Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-07-13
3Dnlitifal.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
EXTRACT FROM
MIR. VAN BUREN'S LETTER.
LINDENwALp, June 20, lS4S.

LiNDENWALD, June ~, lc4S.
You desire also my views in regard to
the prohibition by Congress, of slavery in
territories where it does not now exist, and
they shall be given in few words, and in a
manner, which will not, | hope, increase, if
it does not diminish the existing excitement
in the public mind.
The illustrious founders of our govern
ment were not insensible to the apparent
Inconsistency between the perpetuation of
slavery III the United States, sd the prnS
ciples of the revolution, as delneated in the
declaration of independence; and they were
too ingenious in their dispositions to at
tempt to conceal the impressions by which
they were embarrassed But they knew
also, that its speedy abolition in several of
the States was impossible, and its existence
in all, without fault on the part of the pres
ent generation. They were also too upright
and the fraternal feelings which had carried
them through the struggle for independence
were too strong to permit them to deal with
such a matter upon any other principles
than those of liberality and justice. The
policy they adopted, was to guarantee to the
States in which slavery existed conclusive
control over the subject within their respec-
tive Jurisdictions, but to prevent by united
efforts, its extension to territories of the
United States, in which in fact it did not
exist.
On all sides the most expeditions means
alacrity and good feeling. Their first step
was to interdict the introduction of slavery
into the Northwestern territory, now COW
cred by the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin. This may justly
be regarded as being in the main, South
ern measure The subject was first brought
forward in Congress by Mr. Jefferson. Vir-
ginia made the cession of territory upon
which the ordinance was intended to operate
and the representatives from all the slave
holding states gave it a unanimous support
Doubts have arisen in the minds of some
whether the ordinance of 1857 was author
lied by the articles of confederation. A
bill was introduced in the new congress at
its first session under the constitution, re-
cognizing and adapting it to the new or.
ganization, and it has ever since been treat
ed and regarded as valid act. This bill
received the constitutional appreciation OF
President Washington, whose highest and
sworn duty il waste supportiks rronstitution
under which it was enacted, Nor was the
North backward in doing its part to sustain
the policy which mad been wisely adopted
They assented to the insertion OF provisions
i'll the constitution necessary and sufficient
to protect that interest in the States, and
they did more.
The trouble apprehended at the com
mencement of the government from this
source, began to show itself as early al
1870, in the form of petitions presented tc
Congress upon the subject of slavery ant
the slave trade by the Quakers OF Phiadel
phia and New York, and by DIR. Franklin
as president of a society for the promotion
of abolition. These petitions were, in the
House of Representatives referred to {
committee of seven, all but one OF whom
were Northern members, whose report, a
amended in committee of the whole, affirm
ed " that Congress have no power TO inter
fere in the emancipation OF slaves, or IN the
treatment Of them within any OF the states
it remaining with the several states alone tc
provide any regulation therein which hu
manity and true policy might require"
The perseverance and good faith will
which both branches of policy thus adopted
have, until very recently, been recognized
and carried out, are highly honorable to the
whole country. The peculiar liability o
the subject to be converted into an elemen
of political agitation, as we'll in the slave
holding as in the non-slaveholding states
may have led to occasional attempts SO L
employ it, but these efforts have been yer,
successfully frustrated by the good sens
I and good feeling Of the people in ever