Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-06-15
chameleon Democracy"

" Is Elhuc VI. Aictt ~
aResolyed, That liberty Is a right inherent,
and inaenable in man, and that herein all men
are equal.
Resolved, Tha, 10 secure the blessings Of lib |
crty was one great object for which the Constr |
tuition Of the United States was ordained.
Resolved, That as liberty is the clesres, right
and deares, interest Of the individual, and is Sc
curiiy the highest duty Of the body polite, we
declare, rs the first point and article in this or
ganizaiion, that American Slavery il great evil
and wrong, which ought to be repented Of and
abandoned"
The discoveries Of Newton, and Herschel, Of
Columbus, Watt, Franklin and Morse wero
nothing to this 1t was lcit for the united Wis
dom Of the Free Soil Loeofocoism Of Vermont
10 make the timetable" discovery, first that the
Constitution Of the United States was "ordain-
ed" Gt omis 70 state whether il was to preach
the Gospel; secondly that tho object Of the
Constitution was 10 secure the blessings Of lber-
,y, switch" is RICH. inheren. and inalicnable
in man : third ,ha, slavery is grea, evil and
wrong"
We congratulate the Chameleon Democracy
that they have made such an important discoy-
cry. We shall take courage for the safety Of
the Republic, now that the Democratic party
eomprchends its character and object.
That party have been laboring to pro,ee, and
perpetuate "the great evil and wrong" Of Amer
lean Slavery. They have becn willing instru-
ments Of Shareholders, and have enabled them to
annex Texas as Slave State, with territory
enough for Eve others. We rejoice that even
at this late hour, their eyes are opened to see
the great outrage upon liberty which they have
prseticed, and hope they will hereafter be as in
dustrious and zeslous to repair tho wrong as
they were 10 inaie. il.
"Resolved, That we claim no authority In the
Federal Government to abolish slavery in the
several States, but we do clsim for il constitu-
tional power perpetually to prohibit the intro
duction OF Slavery into territory now free, and
abolish il wherever under the Jurisdiction Of
Congress il exis,s"
IL seems TO US, there is in this and the preccd-
ing resolutions an "ineifable Inconsistency -
If liberty Is RICH, inherent and inaliena,le "in
man." then !, follows tina, no man can BY any act
Of his own, cucumber, part triA or Jsier that lib
er,y, nor can II be rightfully done by any other
1900. 800 soysrgssns or eonstituiion- nv '-i---
This being true, the clause Of our constitution
recognising and protecting slavery in the State,
is nullity, Of no binding force or obligation.
No msn can be Invested Of a right which i,
;nh,rsn, and inal;cpoJle. I,eanpot he done nv
himself or bv any other person. Whatever
shaekles il is tyranny and oppression, and the
moral right and duty Of resistance Is never lost
Oar Free Soil friends therefore who have
u;,b rare nens,ra,;on discovered ,h,, ,io,.,rv !,
:, o,,o, ,rl and ,r,o,o. mus, mn, .,a;., ~. cor.
..;,,,or -hc.e ,h;ec. !. /, 90. .s.... H.. H..
inc, Of liberty" 10 beeome a ,bield Cor The c.n.s
Of slavery. and A prison-house for the ..;nbercn,
and inalienable rich, of liberty" in man
aRe.olv.d Tbs, mi. nox.r o,.h, ;mm.a;.,.
iy TO be exercised in prohibiting t6e n,roductioa
and existence Of Slavery in New Mexico and
caniornia; IN aeoll.hlng slavery and The Slave
snas a.. ~ n1 Dse, va ia on .ne n'gh
il can be reached.
Resolved, That no moro Slave States should
be admitted into the federal union.
nesoi.eo, !nas me government oueh. 70 re-
slize. or snroarra rh h.; 10 I;ro;, locs;, ,' AMI
discourage slavery
We regret to observe tina, the aCh.meeon
Democracy have repudia,ed the old anti-slave.
~ doctrine, that Congress can and ought To pro-
hibit slave commerce between the States. Tbi,
was a cardinal object with the abolitionis,s, and
why is il left out Of the platform of the aCbsme-
leon Democracy r. To be sure, the resolution
calls for the abolition of slavery wherever under
the constitution It scan De- reached" but hi. /,
eouiyocai. The old Hunler Democr.,. have
s,uriily maintained that ,he internal .l.,s traffic
could no, be reached under The constitution and
consequently the question remain. onon now
The Chameleon Democracy dsclsre ,h,, Tho
o.-.s..n, o,,ul. =. .sss Ia w
Do'e'nins"' ousa. o'e'u'" 70 us ancient pohcy
not to EXTEND naiionalzs or encourage slavery.
What pity il is, the Convention did not 20
into the inquiry, how the government came 10
depart from its sancient policy" and call upon
Messr, Dillingham;. Barber. Eastman and Via.
10 relate their experience. The admission Of
Texas, chained to perpetual slavery, was the
oreat departure Of the Government from Il. San.
Gent policy.s BY whom, and when. and how
was Il done, and BY whom was !, onposed p