Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-11

teS ana 1t is hlgh time that the southern States,
the slaveholdng States, should inquire what is
now their relative strength in this Union, and
what it will be if this determination should be
carried into effect hereafter. Sir, already we are
in a minority use the word " we" for brevity
sake-already we are in a minority in the other
House, in the electoral college, and, / may say,
in every department of this Government except,
at present. in the Senate of the United States
there, for the present, we have am equality. OF
the twenty-eight States, fourteen are non-save-
holding, and fourteen are slaveholding, counting
Delaware, which is doubtful, as one of the non
slayeholdng States. But this equality of strength
exists only in the Senate One of the clerks, at
my request has furnish me with statement Of
what is the relative strength of the two descrip-
tons of States, in the other House Of Congress,
and in the electoral college. There are 228
Representatives, including Iowa. which is al
ready represented there OF these, 1873 are
from the non-slaveholdmg States, and 90 are
from what are called the slave States, giving a
majority in the aggregate to the former Of AZ,
In the electoral college there are 1853 votes be-
longing to the non-slaveholding States, and ! lS
to the slaveholding, giving majority Of so to
the non-saveholding.
We Mr.. President, have at prasent only one
position in the Government, by which we may
make any resistance to this aggressive policy
which has been declared against the South or
any other that the non-slayeholding States may
choose to take. And this equality in this body
is Of the most transient character. Already To-
wa is a State but owing to some domestic ca
lmnlty, is not yet represented in this body, When
she appears here, there will be an addition of two
Senators to the representatives here of the nom
slavchoding States. Already Wisconsin has pass
ed the initiatory stage, and will be here at next
session. This will add two more, making a clear
majority of four in this body on the side Of the
Inon-savcholding States, who will thus be enabled
to sway every branch of this Government at their
will and pleasure But, sir, if this aggressive
policy be tollowed--if the determination of the
Notwithstanding States is to be adhered to here
after, and we are to be entirely excluded from
the territories which we already possess, or may
possess--if this is to be the fixed policy of the
Government ask, what will be our situation
hereafter
Sir, there is ample space for twelve or fifteen
Of the largest description of States in the terri
tories belonging to the United States. Already
law is in course of passage through the other
House, creating one north of Wisconsin. There
is ample room for another north Of Iowa: aud
another north Of that; and then that large region
extending on this side of the Rocky Mountains,
from 40 degrees down to the Texan line which
may be set down fairly as an area of twelve and
half degrees of latitude--that extended region
Of itself is susceptible of having SIX seven, or
eight large States To this, add Oregon, which
extends from 40 to AZ degrees, which will give
four more, and make Il very moderate calcutta
ton when say that in addition to Iowa and
Wisconsin, twelve more States upon the terrific
ry already ours-without reference to any acqui-
siton from Mexico-may be, and will be, short
y added to these United States. How will we
then stand? There will be but fourteen on the
part of the SOuth--we are to be fixed, limited
and forever-and twenty-eignt on the part of the
non-slaveholding States Twenty-eight Double
our number And with the same dlsproportion
in the other House and in the electoral college
The Government sir, will be entirely in the
hands of the non-savehodng States, over
whclmingly.
Sir, if this state of things is to 90 on-if this
determination, so soemnly made, is to be persist
ed in, where shall we stand as far as this FEEDER
al Government of ours is concerned What,
then, must we do! We must look to Justice
to our own intercsts-to the Constitution. We
will have no longer a shield even i'll equality here.
Now, can we rely upon the sense of justice Of
this bodyl Ought we to rely upon this? These
are the solemn questions which put on all sines.
Sir, lock to the past. If we are to lock to
that will not 60 into the dctails--we will see
| from the beginning Of this Government to the
/ i f,r
concerned-as far as the disbursement Of reve-
nue. is involved it will be found that we have been
portion Of the community which has substan
italy supported this Government without recelv.
ing anything like tantamount support from it
But why should 60 beyond this very measure
itself? Why 60 beyond this determination, Oh
! the part of the non-slaveholding States, that
there can be no further addition to the savehold-
ing States, to prove what our condition is!
/ Sir, what is the entire amount of this policy
| will not say that it is so designed. | will not
say from what cause it originated. Twill not say
whether blind fanaticism on one side, whether q
hostile feeling to slavery entertained by many
not lanatical on the other, has produced it; OF
whether it has been the work of men, who, look.
ing to political power, have considered the agl-
taton Of this question as the most etlectual mode
of obtaining the spells of this Government.
look to the fact itself 1t is policy now openly
avowed to be persisted in. 1t is policy, Mr.
President, which aims to monopolize the powers
of this Government, and to obtain sole possess
ion of its patronage,
Now, ask, is there any remedy! Does the
Constitution afford any remedy! And if not, is
there any hope7 These, Mr.. President, are sol.
emn questions-not only to us, but, let me say
to gentlemen from the non-slaveholding States
to them Sir, the day that the balance between
the two sections of the country, the slaveholdins
States and the non-slaveholding States, is dcs
troyed, is a day that will not be far removed
from political revolution, anarchy, civil war ant
widespread disaster. The balance of this sys
TEN is in the savcholding States. They are TIL
conservative portion-always have been the con
scrvative portion-always will be the conserve
tive portion; and with due balance en- thei
{ part may, for generations to come, uphold thl
glorious Union Of ours But if this policy shou
be carried cuff we are to be reduced to
handfuI-if we arc to become mere ball t