Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-11-15

electing STAKEHOLDER to the Presidency, whose
the car of despotism, must lead to this result
And IN order to shield the Administration from
approbrium and disgrace, the Republic, that 9TH
or organ, declares that " the wings every where
acquiesce in the lcithdrGpaL of the slave ques-
ton from the arena ofpoli'ics."
But let us examine the ground now taken by
the wings, to dispose Of the slave question in this
summary manner. We take the ground that
Congress is under 10 necessity ofadmtting new
States-and however much we may desire that
the people of California should have the bless
ings of good government, to protect them in
their lives and property, yet we would rather
they should be left out of this Union, than see
them admitted in Il manner that would open a
market for, and seal the doom ofunborn millions,
that must drag out life Of misery in the mines
Of California, goaded by the chains of slave
ny.
The Constitution simply declares that new
States may DO admitted into this Union" lfit
is optional with Congress to admit new Suites
or not, we know of no reason why Congress may
not impose Conditions on which new States
may be admitted And if such conditions are
accepted on the part Of new States, we know of
no reason why they do not become the funda.
mental law of such State. But Congress has al.
ready left US precedent upon this point, in the
adoption of Missouri into the Union; and we
have never yet learned that the charge has been
made, that Congress exceeded her constitution
al power in that case. Neither have we heard
that Missouri has ever abrogated or annulled
those conditions upon which she was received
into the Union. Our readers will recollect that
in 1890, an act was passed BY Congress, author
izing Missouri to form State Constitution and
Government, preparatory to admission INTO the
Unon and that it was then proposed to insert
clause, imposing it as condition of admission
that the future removal Or transportation ofslaves
into that territory should be prohibited. After a
long and able debate, this amendment was a.
dopted in the House by majority ofeight votes,
and on the next day was rejected by majority
Of four Subsequently Mr.. Clay proposed
and procured the adoption of a resol ution, Of
section of compromise, in the act authorizing
Missouri to form a constitution by which slave
ny was to be forever prohi bited in that part Of
territory west of the Mississippi, excepting the
State of Missouri, lying north of thirty six de.
grees thirty minutes, north latitude.
In the next session of the 10th Congress, the
most important question agitated was the admis-
sion of Missouri as State, into the Union. This
question occupied the House, and was debated
for week, by the ablesl men on the floor Of
Congress, on both sides, when il was decided
by majority of, fourteen, that Missouri could moi
be admitted into the Union with the constitu.
ton which she presented. Those who voted a
ganst admission, did so on the ground, that the
! constitution of the State permitted slavery, ant
that there we're other Objectionable features il
that particularly in relation to free
persons of color. On this question the Nortl
and South divided. On this question there wa'
no National Democratic panty, with their fine
! spun theories on B nks, Tariffs and Subtrasu
ries; these questions were settled, and in tina
strife no one was disposed to revive them. o.
the Goth Of Feb. 1921, after the South had use
every means to cause the House to declare tina
Missouri was State Of this Union, and had fail
ed, Mr.. Clay, from joint committee of bot
. Houses, appointed on the Missouri question, re
ported resolution for the admission of that Stat
! into the Union, on condition that Missouri, b
her legislature, should assent to condition tn,
part of her constitution should never be s
), construed as to authorize her legislature to pa.
i law, by which any citizen of either of the
nlted States should be excluded from the enjoy
!. ment OF any of the privileges and immunities
which such citizen is entitled, under the Const
tuition of the United States" Thus, this excl
!. ing question was settled by the passage of NJ
Clays resolutions, fixing two conditions of al
mission upon that State, by vote of 81 to 81
!, Those conditions were concurred in by the Sci
N ate, and approved by the President Thereb
=, establishing precedent for all time to come,
IA ven for the second Wdshington" Those col
NJ ditions have remained as the fundamental law
70 Missouri, Here we have the acton and opil
K ions of Henry Clay, by the side ofwhom Fac
ot airy Taylor dwndes into insignlfcance a
~ statesman.
n. We have given this subject more important
Iy tian 1t deserves perhaps, but we think the dev
of opemenls made by the organ Of the administr
lie lon calls loudly for action by the friends of fire.
I'd uom' Senators and Representatives from ii
n Tree otntes should be instructed to vote araIr
g inc admission of California, or New Mexico.
d De'eret' or any other new State whose constit
/ ''oh does not prohibit the introduction of slav
ID ry' VII! the Representatives from tbo f.
: states DC true to freedom? Will the VIII
rs Representatives from the North meet the ALI
at OF the South on this non-interventjon ground
N Snall The foul plague spot of slavery be perm
II. TED to curse the whole of our vast terr;,or;
Of through the passive Indifference of nortbe
# men for the sake of party
Id we shall see whether men protesting to b
d. long to the true anti slavery party will quail b
= lore the indignant frowns of the present exec
e. tive ! f!
ct
st 1--WE say again, let no town neglect
in send delegate to the Convention to alter d
Constitution. We are inclined to the opino