Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-06

The Executive Department Of the GCy.
ernMeAl and u. n Territory.

Ii we mistake not the majority Of the leaders
of the wing party are wiling to withdraw the
question raised by the WIlmot Proyiso, from the
Presidential canvass Such certainly is the pol
icy Of the democratic lenders, Even the Will
mot Frovso democracy of New York discaim
any purpose Of making adhesion to that measure
test in the selection Of candidate fer the Pres
idency.
As the President is part of the llw-making
power, as his veto can be overcome only by
two-thrds majority in each branch Of the feder-
al legislature, it is evident that this policy is a
virtual Abandonment of the principle of slavery
restriction. No one imagnes that such mai
ority opposed to the extension of slavery exists
in Congress. But, surprising that bare major
ity of each House should pass an anti slavery
restrictive act, the Presidential sanction would
be required to make it law. And yet friends Of
freedom in the old parties are anxious to with
draw the question from Presidential politics, and
in the choice Of a President to use a treble
vulgarism, 600 it blind !" Are they sincere in
their professions Of devotion to Free Soil and
Free Labor? Do they not place Party before
Principle, the success Of a fayoritc candidate
before the triumph of a glorious measure?
But there is another aspect to this question, Of
still greater importance. The Senate certainty,
the House, it is almost certain, will not pass any
abstract resolutions slnctioning the policy Of
Gree soil and free labor" The bills tor estab-
fishing Territorial Governments in New Mexico
and California, as reported in the House, will
probably contain an Anti-Slvery proyiso; and
it is not improbable that the opponents Of the
Proyso in an abstract form, may fail in the eff.
fort to srle it out when presented in this practi-
cal shape. But without doubt, it would be srick-
en- cut in the Senate. We cannot therefore cal
cul1te on any lagiSlati0a, at least during the
present Congress, prohibiting the extension OF
slavery This should not discourage the friends
of freedom. but stimulate them to more power
fill and unremtting activity They can carry
the day in the House, ifnot in the Senate They
can defeat all Territorial bills in the House, if
the Scnate will allow only such as tolerate slavery
They can continue this noble struggle, till the
public mind shall be fully aroused and the public
eye fixed on the fact, that all legislation for the
Territories is BROUGHT f. a stand because the
Slave Power will sanction none that will net nj.
low the establishment Of slavery in free territory
Let this fact be demonstrated let it absorb the
popular mind to the exclusion of all other issues
and the Senate with its nro-slavory conseryqtisr,
WOuId. time he brOupbt
But above nj. il shopld be remembered that
by this Temporary impossibility Of any Ant;-S),.
yerv LEGISLATION tbe onnoncnIs Of tbc extension
of slavery are thrown nnon the Constitnton anJ
the fundamental PRINCIPLES Of civil jibcrfy GYr
their chief defence arainst slavery nr,,,3j ;s,,
The federal government is the s3yerie N over fed.
cral territory. This is the South Carolina doc
trine. The federal Government cannot establish
and Of course can delegate no power to establish,
the law Of slavery. This. too is admitted by
the sIayehoders. But slavery cauuot exist ey-
cent by positive law, which has force alone With.
in The Jurisdiction the statc enoctjnr il Thie
is the doctrine Of the courts in EIssissinn;
Louisiana Kentucky Missouri and atbor sI Fyl,
states. the doctrine RECOGNISED by mo inrienrn-
donce If civilizo1 no,vors ra,,eraII. tho Jacrioo
aG;,,ad by tbo S9nra,oe Conrt - ,bo IIn;ta1
gtatos al r., tbo Ia1ros or ,1"tLanoi ~ no;-
~ '''' W. .i,1i'
s,-a. . ,a, r -, (''4i
dcny the inference franz I, these s'''
fGT slavery cannot be egolized in ony tcrr;tory