Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-03-21
From The NJ Y. Express.
The Progress Of Abolitionism Back
wards,

W
Twelve or fifteen years ago, there were lead
ing and powerful abolitionisls in The slave hold
ing States. The subject of abolition was open
~ discussed in The Virginia Convention, and II
the Virginia Legislature; and in Kentucky, th'
indications also were, that slavery was on il
last legs. IL is well known, too, that Geo
Washington and Thomas Jefferson were deci
ded advocates OF the abolition OF slavery.
Now, however, after the abolitionists Of I'll,
North and West have been agiiating for IL o.
is years, there are not known to be half a doz
en- abolitionisls in all the slave holding States
They have been overawed or %silenced, or hav,
deemed II necessary l2r the public safety to SCI
their faces against oil abolitionism now, or al
movements leading TO aboliiiOnism.
During these twelve or fifteen years of abu-
lition agitalion, in all the slave States, the IN.
%slitution of slavery has been strengthened, and
il is stronger this moment than il was when
the constitution was formed. The slaves have
been stripped Of many Of the privilege and en-.
joyments they formerly held, because il has
been found necessary to make these restrictions
10 order To defend The public against the ma.
chinations of abolitionism. vi -
The largest progress backwards abOliiioDisnl
has made, however, is ia the annexation ol
Texas with a territory Of five slave States, and
upon a principle Of action that will extend
slavery ultimately throughout all Mexico south
of SO deg. This is the chef d'ouvrc of the alb
oliiionisis during the last twelve or fifteen years
Of their reign. They did it,. Let them have
The honor. They did it in New York. They
did it in Maine. They tried TO add Ohio To
New York and Maine. They were not with
out efforts and some success in Pennsylvania.
Tic Birncy vote Of New York did il, howev-
er, Tor the Birneyites here gave him SO votes
of this State 10 Polk, and thus elected him.
The slave holding interests of the Union,
thus strengthened by Northern and Western
abnliiibnism, brings Texas into the Union by a
large vote in the popular House; and Florida
is admitted into the Union with new and ex-
traordinary features in her constitution, guar
auIecing slavery, aud prohibiting lis abolition.
The constitution of Flotida, which Congress
has just sanctioned, prohibits the Legislature
ol The State from emaDcipating slaves, aud also
prohibits any free culored persons from landing
at any Of the ports in Florida. These are all
new delences Of slavery and guarantees for IFS
prolongation and perpeiuation which The action
of the. abolitioniets have provoked, and brought
about.
The slave States now have, with the admis-
sim Of Texas and Flnlida into the Union, a
majority Of two in the Senate. This majority,
if il pleases, can keep out nf the Union any
other free state. II is highly probably that the
slave States will keep their majority Of Two in
The Senate, for, in the admission OF States,
hereafter, they will, we presume, admit one
slave State with one free Stale. With Wis
consin, it is printable, must come in another
slave State from Texas.
These things we desire the honest abolition
isis OF the North and West, if there are any
such, 10 bear in mind. So mischievous, so de-
SD bad a party seldom, il fever, before
II has been the curse of the slave,
is The curse of the country. Slavery, un-
der their miserable and dishonest conduct is, at
this moment, stronger Than il was when. the
~"~.->'aian-n,a as lrmel, and has now a vigor-
the branches OF Government. rur ~ or-,..-,
~factious revolutionary abolitionism is respon-
siblc.