Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-01-22

mHnccu, ana actual wal WIS N"-''' '''-'
can BE- no doubt of what is the duty OF every
GOOD citizen of the United States in state Of
war. The enemies of his country should be ms
cnemcs-hcr friends his friends. A cordial
support and vigorous prosecution OF the war
should be sustained while the war lasts. me
war shoudbc terminated whenever an honorable
peace can be obtained, and not before.
The bill which proposed. and still propose
to introduce. looks to such a termination oil the
war.-Whic It's first leature-the two million
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS clearly discloscs what It
would be in vai.. to deny. or attempt to conceal
that the acquisition of territory. at least OF the
CALIFORNIA; and New Mexico. as AN indemnity
for the war. rs well as for previous wrongs and
injuries against our Government and citizens,
will be insisted upon by the Government of the
Uni ed States, but upon terms liberal and homo
rible to Mexico. it contains also principle, in
the provision proposed by my friend from Penn.
IN ,re important than the war itself "A prin-
C PIE with which Mexico, in arranging her terms
of peace. has nothing to do, and with which
do not understand that it is proposed by anybody
she should have anything to do. Ii Is no SUB
icct of treaty stipulation unless the treaty ma
king powers of the powers of the two Govern
ments shall, Of their own free will choose to
make it so. 1t is question purely our own,
and pertaining exclusively to the United States.
Tins principle excludes slavery from any terri
tory which may hereafter he added to this coun-
try. This principle deem TO be of vital i'm
portance. and should be very much gratitied ii it
could receive the unanimous assent and appro-
baton of Congress. This. however, donot OK
! pect. The same interest which pertinacrously
insisted upon extending slavery over Texas still
DESIRES apprchend. its further extension This
should not be so. For the existence OF slavery
in the United States tie Government of the Re-
public is not responsible. 1t was planted here
while the county was colonies cf Great Br-
tain and It's existence or continuance i not a
question for the Government of the Union lit be-
longs exclusively to each State for Itself
The bill proposed presents no question of abo-
litioniSm. 1t is the antagonist OF abJlitonsln.
denying any constitutional power in the Fcde-
ra Government to NEEDLE in any way with the
existence Of slavery within the limits ola State.
No free State in the Union has ever held or as.
serted the right or auth,r tv Of tn, Federal Co
yernment to abolish or interfere with slavery in
any State. But while every free State mas al
ways maintained. and stands ready to maintain
the constitution and all It's compromises. it can.
not supposed the people OF the free State
will approve the eXertlon OF the power OF the Fed
eral Government to extend indefinitely the nst
tuition of slavery over territory which is now free
VAN the abolition oil slavery the Congress OF
the Union can have nothing to do but it woulc
b. an equally wide departure from the constitu
f ton, and from every sonld principle upon which
our republican institutions are toun led. that the
Government Of the United States should be ms
trImental in extending slavery in any direction
or in converting free territory into slave territory
To avoid TINS result it is necessary that Congress
shall provide by law against the existence o
slavery in any territory which hereafter may be
q, off, ma ,., -it. al
not be included within the limits Of State
Whenever any territory shall have Obtained ;
population sufficient for the formation OF stat
Government, and shall have formed a Slqt
constitution, and been admitted into the Iniol
( rs State then the responsibility Of the Fedora
Government ON the question OF slavery for tina
{ territory and people, thus admitted a. a State
= ceases.
t Then say they who oppose the enactment G
D the Wilmot proylso, Why not let the quesuo
/ alone. and leave tito the states and the pcopl
$ themselves to determine whether the STATE sha
be slave Stale or a free State This inquir
!. and reasoning i. spccious and plausible but tn
4 simplest examination on the PRINCIPLES Of con
y mon sense Will show that it is unsound and fils,
j. Ii left alone. slaves more or less will be carrie
o to the new territory, and if the country while
Y remains territory should be settled hva n1g
u litlgn holding slaves. the now and addition
ir question utaDo.ltUn i presented, and in order
n get tree State, slavery must first BE- abolshe
be This embarrassment IN Il new community. viii
,r out means to indemnify the owners. would be q
= obstacle almost iusurmoun'ablc. and tine ne
State would b. very fur from being free to chpo.
~ between becoming free State ora SLAVE Stat
p, GA the contrary, il the country while 1t remain
10 4 Territory, shall BE- settled hy free population
- from which slavery i, cNcild'd-than, when
..l lei
-. people would be unemmrra' ed by any pecuni
q. ry interests ON questions of vested rght, and b
! free TO decide whether the State should br fir,
~ State or a slave State. In order then, 10 secul
y, this freedom Of choice 90 the State and to III
= people, slavery must be excluded from the com
try while it shall be Territory, and until il sha
T., become State.
" ButIwillnpt pursue the subject now It mu
; be obvious 20 all, a think it will be ackuow
edged by all. that the character the populotio
=, in the Territory will determine the character
=, the State when that territory shall be- erecto
# into n State. ltthe Territory has slave popul,
n ton OF only Ouc-iourth or Onp-ith ct the who
" number. il will bel slave State. liza free pop,
N iation while Territory. it will be Il free Stat
III Exclude slavery from n territory not within II
limits OF a State. and | am willing the Territol
"A shall determine tor Itself. when it becomes
, State, what shall be it, character. Many Oft
/ States in which slavery existed when the UniJ
Il, was formed have abolished the Institution.
. instance of any one of the States from whiC
r. slavery has been excluded, can be found whcI
% the State or the people have determined 10 il
n truluco slaves. II Congress shall refuse at tn
a session, TO make this free principle law. II
arms OF the Republic will conquer free Territor
i upon which slavery will be planted. desire Il
= adoption OF the free principle. because, belle,