The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-07-26

FRIGHTENING PROSPECTS OF THE UNION!
Important action Of the Select Committee Of the Sen
ate, on the Territories.
The Select Committee of four from each opposing
section, appointed by the Senate to report upon the
alarming question of Slavery in the Territories the
subject being the bill establishing Territorial Gov
eminent in Oregon) have unanimously agreed upon
n recommendation which seems to US conceived in
spirit of statesman-lke wisdom far transcending all
plans for the settlement of the question hitherto
proposed [soi far as we are Alvarez surprising our
most sanguine hopes of possible pacification, dis
pelng our saddest forebodings and elevating as the
raying point of all true lovers of their country of
every name and interest the olive-branch of Peace
and Union! Peace and Union on terms honorable
and right, for conscientious enemies of Slavery;
secure for the interests of Humanity and Freedom;
satisfactory and incapable of appeal Or cavil to the
opposing sections.
When this Committee appointed, its result
was predicted to be the Missouri Compromise "a
result fraught more than ever with danger and mi
guilty, to which true mon at the North could never
consent again, and which prudent and consistent men
everywhere despise as not only temporary and |
hurtfu remedy but rs a concession by the friends |
Of Freedom Of the entire principle involved, while
portion of the necessary results of the concession are
meanly and mcrcenarly begged back.
Another proposal before the country and the
minds of the Committee, was to leave the question
10 the people of the Territories; course scarcely
less wicked in principle, and still more disastrous in
practice. The only third plan we had heard of,
was that of prohibiting slavery by positive enact
ment in all future Territories; to which it was
well known that the Committee, and gloomily
dreaded that the Country, would find it impossible
to agree.
The wisdom Of the Committee has devised means
of exrication from this threatening difficulty, diff
fering from all these and unforeseen by most of us
at least which at once the consistency and
integrity of conscientious men, with the amicable
adjustment of the question: and the salvation of the
Union. [
The GOLDEN PRINCIPLE contained in their recon-
mendation, and likely to confer upon the nation the
inestimable blessings Specification and union with
out compromise of moral integrty,-is to refor the
charge Of the whole subject and all questions arts ;
ing thcreirom, to a universally acknowledged and
trusted UMPIRE-the Judiciary of the United States.
Where could the charge and decision of this subject
be more appropriately referred? Nay, where else
can it be referred with Strictly any propriey2
The whole question is one of Constitutional Law (
It is simply whether slavery is or is not recognized
by the Constitution as a natural, just and general
Institution of our Nation, except where prohibited n
" the local Government. By the recommendation d
# the Committee, the Territorial Governments lex Ii
ept in Oregon prohibited from establishing or
excluding Slavery by law, and the settlement of the
questions arising from the attempted introduction
f it, is to be left to the Judiciary of the United c.
states; Mr.. Calhoun thus virtually agreeing to sub b
lit his prepostcrous claim to the Supreme Court fc