunity was afforded to wreath their brow
with imperishable laurels, and make to themselve
a name that would stand out in living character
upon the historic page of human progress, besid
that of GRANVILLE SHARp-but alas the fell spr
it Of slavery trumphed, and sits enthroned in tn
temple dedicated to the "inaenable rights o
, man" We feel that Vermont has been deepl
humbIed-deeply dishonored.