Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-08-11
Speseh Of Mr. Marsh on Slavery.

Hon. George p. Marsh, of the Burlington
District in this State, made an eloquent speech
on the question OF Slavery in new Territories,
last week Thursday We copy from the N. Y
Express an abstract Of his remarks:
Mr. Marsh commanded great attention by his
spcech, members of both parties nocked around
him. and the argument was listened to with the
closest attention. The subject was connected
with Slavery and Territories, and Mr. NJ. brought
mass of testimony to show that Slavery had
not been abolished definitely in the territories OF
Mexico. 1t was at least doubtful question, and
Of sufficient importance to lead to settlement
Of the question by legislation in Congress.
He was not ready to leave so momentous
subject TO The local authorities, nor to the courts
and he argued that the Compromise Bill which
passed the Senate with such indecent haste fail
ed TO provide for bringing the question fairly be-
fore the Courts. 1t would, under any circum-
stances, take five years TO settle this question by
the courts, and in this time, the country would
be filled with slaves and shareholders.
There was but ono law, and that the law Of
force, by which men could be kept in slavery,
and there was no moral defence to be set up for
such an institution. Slavery was in hostility to
the laws of nature, and Of God. lie spoke Of
It as a system, and a system, opposed Il not TO
the letter, TO the spirit Of Christianity.
The Christian religion commands Inc TO feed
my enemy, but not that should be robbed of
my own. Nor did it authorize one to rob his
neighbor OF his birthIight in the principle OF lib
eny. He did not deem it right TO Judge the
South harshly. lie knew that the South had
more practical knowledge of the workings of the
slave system than We had at the North. They
knew more of the system of compensation, and
were to be judged by the prejudiccs Of birth and
education.
Mr. Marsh argued that slavery was profitable
in New England and New York when it existed
at the North. 1t was abolished when profitable,
because il was wrong, and from respect 10 con-
science and duty.
What he complained Of, was the determine
ton to extend this institution to free territory.
The North were not responsible for the intro
duction of this question. 1t was forced upon
the North for sectional purposes. Texas was
forced upon the country for sectional purposes,
and the North was only taking the position now
which she ought 10 have assumed then. She
would resist 10 every extremity which God and
nature had given her.
There was a severe rcbuke to the "dougl-fac-
cs" in the House. Whenever any bill was to be
laid upon the table, or the previous question to
be moved, all that was necessary is to tip the
wink to Pennsylvania broad-brim. These men
Of the North were dead to every good purpose,
and to every just act. The worst slave-driver,
who ever piled the lash to the back of slave,
was not as bad as these men, lost as they were
to all shame and all right.
Mr. NJ. commented with eloqucncc upon the
contrast between the want Of sympathy, and as
sociation, between the people of the extreme
Atlantic and of the Pacific. They were epa-
rated by eternal borders, national and otherwise,
and the people of the borders of the Western
Ocean were eminently oriental. In this diver
sity, he would say, what God hath joined togeth-
or let man put asunder.