Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-08-31

constitutional prepohderance
raj government would be thus secured % the latter
TO of this result doby sure, the slave holding
states prominently active in measurable ord
nance of 77-by which six States first designed be-
and five actually arayed the side These added
bolhed would make the division in this regard twelve to six
The evidence of the circumstances and dispositions OF
the times warrants us IN assuming thai at that day. anti
cated that this difference in the respective conditions Of the
States regard slavery would be overcome nentrazed by
the accession the cUnfderaCy of savehodng States Yet
in the bet period which has eapsedwe may well say brief
when viewed in connection with such great resuwe have W.T.
messed the addition Of savehodng and only three non
avehodng states to the conedecy beyond those which were
provided for before the adoption of the constitution making them
to stand fifteen TO fifteen The prep0nderance originally secured
to thu nonsavehodng States and with the know ledge of which,
they assisted in investing the institution OF slavery ~ te s.
with the privileges and guarantees of the Constitution mas thu
been anlhated These facts cannot be conoveta OF
ofhe states they must have cono n n
excited ought not to surprise intelligent aud ingenious minus III
any gG,eE 10, tho on NOR avon H., ,o.t roDove view which
compelled to take of the eens0ns of our bre
Of the svhOdng States. Slavery now presented in lv
which before On previous occasion when
there has been conflict of opinion IN regard to H. the question mas
only how far the policy Of 1877 should he carried out by pro
hbng restricting the extension of slavery in territory which
the time subject to its introduction Most Of the ter
tory of the United States which was thus situated State
of Iowa which was excepted by Missouri Compromise, has
been converted into slave States and admitted into the Union as
Now, for the first time, the attempt is made to permit the
introduction of slavery into territories which free from
territories frem which was expelled within the last fifteen
years. by the express and solemn art OF their former government
and peopea government and people with whom in respect TO
the attributes OF freedom could not brook comparison
Union extensive State, covering capable Of
with Mexico, which claimed continued dominion over
The territories in regard to which the question is now
is therefore, in effect whatever may have been the original
objects of the war; an appeal to the inhabitants Of the nonsavf
holding States sanction the extension through instrument
tally IF slavery into territories which the United States have in
fact acquired by the sword but which others had relieved from
that great evil Such proposition need only be stated to
its prompt rejection by the mon savehoding States
Upon what grounds attempted to sustain principle SO re-
pgnant feelings destructive in vew to our national
character and well calculated if successful cloud the glory
great Repnb That there should be dversles {" 9pn
ion and feeling the subject of slavery between us and our
southern brethren. is certainly natural
The strength aversion institution has been
Gently very truly stated the floor Of the Senate by very dis
ngsed southern statesman The people Of the north cond not
overcome this aversion he would and hey cannot desire 70 do
because they regousy believe that the highest earthly inter
At The SOUTH the feeling very different the culture of
their minds and dispositions and the force of habit have had
diversity opinion and feeling should beget spirit of Cancellation
and nccate eannce in speech and action This du-
undoubtedly occasionally been lost sight Of both Sides
but cannot be denied that the departure from has been greatest
on the part Of our southern brethren.
a No will venture to insist tn is at this days either exped
en Q" right to originate slavery IN territories mat are iree from
be done the under consideration and in the form proposed
First because the constitution does not Congress the to
prohibit slavery in the territories aud that consequently the great
number of for that purpose which have been passed for the
sixty years with general assent but 50 many nfracons
All will remember the soemnty and npidiy with which state
after state at the SOUTH succession announced this doctrine
and the acrimonious vehemence with which their conventions de
nounced political proscpon in the form oeSusion from the Of
fee Of President and Vice President of all who refused to adopt
It, But already apparent nat dherences ~ opinion upon hS
important subject be settled by vehement assumptions
country such difficulties solved by appeals
provided by Institution For the recude of motives and
the of conduct Responsible EARTH to
the opinion the civilized WORLD and hereafter to power that is
greater and wiser than all,
The gu, cntuionaly, gravest of all objections
that can be mad against public measure has just passed through
besn o horgbv recd and conGrmneJ NV bs Voice Of The
nation thai no longer spend words in rfng it,
Two circumstances have however, occurred, which, though
necessary to ills overthrow give to that overthrow sanction
that entities them to noie Ii now appears that % since,
the time of the Missouri COMPROMISE Mr. Munroe then Pres
dent STAKEHOLDER and elected om slpvhOdng State submit
territory to cabinet composed among other great men OF such
ntlect from the saveholdng States, Crawford, Cal
houn and W the Litter the law officer Of the governments that
they were unanimously OF opinion that Congress did possess the
in questions and that the then PRESIDENT man who was
red that opnon approved the bill The documents which at
these interesting circumstances before the county, and
dered in connection with whit has been said upon the subject
by the survivor of the Cabinet referred to,
To bring the matter nearer To tmes within few days
the heel of the recent discussions this point bill
containing this estrctonhe bill which has in pat,
duced this discussion pissed both branches of the legislature
and received the constitutional approval of the present executive
approval which was his sworn duty to withhold i'll had
been satisfied that the provisions of the bill in Uniformity
to the constitution The present President also STAKEHOLDER
elected from savehOdng state with large portion If his cabi
the situation, has given the highest sanction to The
doctrine contend for that is known institutions and Il
though he felt himself called upon to make an extra message set
ting forth his for believing that the restrictions ought
be applied Mexican territories he does take thu
slightest notice of the constitutional objection on which many
southern had based their opposition the general
branch the subject has been thus and we hope forever dis
posed of.
