Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-27
Where is the Place for Discussion!

The common objection that the north has no legit-
mate right to agate the question of slavery or to or
ganze for political action against it, would find no
encouragement with so large portion of the people
of the free States if they would but pay little
better attention to what is being done at the SOUTH by
opponents of southern feeling, on the subject The
whole tone and tenor of southern feeling is, awe will
support and defend the institution of slavery by any
and every means, as an object Of the first magnitude
the one great and supreme obect-without admitting
any question of conscience about it and we demand
of the north submission not only to what the constitus
ton is supposed to grant, but also to 0a several
State legislatures enact, in its favor. We care nothing
for the pecunary burdens it imposes upon the north
nothing for the wrong done the slave-nothng for Ii
centious enormites nseparaby connected with the in
stitution-nothing for human nghts-nothing for the
opinions of or the law of GOd;-we only care 10
strengthen ertend and perpete SLaUery and to keep
the federal government Congress and the free States
in subsection to it Violence shall close the mouth
of discussion in Congress- and the gibbet shall seal its
lips in the bond states"
Where then can it be discussed so that it infringe
upon the morbid sensbity of no sect of abstraconsts
Where large class of northern freemen moralists
and christians enjoy the privilege of discussing mat
ter in which, they think, is involved all that there is
in morals, in politics or christianity since final in
terdict is laid upon them in the southern half Of
the Union, so that man that breathes oxygen and
worshps God can 90 there either to enjoy his rights or
discharge his duty, while scarcely more tolerant
though less blood-smeared antagonist stands on Ma
and Dixons Line with the aid of church and state
throughout the northern half, to suppress any such
movement there. We ask again, w here can the large
body of anti-savey philanthropsts have a peaceful
opportunity of exercising privilege conspicuously
guaranteed in the American Bill of Rights as that Of
freedom of Speech pen, and press? Between these
two classes of defenders of slavery the ant-slavery
phianthopsts present the strange anomaly of possess
ing CcH guaranteed privileges, with acknowledged
right 10 use them! A paradox and perfectly inadmis-
sibe.
Since the save.sates, by virtue of the limited State
Sovereignty granted to each by the federal compact
has violently, and in the very face of all rights of c-
zenshp, elected the discussionst from their terri
tory and placed the great seal of State upon the fiat,
we claim that the free States have become, in pecu-
liar sense, The p'ace-the only, the fitting, the proper
place, for uninterrupted and systematic investiga-
ton, and an organized political effort to oppose slavery
as moral, political and social evil. We claim it. not
only for above stated, but also for that still
greater reason that the question can, neur be decided
until the north decideh The north is The Only support
which slavery has and without the desperate institu-
ton could not stand hour. The elements which
give it vitality and noush its dragon stature are gen.
ated under the quiet and pious influences of northern
pupts, woven up with the story of the cross flavor
ed with the sacramento wine and guided with formal
prayer which recognizes connection between faith
and works. They are also wrought out of our political
material and commercial nerests.an all united in one
grand stream of nutrition and poured into the vals of
Slavery 1t is to correct the political mind of the north
and to eudngeze her religion more than to do personal
combat with hot-brained reasoness Shareholders that
Reform looks for the achievement gifts noble purposes
and for the healing of the hurt of the nation Hence
the proPrley and necessity of making the north the
great battle-ground between Liberty and Slavery We
look with unminged disgust upon that category of
cant phrazes which till now, even, after all the light
which has been shed upon the subject still constitutes
to be the only argument of thousands onorthern free
men against the an-savery enterprise.
The following extracts from the proceedings of
county convention of Lownds Co. S. c., we commend
to the attention of pro-savey skeptcs and leave them
to make their deductions therefromas to the man.
ner proper for the north meet the southern spirit as
there exhibited. The object of the meeting was stat
ed by its chairman to be- to protect their domestic in
stitutions," phrase which needs no comment to de-
fine.
81. Resolved unanimously That Congress has no
power to pass any law efierng either directly or in
directly, medlatey Immediately, the institution of
slavery and that the passage of any such law by
Congress would be PLAIN and palpable violation Of
the Constitution of the United States destructive of
, the peace and harmony of the Union subyersive of
liberty al degrading and dshonorng to all the peo
pie OF the slaveholdng States
"'. Resolved, unanimously That as members of
any party we will not for any man for President
OF Wee President Of the United States who will not,
previous to the election, pledge himself to oppose at
all times the passage of any law, by Congress- affect
ing IN any way the institution Of slavery; and if elect
ed, while acting as President of the United States
the exercise of the veto power shall always be against
any such law, whether the same be contained in any
pIoyso or otherwise
80. Resolved, unanimously That on the subject
matter Oh these resolutions among ourselves we know
no party distinction, and never will know any-that
we will be either all Democrats or all Wings or nenb
en-"
Col. Williams, a Whg, who had been particularly
active in getting up the meeting said;
This was no party question; it was great South
ern, great constitutional queson-one which alb
sorbed every other political question; that the South
had now nothing to do with President making she
was to go for herself-for self preservation; that he
was Wing, friend of Henry Clay, admired his ma
ny great public and private virtues but if that gen.
tleman now candidate for the Presidency, and
would not endorse the sentiment embraced in the res
buttons reported, he would dissolve all connec
ton as politicians between Mr.. Clay and himself"
Col ]. A. Emore gave his full assent to the resolu
tons, and to very word uttered by his friend Col w.
He would not discuss the question: the South would
not discuss it; "but Mr. Chairman, we are prepared
t. meet with warm hearts and stont ornos ,.Lorao