Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-07-05
Burlington, June l6, 1849
us the Freeman really opposed to
Slavery?"

The Waterman takes us seriously to task for
even doubling the genuneness of Senator I'm
derwoods anti-slavery sentiments, as follows:
SENATOR UNDERwooD.-The Green Noun
taln Freeman seems to be very unwilling to have
It understood that Senator Underwood of Ken
lucky is an emancipationist. 1t quotes to prove
that he used 10 be for slavery. A very poor Free
man that which will not permit man to repent
Of his sins and do works meet for repentance,
Is the Freeman really opposed 10 slaverv? If it
Is, why not rejoice that the distinguished whir
Senator from Kentucky is now on the right side?
A0olltloRsm such as yours-which dscourages
SHAREHOLDERS from taking the right ground-will
never break the chains Of the oppressed
Whether the Freeman has sufficient reasons
for entertaining these doubts, and whether the
wing party in Vermont are not justly chargeabe
with being allied to the slave power notwith-
standing all their professions and resolutions to
the contrary, we leave the people to Judge. II
1t is not so, they are guilty of an inconsistency
which we cannot explain. We understand that
Senator Underwood, with Mr.. Clay is in favor
Of the colonization system, and SO are many
others, and that he is in favor of altering the
constitution of his owR State so as to favor eman-
clpatlon. But that man can be an honest CON-
sistent opponent of slavery, and at the same limo
be zealously engaged in supporting shareholders,
we have not the least confidence whatever
No more than we would acknowledge man to
be in favor of temperance, if we should see him
IN the streets intoxicated every day. The Free
man IS very far from being unwilling " to have
1t understood" that men are in favor of ernapci-
patton. The Freeman would rejoice" even to
see the Watchman haul down the black Taylor
flag OF slavery, and assume the same position
that 1t did before certain millionaire visited
our place, just after the nomination of Gen. Tay-
Tor at Philadelphia. But we are unwilling that
Senator Underwood,O r any other whig, should be
held up before the people of Vermont as re-
nowned examples Of untl-slavery sentiment in
the wing party, and as proof positive that the
wing leaders are true upon the great principles
OF human freedom, while their acts give the lie
to such assertions. 1t is matter of common
notoriety that while the celebrated compromise
bill of Clayton, which gave the South all they
desired, and more than they have since offered
TO take OF our new territory 10 CURSE with slave
ry, was before the Senate, that every amendment
proposed to that bill, which had for its ob.
ject the restriction of slavery and the benefit oil
the slave, was voted down by such men as Clay.
ton, Berien, Johnson of Maryland, Johnson Of
Louisiana, Mangum, Metcalf, Bell, Badger, PHELPS
(when he was in his seat) and UNDERWOOD.
"Let slavery alone, and let it be settled by the
Supreme Court" was the cry of these men, Tc
meet their views, Mr.. Baldwin of Connecticut
offered the following amendment to the bill -
And be it further enacted, that it shall be the
duty of the attornies for SAID Territories, respect
lively on tho complaint of any person held in in
voluntary servitude therein, to make application
in his behalf, in due form of Law, to the cour
next thereafter to be held in said Territory, for
writ OF hGbeGS corpus, to be directed to the per.
son SO holding such person in service, as afore.
said, and to pursue all needfnl measures in hi,
behalf; and if the decision of such court shall
be adverse to such application, or if, in the re-
turn of the writ, relief shall be denied to the ap
plcant on the ground that he is a slave held in
Sevitude in said Territory, said attorney shall
cause an appeal to be taken therefrom; and the
record of all the proceedings in the case to be
transmitted to the Supreme Court of the United
States, as speedily as may be; and to give no.