The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-17

the Union and to our Senators and Rcpresen-
tatives in Congress, under the seal oithe State
and with his signature Of approval,
! Approved, Nov 3, 1876
HORACE EATON, f.. ST.
These resolutions, sir, express the views of
the people ofVermont upon the subject of
slavery and the existing war with Mexico:
aud for the purpose ofguarding against the
dangers apprehended by them, if Mexican
territory should be acquired by tho United
States, have deemed il my duty to
move this amendment in the form of u sec
ond section TO the bill. Vermont, sir, does
not stand alone in her opposition to the acqui-
sition of foreign territory 10 he created into
slave states, and as such, admitted into the
! Union No, sir; seven other sovereign States
have spoken out upon the subject, and an
nounced their determination 10 oppose the
further increase of slave states. These pro-
ceedings ofthe sovereign States have been
denounced with great vehemencc by the hon
orablc Senator from South Carolina, Mr.
Butler,1 as aggressive upon southern rights
and anticipating an amendment of the Char
acter have Introduced, he denounced it as
unconstitutional, unjust, and Insulting to the
South Sir, wherein are these resolutions
aggressive upon southern rights! DO they
propose to interfere with Slavery in the
States? No, sir, not at all. They make no
alluson TO the domestic institutions mt the
South. They refer TO foreign country
where slavery does not exist, and insist that
iii shall be acquired by the United States, 1t
shall remain as il now is, free. But, sir, the
amendment have introduced has been de-
nounccd as unconstitutional, unjust and in
suIliug to the South Sir, with what clause
in the constitution does this amendment come
in conflict? The power ITO dispose of and
make all needtul rules and regulations respec-
ting the territory or other property belonging
to the United States" is expressly conferred
upon Congress.
But the honorable Senator from South
Carolina says this amerdmcnt,t adoptcd,wlll
exclude the people of the slaVeEolding States
from the country, because they cannot take
their slaves with thcm-aud therefore it is
unconstitutional. Sir, this amendment does
, not exclude STAKEHOLDER or his slaves from
the country lie has full liberty to go there
| with his slaves, but they will cease TO be
property aud become men. They will stand
F., up i'm the image oftheir Maker, clothed with
all the rights that belong to manhood. But,
sir. this is not Il new question: in the ACT OF
, Congress providing for the admission Of Mis-
, souri, into the Union, there is an express
, clause, "that in all the territory ceded by
Franc to the United States under the name
of ]. louisiana, which lies north of 80 degrees
: 30 minutes. north latitude, not included with
, in the limits of the State of Missouri. slavery
aud involuntary servtude, otherwise than
$ in the punishment Of crimes whereofthe par
1 ties shall have been duly convicted, shall be
= and is hereby forever prohibited"
; The ouestiou whether Congress possessed
, n constitutional authority TO impose such u
restrirtiou. upou the ground that the ure-
scrihiuo Of siirh n condition is Inconsistent
- with the sovereignty ofthc State TO be admit
: ted and its eouality with the other States
: was largely discussed, and the result of the
d vote established the authority ofCongress &c
impose such restriction. An objection Off
similar character, says Judge Story, was Ia
ken to the compact between Virginia anc
Kentucky, upon the ground that it was re-
strictlon upon State sovereignty. But the
Supreme Court had no hesitation in overru
: ing 1t considering has opposed pE me '''e
DRY OF all Tree SoNern'heh's,ahne Slecla''y OF
\ ilose WHICH cohS'l'u'c 'He A'hci'c"" ieP""
I ics.
Sir, 1t is too late, alter Inc solemn decision
ofCongress and the Supreme Court upon
;, this question TO dispute the authority ofCon
cross IN nrohihit slavery IN any or all the ter
S;,or;es helomginr 10 the United States. Blu
> ,his ,n,opdment the honorable Senator saws
- il nm ;rsuIt IN the South Sir, cannot con
U 70 49, 49, :, aa,, L, so ,,r,rded An irsuI
'eto ~" !" 1"t, sT,oi, ,ho,,ah, ro,,n
1t 10 Tue Sou''i why @"' SUI
v entered my head. lteSatu 'ne 0'a'IS VI YIN
n Union rs members OF one Iahlliy' aiiu suilec
5, 10 one common destiny Ciie iiie'hper vi ''i'
IS family cannot receive an INJURY OF I'LL lusui
l. without inHicting pain upon the other mem
n hers of the family. Slavery, sir,is repugnan
" to the feelings ofthe people i'll the free states
e They rerard it us great evil and feel them
y selves under the highest obi gations, us chris
J. firms. Ms phinnthropists, and as statesmen, I,