The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-10
REPORTS RESOLUTIONS ON SLAVE
RY AND THE MEXICAN WAR.

We give the following report and resolu-
tions made to the Legislature, on the subject
of Slavery and the Mexican War; reminding
the reader that the preamble and resolutions
were adopted by both Houses, and that it is
therefore to be understood that Vermont has
deliberately taken her stand against the adj
mission of new slave states and formally APP
pealed to her sister states to join her in this
important step IFatchnaan.
Your Committee to which was referred SO
much of the Governors Message as relates to
Slavery and the Mexican War, begs leave to
report:
That no subject within the jurisdiction Of
the Federal Government appeals so strongly
to the feelings and weighs so heavily upon the
hearts other citzons as Slavery To say that
they utterly abhor the inherent in justice and
inhumanity of Slavery and the cruelty and
crimes which are its incidents, and earnestly
de&te the emancipation of the slaves, as Il
measure which is in their Judgment practible,
safe, and full of mercy and blessings to both
master aud slavc-would be only to repeat
truths which by the bold utterance other sons
and daughters, and the ott-repeatcd record Of
legislative resolutions have become as famil-
lar as household words in every section Of the
Union. 1t is therefore deemed unnecessary
to enlarge upon this part of the subject, or to
repeat the resolutions which have frequently
been adopted,
But your committee heartily concurs in the
views of his Excellency the Governor, and be-
Heve that there are other and new features
connected with the institution of Slavery,
which are of commanding interest to us as leg
islators, and imperatively demand the action
of State. The annexation Of Texas to the
Union, in violation Of the Constitution, has
been sonsummated, For that wrong done to
the constitution we know of no remedy unless
by some possible contingency the highest jul
dicial tribunal of the nation may be brought
to pronounce Judgment upon the act We
nerceive no mode in which Vermont can Sc
cure that end and so far as she is concerned
therefore, the work Of annexation seems to be
irrevocabIy determined. 1t is from that act
however, that the new features proceed which
now demand our attention.
Your committee is impressed with the con-
viction that the annexation of Texas and the
CONQUEST of Mexico are parts of a stupendous
scheme, designed for the perpctuation and
extension of Slavery, and the permanent cs-
tablshment of political policy in the nation,
subscrvient in all its features to this attrocious
DESIGN. A brief allusion to recent remarka-
bic events Will SilON JIG VI llllo
preston. Texas sought annexation with q
pledge to divide the territory into free and
slave states but when the act was consumma-
ted, we found the whole of Texas admitted
as single state, with a constitution of Slave
~. but containing one Of the most horrible
provisions which ever was invested with the
form of law--an absolute prohibition of any
future change, which shall abolish the system
..n.o,, ,o,,,,;luIo Tho pnvt ctan in bn
progress Of events was in enlargement of the
territory of the State of Texas which is of
course to come within the jurisdiction of this
remarkable constitution-by claiming all the
land living between the Neuces and the Rio
Grande. This claim was followed speedily
by practical refusal, by the President ofthe
United States, to settle the claim and the
question of boundary by negotiation and in
Quick succession came the march of our army
through the disputed territory, and the cree
ton Of batteries with cannon pointed into O
Mexican,city and upon indisputable Mexican
territory. The existing war was thus direct
" provoked by the Executive it came speed
ily. without even the form of a declaration by
any competent authority-it was simply re-
coanized by Congress under this pressure Of
neculiar circumstances, and under the SIM
Die recognition Of the war, the Executive is
employing the army and navy with zeal brave
nv and skill worthy of q nobler cause, in con-
quoring and summarily annexing town after
town and territory after territory, to the
United States. We cannot shut our eyes to
the fact that this war was fomented by the
same sectional interest which forced Texas
into the Union, and now suggests that it be
divided into tCo slave Gtates-nor resist the
conclusion, that it is part and parcel of the
Texas scheme. Is II not obvious that con