Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-01

slavery, as ii northern gentlemen were a8-
gressiVe upon that subject Aggressive !!
How, when, and where aggressive? Why,
the course of northen Representatives and
northern Senator's say it TO our shame,
and | take my portion of it-has been so
pusllanimous, SO cowardly, so craven, and
so submissive upon the subject, that the
very wonderland children reproach US for
it. Yes, sir; and received a letter from
a female friend to-day, inquirng how it
was that northern spirit had SO oozed out
that we had become utterly silent? Why,
slavery has so ruled this government, from
the adoption Of the constitution to this time,
that we have at length reached such a con-
dltlon that if we now attempt to exercise
the poor right of the beggar and cry for
some slight relief, we are denounced as in
soIent Yes, sir, if we look up to our mas
tiers and cry, God bless us, we are called
insolent. Now, | protest, once and for
ever, against the justice Of any such re-
marks as those We have been and are
now too submissive. We have bowed our
faces to the earth, with our backs to the
lash, and yet we are reproached as being
insoent. We have been submissive long
enough, heaven and earth knows, and | am
at loss to know why it is that we are to
be reviled for it, have no wish to inter-
lere with the rights Of our brethren Of the
South. | have no desire to be aggressive
| only wish to be let alone. Nay, | am
willing, so far as | speak tie sentiments of
those who sent me here, to be made re-.
sponsibe for the sustentation Of human
slavery, SO far as our constitutional obIiga-
lion reaches. | am willing to 90 to the
full limit and letter Of the bond and if
you find that the pound of flesh is written
down, take it; if you find human blood
written there, take it but when we ask -,
in the name humanity, that we shall not go
beyond the line of our constitutional obli-
cation, do ask that we may not be called
aggressive.
Mr. Douglas. | do not intend to enter
into discussion of the question now I'M
der consideration. 1t is only the last few
remarks Of the Senator from New Hamp-
shire that have brought ME to my feet As
a northern man, | am not willing to have it
asserted here, without being denied prompt
ly and unequivocally, that the North has
been degraded by the South. am willing
to have the libel pronounced on this floor
and be silent. Northern men have always
maintained their rights, and they are the
last people to yield TO an infraction of those
rights. Northern men have shown their
willingness to meet any issue, at all times,
in the halls of legislation, whenever an is
sue has been presented and, sir, if there
.hGs been any submission on the part Of the
former times-any humble sub
Fmission--it was an humble submission to
the principles of the constitution, and not
to any dictation from the South. | have
only regretted, i'll these latter days, that
this humble submission to the principles OF
the constitution, on the part of some Of my
northern friends, had not been continued.
|, sir, have voted TO keep abolition petit
lions out of these halls. have voted to
keep down the spirit Of fanatIcism that was
agitating and exciting the country to no
good, which could have no other effect than
to array the North against the South, and
the South against the North, to weaken the
bond of union between the different por.
tons of the country, and to build up mer
and factions who are willing to destroy the
safeguards Of the constitution and of the
union. And, sir, is this submission to the
spirit of the principles of the constitution
to be denounced as submission to south
ern faction No, sir, wish to execute
the powers Of this government in that spir
it of harmony and Cancellation which
brought the constitution into existence
If, sir, the South had come forward, as thu
North has done, taunting and adding in
suit to insult every time one of their mum
Der rose upon this floor, do you think tina
we ever would have had constitution 2
And shall we be the degenerate sons G
those patriotic sires who formed the con
stitution? If the constitution was goo
when it came from their hands, how sha
it be said that we who live under it an
obey its provisions are degenerate for gu
fidelity to it? Sir, | undertake to say thu
there would be no cause for complaint o
this question of slavery, if each man woul
mind his own business, and not introduc
, the subject of slavery into these halls. n
Hampshire would not know how the poo
, negro suffers if it were not told to them |
those who never saw it, who know nothiu
of what they are talking about And Il
South would not know how badly they al
treated by the North if it we're not broug
i home to them for such kind purpose as
influence votes in popular election.
+ wish TO Danish this whole agitation fro
: these halls. Let US rival each other in o.
i. devotion to the constitution, in spirit
n harmony, of Cancellation, binding the d
y lerent sections together more firmly, rath
II than in abuse and attacks upon diAere
IL portions of the union, merely to excite a
IL cry feelings and discomfort. Sir, if ,
/ wish TO settle this question of slavery,
l. us Danish the agitation from these halls
$. Let US remove the cause which produce
Or let us settle it in the territory we have ;
'e qulred, in manner to satisfy the hon
Of and respect the FEELINGS Of every portion