Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-15

iority of the Convention.
The address Of iSontacra Delegates in Con-
,gress to their Constituents.
We, whose names are hereunto annexed
address you in discharge of what we believe
to he solemn duty, on the most important
subject ever presented for your considera-
ton. We allude to the conflict between
the two great sections of the Union, grow
ing out Of a difference of feeling and opin-
ion in reference to the relation existing be-
tween the two races, the European and AZ
rican which inhabt the Southern section,
and the acts of aggression aud encroach-
ment to which it has led.
The conflict commenced rot long after
the acknowledgment of our independence,
and has gradually increased until it has ar
rayed the great body of the North against
the South on this most vital subject. In
the progress of this conflict, aggression has
followed aggression, and encroachment en-
croachment, until they have reached point
when a regard for your peace and safety
Will not permit MS to remain longer silent.
The object of this address is to give you
clear, correct, but brief account of the
whole series of argressiOns and encrOach-
ments on your rights, with a statement of
the dlngers to which they expose you. Our
OBJECT in making it is not 10 cause excite
ment, but to put you i'll full possession of all
the facts and circumstances necessary to a
full aud just conception Of deep seated
disease, which threatens great danger to
you and the whole body polite. We act on
the impression, that in popular govern
ment like ours, true conception of the ac-
tual character and state of disease is indis-
pensable to eleciing cure.
We have made it a Joint address, be-
cause we believe that the magnitude of the
subject required that it should assume the
most impressive aud solemn form.
Not to 90 further back, the difference of
opinion and feeling in reference to the re-
lation between the two races, disclosed it.
self in the convention that framed the con-
stltntion, and constituted one Of the great
est difficulties in forming it. After many
efforts, it was overcome by compromise,
which provided, in the first place, that rep
resentatves and direct taxes shall be appor-
toned amoug the States according to their
respective numbers; and that in ascertain
ing the number of each, five slaves shall be
estimated as three. In The next, that slaves
escaping into States where slavery does not
exist, shall not be discharged from servitude
but shall be delivered up on claim of the
party to whom their labor or service is due.
In the third place, that Congress shall not
prohi bit the importation of slaves before the
year 1903; but "a tax not exceeding ten dol
lars may be imposed on each imported
And finally, that no capitation or direct tax
shall be laid, but in proportion to federal
numbers; and that no amendment of the
constitution, prior to 1903, shall affect this
provision, nor that relating to the importa-
ton of slaves.
So satisfactory were these provisions, that
the second, relative to the delivering up OF
fugitive slaves, was adopted unanimously
and all the rest, except the third, relative to
the importation of slaves until 1903, with
almost equal unanlmlty They recognize
the existence of slavery, and make a speci-
fc provision for its protection where it was
supposed to he the most exposed, They &C
further, and incorporate it, rs an important
element in determining the relative weight
of the several States in the government o
the Union, and the respective burden the,
should bear in laying captation and direct
that, without them the constitution woulC
not have been adopted by the Southern
States, and of course, that they constituted
elements so essential To the system that i
never would have existed without them.-
The Northern States knowing all this rati
fed the constitution, thereby pledgng thel
faith, IN the most solemn manner sacredll
to observe them. How that faith has beef
kept, and that pledge redeemed, we sha
next proceed to show.
With few exceptions of no great import
ance, the South had no cause to compai
prior to the year lSl9-a year, it is to
feared, destined to mark "A tram of events
bringing with them many, and great, an
fatal disasters on the country and its institu
tons. with 1t commenced the agltatn
debate on the question Of the admission {
Missouri into the Union. We shall pass
Tor the present this question, aud others
the same kind, directly growing out of i
and shall proceed to consider the effects {
that spirit of dlscord, which it reused II
between the two sections. 1t first disclose
itself in the North, by hostility to that po
ton of the constitution which provides f
the delivering up of fugitive slaves. In i
progress it led to the adoption of hostile ac
Intended to render it of non-eflect, and wit
so much success, that it may be regarde
now as practically expunged from the col
slitutIon. How this has been effected vi
be next explained
After a careful examination truth cor
Pels us to say, that it has been by ce
and palpable evasion of the constitution.
1t is impossible for any provision to be MOI
free from ambiguity or doubt. 1t is in II
following words: "No person held to Sc
vice or labor, in one State, under the Law
thereof, escaping into an other State, sha
in consequence Of any law or regulate
therein, be discharged from such service
labor, but shall be delivered up Oh claim
the party to whom such service or lab,
may be due" All is clear, There is n
an uncertain or equivocal word to be four
in the whole provision. What shall not
done, and what shall be done, are fully al