Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-07-27
VERMONT wATCHMAN &aTE JOURNAL, JULY 27, ls4s.

one imagines can ever be slaveholding, could be
organized us the people Of that territory desired
by the temporary adoption OF their present laws,
nerdicting or prohibiting slavery till the terri
torial legislature proposed to be organized by
popular vote under the bill referred to us, could
enact some law on the subject, most OF the OBJ
icctons which had heen urged in debate to the
18Th section, would be obviated without any sac.
ri6ce Of principle by those who urged them and
that after thus dsposing of the question so
far MS relates 20 Oregon, the territories OF Cali
fornia and New Mexico could be organZed IN
the same bill by the appointment of a Governor
Secretory,nnd judges to se,according to the
old precedeGts, temporary legislature for each
Of these territories, but without the power To leg
isate on The subject of slavery, thus placing that
question beyond the power oil the territorial leg.
lsalnre aud resting the right to introduce or pro.
hlbit avery in these two territories on the con
stltuli0n, the same should be expounded by the
Judges, With right of appeal 10 the Supreme
Court of the United States. 1t was thought that
by this means Congress would avoid the decision
OF this dl-racting question, leaving ii To be set
lied by the silent operation Of the constitution
itself, and that in case Congress should refuse to
touch the subject, the country would be slaveho =
ding only where, by the lays Of nature, slave
labor was effective aud free labor could not main
tam iselt On the other hand, in case Congress
should hereafter choose to adopt the compromise
line of So 30 inorth Of which suppose it is not
expected that slave labor can be introduced or
any other rule of settlement, it will be free to
act as to its wisdom aud patriotism shall seem fit.
After maay conflicts OF opinion, these views
thus generally expressed, were substantially a.
greed upon with great unanlmity, all the mem
bcrs oil the committee agreeing to make the re-
port, aud but two ot them tone from the North
and the other from the Sou,lR) disappearing any
a.. 4 Al. 4
BY order of the committee, | have prepared a
bill Ia accordance with these views. 1t CONTAINS
some upurIant amendments to the Oregon bill
particularly 80 far as II corrccs the defective de-
scrptiGn Of the boundaries in that bill.
do not expect, SIR. that this o. any other prop.
ositOn which the wit Of man can possibly sug-
gest will prevent agitation on Ibis subject which
is now daily spreading through the country, and
fear dividing 1t into geographical parties. Il
the Missouri compromise Of SO dogs. 30 min
should be adopted, the agitators would innedi-
etely raise The standard of repeal and agi,ate as
6ercely as ever. We know that, SIR They viii
agiiate after the passage Of any bill But thi,
bill resolves the whole question between the
North and South into constitutional aud iu-
dicial question. It only asks of men of all sec.
tons to stand by the constitution and suffer that
to settle tdc difference by It's own Tranquil oper
allon. If the constitution settles the question
crhcr way, let those who rail at tile decision
vent their Indignation against their ancestor:
who adopted it. We ofiei ed no ball 10 Introduce
slavery by congressional enactment into any free
territory II, ~ the South contends the const
tpjiun gives the right TO carry their slaves there
they will maintain that right. II, as the Norll
contends the Constitution cOniers DO such right
they will Vindicate their clnIn. And Oregon
will be at once organized us a territory, witt
power to elect their own lpgislalure--a povc
which the committee think cannot now, with any
proprlety, be conferred upon the population o
the t. other territories.
now, sir, have the honor TO report, as an
mcndincnt aud Il substitute for the bil! referred
to the select committee, A till TO establish til,
territorial governments Of Oregon, California
and New Mexico" The committee, with al
becoming mode sty, desire to say that they d,
not view their work as perfect; but it is the ver
best which under all the embarrassing clrcum
stances Of their position they have been able L
propose. To the Senate they appeal for assls
lance to correct any errors into which they mo.
have inadvertently fallen. But 1t is the homes
opinion of large majority OF the committee
that by the passage OF this till the safety OF IN
Union viii be pIuced eyond the reach of aglta
ton; and init the question, aud the only ques
ton which now threatens to endauger 1t may be
not immediately, but ultimately, put at rest Tor
ever.
The bill WIS then read first time and unan
imousiy ordered to be printed.