The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-03
NO. "a.
J.F. MCCLELLAN, Printer.
From WThe Homo Journal.V


The SLAVE QUEsTIoN,in political shape,
is fast fomenting to an issue. A whole state
has just expressed formal and positive de-
termination ON the subject. The Vermont
Legislature passed resolution last week, de-
claring that % Vermont will not give her as
sent to the admission of any new state to the
Union, whose constitution tolerates slavery"
Mr. Webster in his Boston Speech says that
1t is the duty Of every Wing never to permit
another annexation Of slave territory. Cali
fornia and New Mexico will doubtless be an
nexed, however, and the question is whether
the South will consent to be hemmed in on
both sides by free states. "All slave south of
SO sc" is the present watchword of their pol
icy and determination. Abolitionism, mean
time, is exasperating the South with the most
blind and inconsiderate fatuity, and the dem
ocrats are trying to fasten on the Wing par
ty (Which is strongest at the North) an open
adoption of such offensive extremes of anti
slavery, as, if carried out must lead to dis
solution of the Union. The wings deny this,
but at the same time express their impaticnce
Of the domination Of the South, and their de-
termination to humor slavery no more. A
Congressional district one of the most intelli-
gent and cautious in the whole country, highly
moral by its remoteness from thoroughfares,
and yet most enterprising mercantile COM
munity, uses the following language in the
circular with which they nominate their men,
Der. "In most Of the measures Of the gov
ernment,it is manifest that the slave power of
the country, welded by the combined forces
of Southern and Northcn democracy, had ex+
ercised hitherto almost unchallenged prerog-
atives Of controlling and directing our nation
al affairs. In all of them, the interests and
sentiments of the people of the free states, by
whom labor is held in honorable esteem, and
war of aggression and conquest is regarded
as stupendous crime, have been wantonly
sacrificed or contemptuously disregarded.-
The Wings of this district and of the whole
Union propose, now that so much has been
done for the extension and support of slavery,
to do something for freedom. They say to
this insolent, INSCRIPTIONS and domineering
power in the state we stand firmly by the
j Constitution and the Union, but we will no
longer permit either of them to be made the
means OF extending or perpetuating your do
minlon." 1t will be seen at once, that the
policy Of the South, as to the Mexican war,is
to carry it on till they secure the "annexa-
tons which will give them back the prepon-
derance of slave power, which is being grad
ually lost by its receding from the North be-
fore the march of abolition. A leading South
ern paper says =" Every battle fought in
Mexico, every dollar spent there, but induces
the acquisition of territory which must widen
the field of Southern enterprise and power in
the future. The final result will be to read
just the whole balance ofpower in the confed-
eracy, so as to give us control over the opera
tons of the government in all time to como.
If the North succeeds in restricting slavery
one inch below the Missouri compromise, then,
if we submit to tive shall deserve our degrad-
ing destiny. When this issue is rendered us,
let the consequences be what they mag, we must
meet it as becomes men and freemen" AL
together, the topics before the country,in con-
nexion with war and slavery, seem OF most
threatening portent.