Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-11
The Man for the Hour,

A large portion OF our columns are again occupied
with the great slavery debate in Congress- We are
well assured that nothing could be more acceptable to
our readers.
This is decidedly the most important debate that
has occurred in Congress since the discussion upon
the Missouri Compromise. We rejoice, and thank
God most deyouty, that one man was found ready for
the emergency-able and willing to stand up boldly
for the great principles of human freedom, law and
ORDER against the murderous and fendlike spirit Of
slavery which has so long reigned supreme in the U.
S. Senate.
1t is source of the deepest modification to us, that
there was not solitary Senator from the North that
dared come to the rescue when JOHN P. HALE was
set upon by the whole kennel of infatuated slavehod-
ing blood hounds--denounced as a madman, thief
highway robber, and boldly threatened with assassi-
nation. Where were the Senators from Vermont ?
With their pockets filed with anti-savery instructions
and their tongues burdened with ant-slavery profess
sons had they the hearts of craven cowardsof crng-
ing slaves These questions will bear with weight
upon the minds of the freemen of Vermont when
they are again called upon to elect United States
Senator!
This debate, we have said, is of the utmost impor-
lance. 1t is arousing the whole North to the true
spirit and character of slavery. Men of all sects ant
parties stand amazed, and inquire, What will be tht
end of these things? The Ne,c York Mirror, a lead
ing literary JOURNAL and hitherto looked upon as some
what proslaverygves uterunce to the following ipdg
nant language:
"Among all the wonderful reports that the late arri
walls from Europe have brought u.s. there is nothing that
should have been half so exciting and absorbing, as
the report of the scandoous events which have Just
transpired in our own National Senate-where the
whole force of the South let loose upon repre-
sentative of the North, and yet not member from
the North came to his aid A Senator from New
Hampshire intimated that he intended to introduce
bill for the protection of private property in the Dis
trct of Columbia, when he set upon by all the fl
ry spirits from the Slve States who menaced hin
with assassination, called him maniac, sneered a
him, and treated him with every mark of disrespec
which one man show another except splitting il
his face. And all this done, too, solely on the
ground Of his being representative of Northern
constituency.
"Where was the indignant spirit of the North
when Calhoun, Foote, Butler, Bagby, and the whole
brood were crashing their teeth at the Senator from
New Hampshire, and threatening him with all man
ner of violence for having dared to introduce propo
ston into the Senate to protect private property a
ganst mob violence? 1t no where! There i:
nothing of the kind in the Senate of the United States
The New Hampshire Senator defended himself witt
GOODNESS and discretion but how the other Senator:
from the North could sit in their seats and tamely look
on while their rights assaulted in the person
of one of their CONDUCTORS passes our comprehension
The bill which the Senator from New Hampshire
wished to introduce into the Senate almost lite
raj copy of law passed by the State of Maryland
and had it been offered by any representa- i've from the
Slave States, not whisper would have been heard
against it. The South looks upon the district of Co
lumbia as part of the Southern Territory and they
will not allow the North even to propose any measure
for its government We regret that our limits will
not permit us to copy in full the most remarkable de-
bate to which we have alluded 1t is of greater i'm
portance to us than all the hubbub that is making in
Europe about liberty and popular rights, and hope
the matter will not be lost sight ofn the hurry-scurry
and confusion of these exciting times"