Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-28


The Convention then adjourned, sine die.
PAUL DILLIGHAM, President.
!. 5, D ss1{%' 1a. Secretaries.
~ The extracts from Mr. Benton's
speech, which we give below, show to some
extent the progress Of the principles of Free
Democracy even in slave States. When
we consider the circumstances which sur
round Mr. Benton, instructed by his own
Legislaturc,--a slaveholder,-the opinion
OF the South against him,-we can Tut APP
plaud the high and noble course which he
has taken. But we must disagree with him
in the sentiment that there is no necessity
for the passage Of an act prohibiting the
introduction of slaves into territory now
free, Mr.. Benton says:
"The Wlmot Proyiso." Well! think
it is the Jeff:Yonan ProViso-the same that
Mr.. Jefferson drew up Tor the Northwest
ern Territory in l784-which was adopted
in the Congress of the Confederation, in
1887, with the unanimous voice of the
sIaveholding States-was ratified by the
Virginia General Assembly the 3Oth Dec.
l776-which was applied by the Congress
of ls48 to the Oregon Territory-which
was recommended for the new territories by
the Missouri General Assembly, Feb. 18th
lS47-and never attempted 10 be condemn
ed until Friday, "a day Of omen the 10Th
l847, just four days after the date of the
Missouri recommendations, when Mr.. Cal
houn brought in his resolutions declaring
it unconstitutional, insulting to the States,
and subverslye of the Union. | think Mr..
Jefferson and not Davy Wilmot, was the
author Of this Proviso, and that it should
bear his name and not Dayy's. With res
pect to the character of the Proviso, if il
should be described by Congress for any
new terrltdG think it will remain jus
what it has een FOR sixty years - constitu
tional PROV ION, made in pursuance to tn,
Constitution; and that so made, it is bind
ing upon alllw abiding citizens, and tina
its reslstence ~ force and arms, militarly
would be higI treason against the Unitet
States, and punishable by death under tn,
laws of the land. With respect to the ex
pedlency of tie act, there is no necessit
for it, and thae are prudential reasons VIII
it should moi be passed. California an,
New Mexico are now free from Slavery
both by lawlnd i'll fact, and will foreye
remain free lUm it, both by law and in fact
As genera proposition, unnecessary law
ought not tooe passed; but if it is an emp
ty provision, having no practical effcc
whatever. 10 make an issue against BE-
tween North and South is unwise, for it i
an issue about nothing; and on the part Q
the South an issue made for defeat, for Del
aware has instructed for it, and that insure
majority in the Senate for the Prsvso
: there being already large majority in tn
House of Representatives instructed for it
But there is stronger reason to CLAIM
forbearance This Proviso is the last car,
in Calhouns hand-his last stake in tn
slippery game, which he has been playing
: Take that last card from him and his gam
lSup; bankruptcy comes upon him-polIt
cal bankruptcy-and he must be driven t
. the act. lie will have to haul down hi
sign-close his doors, shut up shop-giv
IN schedule of of his effects and stock il
trade, and beautiful schedule it will be-
Let US see some items of ia few, by wa
: of sample
n Lmprlmis. United States Bank Charter
l8l6-oppostion to it when he joined Jackso
/ lo30-recharter for twelve years TO the BAN
& when he turned against Jackson, 1924.
e Item. Protective Tariff and cotton minimum
in l6l6, and notification and disunlon for tt
same in 1880.
Item. General internal improvement by Il
|. Federal Government in 1923, denial ofthe who
?, power afterwards, and admission OF half the pow
= er9t the Memphis Convention.
, Item. Solemn written opinion, in Mr.. Monroe
Cabinet, in favor of the power of Congress
abolish slavery in the territories, and in favor
the exercise Of that power over the whole
Upper Louisiana north and west Of Missouri
together with the resolutions Of the Senate
the United States in I647, denying that pow
IN toto. .Nota Bene; the written opinion IS 10
!. or mslaid, but its existence can be proved; ar
that Is good both in law and equity.
Hem Opinion in Mr.. Monroe's Cabinetin l6l
In lavor of giving away Texas, when we pc
sessed her; and the London abolition plot, il
vented afterwards to get up slavery agltatlo
for political purposes in getting her back.
Aem All the abolition plots invented for Il
years, and charged upon Lord Aberdeen Il
l, worlds Convention, incendlary petitions al
f incendlary communications through the mail.
Fem. The Diplomatic correspondence with fc
k, elgn governments on the subject Of slave
B. %hlle Secretary of State, under Tor over Mr. I
Ter, and especially the autograph letter OF for
ioTiscap pages, 10 the King OF The French,
y. l'Idoctrnate him in the new and sublime scien
A. OF negro-Oloy.
item. Speeches and resolutions against
q conduct OF Great Britain in protecting slay
!" guilty OF piracy and murder on board Of Amt
lcan ships, going from one port of the Unit
p states to another, and demands for redress; a
, subsequent contradiction of all such speech
y ana resolutions at the Ashburton treaty.
. Henl. New mode Of amending tho CONSTITUTE
y OF the United States on the subject of inter
, improvements by making inland seas out Of
l. river and three states-- invented at the Memp
Convention.
T. Nem' Opposition to the highway of nations
tween st. Louis and San Francisco, becal
s. part Of it will have to 60 through free soil
besides when the Union is dissolved, the rC
3 Will be on the wrong side of the line.
Hem. The bones Of three thousand folio
j. le's StreWed Wong my political path since