property authorize their carry them tbs
teri ores and hold them thee notwithstanding act whcl
Congress may pass upon the subject Congress have cOns
iona power prohibit slavery the territories its laws place t
subject the footing there, the state laws do in thu
states As we'll therefore, might stakeholder contend that
bring his which prohibits slavery, that III
bring territories where slavery prohibited by
Congress his slave away and enters one of the nGnave
holding sae he does not thereby become Free but shall be delv
cred up upon claim OF me person e9a 70 nus services But h
person. notwithstanding the state laws but in virtue of
press article of the constitutions which constitutes one of its com
promises upon the subject of slavery. This fte
placed light in the Debates by Of the Udes
thpt the claim the of the Shareholders though nomna
to their property was in reality to transport their laws in
to territories One has, therefore, only imagine territory
governed by the various conflicting laws of thirty Independent
states to appreciate the absIrdty Of the pretenson.
But is insisted that the prohibition carries with reproach
the savehOdng states and submission to would degrade them
This is obviously the principal if MATERIAL ground of oppo
sion the measure that persisted in; assuredy
well founded would have ground to take excep
ton with which sustained Let the obec
ton therefore, fairly and dispassonay considered Very
opinions of the dispositions of the northern people
tertained by ios who think them capable OF desiring the dege
Of any of the states Of the confsdecy whether they
sIavehodng otherwise They entertain too enlightened
their interests they have conception the true gle
~ of confederacy the exiento which the humiliation of
loo national in their feelings cherish deep socude G
the welfare Of all its members If they could therefore
believe that the Of this measure would draw after sue
grave consequences they would be the last to uphold it,
It can have tendency will certainly not be owing to an
The restriction will course obligatory all who settle
the territories from whatever state country they may have EN-
grated They will ALL in this respect stand upon an equal t0n
fany inhabtant of any Of the nolsavehodng sts VINO
moves to the territories mas ms capital Invested IN business "
must chvnge the Investment If STAKEHOLDER desires to remOv
there dispose Of his slaves and employ free labor as
couufyme and neighbOrs did, when they removed to dterc
portions the north territory and made themselves pro
porous, cUntented and happy.
a the character of this measure,
compare Othes that have gone before it. 1t reenac
the Orddance of 1884, which prohibited the introduction
slavery been coded the several stat
United The difference between the effects of the
only the fact that the territory whrh
ordinance of ~ applied previous ITS ession subject
the introduction of slavery whilst the territory to which it is no
sought be applied had at the the time of the Cession be
already exempted from by law Who first proclaimed the pr
cpe which trumphGd the enactment Of the ordinance of us
Thomas Jefferson Who promoted and secured its passage thrOu
the Continental Congress- All the distinguished and patriot
year represented the slave holding states in tn
body without solitary exception Who gave to the measured
official sanction, by approving bill to carry it into effect und
the government George Washington Within the last six
years, 1888 the enactment has been again
repeated with the general concurrence of the southern
1t bers and often through their particular inslnentalhy fl
of the Union nave been organized teTtoe
l. under restrictions In respect to Ohio the oldest of ten
fonny this principle the ordinance of 49, required
in constitution and government and the bill giving
ordinance this application, reported by committee of viii
y William b. Giles of Virginia. chaTnan and John Rutledgs
South Carolina member 1t passed in the Senate by
sixteen FIVE among ayes will be found respectful
Baldwin Jackson, Of Georgia, Breckenridge
Brown, Kentucky, franklin and Stone, Of North Carolina,
Thompson Nlason Wilson Cary Nicholas, Of Virgin
SumpteI Of south Carolina and Wright Of Maryland The stat
70 which have under and in conformity with that odna
D. have, very great Degree been settled by emguns from
sAvehOdng Thousands of hardy and enterprise