Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-04-26

given their allegiance, aid which alone has
power to legislatc for them
If New Mexico, California, or the people of
this District, should interposn actual mpediments
TO the legislation of South Carolina over the peo-
pie there, or DENY the authority of that body
over its asserted jurisdiction, would not this be
held ap,Oarranta6ie Intervention? Is it not C.
qually so, OH the part of the State Legislature,
to intervene and defeat the relative rights exist
ing between Congress and The people Of terrific
ries and districts, put entirely by the Constitu-
ton, under the exclusive legislation of Con-
gress?
The wrong done in this 10 the people who pc
titon, and TO the body bound to redress their
grievances, is too papable not to be felt even by
those who insist upon it. To escape from this
difficulty they propose to give the newly acquir-
ed territories over to the dictatorship of South
ern President and to retrocede the District of
Columbia to the State of Maryland, to perpetuate
slavery within it. So far as we are concerned
We protest against this scheme, and can assert
with confidence that there is hardly one citizen
who will not unite in the protest.
The protest asserted for the perpetuaton of
slavery in the district, lin the late caucus adj
dress,) is, that the district must be held as nee
essary outpost" of slavery-that if slavery be
excluded from it and the territories, every out
post and barrier would be carried, and nothing
would be left but to finish the work of abolition,
ut pleasure, in the States themselves
"this district, and all places over which Con-
gIess has.0,,1iasiye power Of isgislOtion, would
as 'tncy F1dced tG6ir 1cet, they would become,
according to the doctrines of the north, flee, I'M
lnGo sbOulI hn 10,
prevent IT.
We hold this 10 be mere anteroycm argu-
ment to Brighten the southern people into the
attempt to enforce on others wrong which they
would not themselves endure. Delaware is en-
5raced and over-shadowed by the free safes of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey why IS it not
clamorous for lost slaves, and rife for dissolu-
ton OF the Union, by way Of redress? Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri form
Gordon of slave states around the free; how do
these states exist, when an asylum is presented
at every step along a line Of two thousand miles,
where fugitive slaves, "as soon as they place
their feet" over the invisible border, would be
free? Do Kentucky, Maryland, western Vir-
GINA and Missouri, become Irenzicd with fear
at this dangerous proximity, and propose dis.
solution Of the Union, to escape the apprebcm-
sion? No! South Carolina, which SCARCELY
ever loses slave by flight, is alone distressed,
and would have the little District Of Columbia
lecoded to Maryland, abandoned as the seat of
government, and slavery perpetuated in it, be.
cause, otherwise, "nOthlng would be left but to
finish the work OF abolition at pleasure, in the
states themselves"
We trust that these panic making strains have
lost their power to excite the feelings of the
people of the south, and the threat of dssolu-
ton Of the Union, its influence over the patriot
ism of the north. 1t may be that the oligurchy
Of South Carolina, which made the continuance
of The horrid African slave trade the sine qua
men in the establishment of the Conederacy,
viii seek 10 dissolve it, rather than see its relic
.eXtirpnted in the District Of Colunba. But
what other southern state would JOIN in this ma
tional parrcide? Would the southern people,
imbued with the liberal split OF the age aud
for tie most part, out of South Carolina, enjoy.
ing popular institutions, be willing to rally r.
round an oiglrchy, which does net allow the
mss Of the people to vote for senators Or repre-
sentatives governor or president, and make it
the nucleus Of now contedcracy? Would
they do this at the hazard of civil war, ard tie
subyersion Of all that has crowned this hemis-
phcrc with imperishablc glory, as the light Of
freedom throughout the world, merely because
Congress deemed it duty to listen to the petit
tons of the people around the capitol of the
Union, and deliver them from the slave insttu-
lion and the slave trade?
Emancipation may be efectuated under wise
and salutary provisions by Congress, and the
slave trade abolished here, without impairing
the rights or enlaDgGring the interests Of any
slave state in the Union. 1t will operate on sla-
very in the adjoining states, only BY showing,
tbo md H., rr,,o
the new impulse given to industry and the arts
to agriculture, commerce and manufactures, how
much more valuable, in all lis results, is the to
Of freedom than that Of slavery? This prob
lem, demonstrated on a spot insulated on al
sldes by slave labor, will be salutary lessor
TO the southern states, and induce them tn worl
out.their own deliverance, from an evil which il
fast wasting the rich and sunny regions-coyer
ing them with sterilIty and poverty while the
cold and sony north ie become bright with vor
dure, rich in fruits, in mineral, agricultural ant
manufacturing wealth; and, what is of still
higher value, dense, energetic, educated, in
telgent and powerful population.
No son Of the south can look upon its grea
and renowned Commonwealth, which once
stood first IN everything which gives rank an,
superiority to states, and see them sinking int
hopeless lnienorlty, without the deepest sorrow
without depIorlng the fatal policy which al
the world condemns, and none can remedy bu
themselves. If it be persisted in, like doome
Africa, contrasted with Europe, that looks dow
tEpon il from the north, the slave states of TIN
Union will In the course Of century, make
like counterpart in blackness and barrenness t
the brightness and fertility of the free states
As children of the SOUTH full of every fliu feel
ing and instinct, nurtured by every tender asso
citation, from the beginning Of life, by ever
fond recollection of previous history, to prele
its interest and glory beyond that of all tn
world, we ttrventy pray God to avert the des
tiny.
The members of the free soil association c
the District of Columbia renew the pledges {
the first declaration of principles to their brett
re-, throughout the Union Their faith is immC
vably fixed on that true Magma Charta of hi
man rights in which Mr.. Jefferson asserted Il
liberties Of his country. They will give the
best efforts to accomplish its great designs
all legitimate means. They will labor to cl
tend the Ordinance of 1857, to preserve IL
freedom of the territories and will promote II
progress OF emancipation through the safe, il
dicious, ard practicable modes suggested by NJ
Jefferson. We give our adhesion to the PAL
formed on this basis; and from that party "
expect an untalterlng support, to accomplish Il
objects Of the multiplied petitions addressed |
the people of this district TO congress, for d
lWerance from the oppression of the slave inst
tuition, and the slave trade.
r. R. SIIEKELI4, President
SELBY PARKER, Secretary.