Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-25
SPEECH OF MIR. UPHAM.

Millions, TO BRING the War with Mexico to a
speedy and honorable conclusion, being under
considerations
MIR. UPHAM proposed an amendment, to
come in as a second section, as follows:
SEc. 9. 4ad be further enacted That there shall DO
Mother slavery nor involuntary serytudc in any territory
which shalt hereafter be acquired or be annexed to the u
nod states, otherwise than in tho punishment of crimes
whereof the party shall have been duy convicted Prordd
Sorg or % sy c@ed in any one Of the United
Sutos, such fugitive may BIO lawfully reclaimed aud con-
yGyed out OF sud territory 10 the peF'o" claiming his or her
Mr. UpHAM sustained his amendment in sub
stance as follows:
1t viii be recollected, Mr.. President, that,
some weeks ago had the honor OF presenting
to the Senate, series Of resolutions passed by
the Legislature of Vermont, upon the subject OF
slavery and the Mexican War They are in the
words following:
"Wherous ia our Judgment the existing war with Next
co was not founded any imperative necessity sucn as may
Justify excuse Christian nation for rcsotting to arms
and has mauiostly become an offensive war against
uegborng republic aud whereas we have Just grounds oI
occupied conquood will become slave territory and as
SUCH claim admission TO the Union ana whereas us nnmis
sion sucl mixed population, degraded ny ig
and superstition, aud allied 10 US norher in inter
esi G'arageI nor angu9sei w Tb"S9ce o
BE Roirsd b the aud House Of Rfpressna''ces
served b, sUrs end of the war with Mexico and
tlomen of all wouts in dispute by arbitration or nesoua-
Resolped That Vermont will give its countcnance,
aid assent the admission into the federal Union OF any
state constitution toetates slavery ana does
hereby appeal each of her sister states to concur III It's
own name IN this declaration. -,
ResOtrci, That tho Senators and kepTesentallyos ~
Congress from Vermont will CONFORM to the hearty wishes of
their constituents, by earnestly supporting the principles SET
forth in the foregoing preamble and resolutions, anu using
all other just efcctual aud constitutional means TO avert
tho Tremendous psis OF slavery, ana resist us onGiIagn
upon the rights and interests OF the nonsVsho ing
States.
Resoired THAT his Excesncy the Governor be requested
10 forward copy Of these resolutions 10 inc 3ovetno OF
each satu IN the Union and to our senators ana
tiyes in Congress- the seal of tho sate ana win ms
signature Of approval
"Apptovod, November o, 1916 , ,,r r,,rov r, -,
These resolutions, sir, express the views OF the
people of Vermont upon the subject OF slavery
and the existing war with Mexico; and Tor the
purpose Of guarding against the dangers appre-
heuded by them, it Mexican territory shonld be
acquired by the United States, have deemed 1t
my duty to move this amendment in the form of
a second section to the bill. Vermont sir, does
not stand alone in her opposition to the acquisi-
ton of foreign territory to be created into slave
states, and, as such, admitted into the Union
No, sir; seven other sovereign States have spok
en- out upon the subject and announced their de-
termination to oppose the further increase OF
slave States. These proceedings of the sove-
reign States have been denounced with great
vehemence bv the honorable Senator from South
Carolina. (Nr BUTLER) as aggressive upon
southern right7--and, anticipating an amend
ment of the character have introduced, he de.
nounced it as unconstitutional, UNJUST and in
sultng to he South Sir, wherein are these
resolutions aggressive upon southern rights p
Do they propose to interfere with slavery IN the
States? No, sir, not at all. They make no al
fusion to the domestic institutions of the South.
They refer to foreign country where slavery
does not exist and Insists that if it be acquired
by the United States, it shall remain as it now
is, free. But, sir, the amendment have intro
duced has been denounced as unconstitutional,
unjust and insulting TO the South. Sir, with
what clause in the constitution does this amend
ment come in conflict The power to "dispose
Of and make all needfu rules and regulations
respecting the territory or other property belong
ing to the United States" is expressly conferred
upon Congress.
But the honorable member from South Carroll
ma says this amendment, if adopted, will exclude
the people of the saveholding States from the
country, because they cannot take their slaves
with thcu<x dnd v-~-S eiurc it is Unconstitutional.
Sir, this Amendment does not exclude a spve-
holder or his slaves from the country. lie has
! full liberty to 60 there with his slaves, bu,
they will cease to be property, and become men
They will stand up in the image of their Maker
clothed with all the rights that belong to man
hood. But, sir, this Is not a new question; in
the act Of Congress, providing for the admission
D of Missouri into the Union, there is an express
clause, " that in all the territory coded by France
to the United States under the name of Louisiana
which lies north of So 30 IN. north latitude
y included within the limits of the State Of Mis-
5 souri, slavery and involuntary servitude, other
wise than in the punishment of crimes whereo
the parties snail have been duly convicted, shall
: be and is hereby forever prohibited"
: The question whether Congress possessed
constitutional authority to impose such restric
ton, upon the ground that the prescribing o
such condition is inconsistent with the sove-
i regnty of the State to be admitted, and its equal
ity with the other States, was largely discussed
and the result OF the vote established the author
9 ity of Congress to impose such a restriction
>. An objection, of similar character, says Judge
:. Story, was taken to the compact between Vr
gina and Kentucky upon the ground that it wa
a restriction upon State sovereignty. But th'
u Supreme Court had no hesitation in overrulin.
l. it, considering 1t as opposed by the theory OF al
!. free governments, and especially of those which
constitute the American republics.
Sir, it is too late, after the solemn decision o
e Congress and the Supreme Court upon this ques
l. ton to dispute the authority of Congress to pro
hbl slavery in any or all the territories belong
ing to the United States. But this amendment
the honorable Senator says, is an insult to tn
South Sir, cannot conceive how 1t can b
- so regarded. An insult to the South! Why
Jr sir, such thought never entered my head
Or regard the States Of this Union as members c
one family, and subject to one common destiny
One member Of the family cannot receive an in
Of Jury or an insult without in1ctng pain upon tn
m other members OF the family Slavery, sir,
repugnant to the feelings Of the people in til
3 free States. They regard it as great evil, an
m feel themselves under the highest obligations a
i Christians, philanthroplsts, and as statesmen
n to oppose its extension. This, surely, can CIV
no offence to the South.
But how WAS slavery regarded, sir, by tn
statesmen Of the South in l776? What said III
III Declaration OF independence upon the subieC
Of when first reported to the Continental Congress
n Why, sir, amo5g the charges of cruelty, lnju'
or ce and oppression on the part OF the king
= Great Britain, a the following:
~ has waged cruel against human nature tsel
Violating sacred rights OF life and liberty IN the pc
of distant people who never offended MN eatN
nv ling and carrying into slavery in another hemsphor
or miserable death in their transportation thither
FIR This piraca wausrG, this opprobrum OF nhde Powers
the warfare of tho Christian King of Great Britain. Det'
III temned keep market whore should be bong
"a and sold he has fostitued his negative for suppress
avery legislative attempt prohibit restrain this
er HE commeGe And that this assembage of horrors mig
want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting tho
n vary people rise in against aud TO purchase u
liberty OF which no has deprived them, by numbering
10 mamie on when he has obtuded them thus OIL
mel crmes committed against the liberties OF the people
crimes which no uges thom to commit against the lives
Tor another"
IN. This, SIR, is the language of Thomas Jeffersc
the great apostle Of Democr acy, but the uncoI
promising opponent of slavery. He commenc
NJ, The Declaration of Independence with the sc