Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-18
The Slave Trade at The CanitOl,

The passage of MI Colts resolution, instruct.
ing the Committee on Territories to bring in a
bill prohibiting the slave trade in the District of
Columbia, Is probably the sevcrest blow ever
given to the "Patrarchal institution" by the
North. The South have now had an honest ex-
preston of opinion upon the propriety of
boosted christian nations supporting the traffic
in the souls and bodies of men; and as matter
of consequence, keeping the dark slave prisons,
and auction sales, and cofile gangs in the cap
tol of a nation that claims to be the lard OF
the fire and the home Of the brave" And this
has been given in the shape of Legislation, in
manner that the South could not by any leger-
demain or party influence, escape. For our
selves, VIC should have been inclined to postpone
the introduction Of this measure, until the ques-
ton of the Territorial Government of New
Mexico and California had been settled. The
importance of having slavery restricted from
those Territories, perhaps may be considered
paramount to the abolition of slavery in'the Dis
trict, for we apprehend that law passed abo-
ishng slavery in the District, would liberate but
very few slaves. The largest proportion of them
would be sold into slave states to avoid the one
ration of the law.
The introduction Of this subject, at this time,
may perhaps jeopardise, if not prevent, the Or
ganization of New Mexico and California into
Territorial Governments.
A calamity which would be deprecated by ey-
cry well, wisher to good order and good Govern.
ment. If the accounts from California are to be
relied upon, AMI especially those which come
from the mining districts, there is not a people
on the green earth which needs more system
OF good wholesome laws to protect them in their
llves-their property and their rights. One may
easily imagine what the state of society must be
where there is no law but the law of force If
through the mad mistaken policy of the South
with the aid of a few detestabe traitors at the
North, these Territories are deprived of gov
crnment until slavery can be clandestiney intro
duced there, or till the people will submit to its
introduction for the sake of having a govern
ment and being placed under the protection of
law, tnan there is but one alternative, and that is
for the people themselves to organise govern
ment of their own as the people of Oregon did
But we fear worse result than this may hap
pen. The whole South may unite with the aid
they may obtain at the North, and prevent any
action on these important questions until Gen.
Taylor arrives at the Capitol with his CURRENT
Com to transact the business of the nation for
, the next four years. Then we shall see enac-
} ted the same scenes that were enacted four wears
ago with regard to Texas. All that will be
wanting will be to find the price of northern men
! enough to carry out the policy of the South.
Senators Bright and Douglass, who, we under
stand, are no,0 shareholders, will not need any
influence to induce them to vote and act correct.
ly, if one may judge of men by their acts.
Men who hold large plantations stocked with
, human cattle, are the last men in the world we
would trust with our interests, or the interests
of the free states. No matter where they live,
whether north or south Of Mason and Dlxon's
line. The Douglass bill, proposing To admit all
that vast Territory acquired of Mexico as one
State, except what Texas claims the right of ex-
tending her accused slave laws over, is enough
to satisfy every Northern man, we should think.
General Taylor will act upon the same plan he
did when Sata Anna was approaching him with
$4,000 troops. The array of such splendid.
superior force led one of his offices to inquire of
the General whether they had not better retreat |?
His lacOnic reply was ",ceU look them Orer first
We fear the result, when the members from the
free states are look'd over" "Men have their
Price," one writer observes. Foreign missions
and forty thousand other appointments consti-
tuting executive patronage will be, as it has been,
used again. We hope we are mistaken in our
calculations for the sake of humanity and the
love we have for our country. We hope we
are mistaken. We shall sec!