The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-07-23
Addison County Convention.

{ Addison County Convention. NJ
The Free Democracy of Addison County
assembled in County Convention, pursuant \
10 appointment, a, the Court House in Mid \
llebury, on Thursday, July 4th, 1850.
The Convention was called to order by |
B. +. Haskell, Esq, Chairman of the Coun>
~ Committee
Rev. Cyrus Prinde was appointed Presi-
dent, pro tenn, and Al. Boynton, Secretary |
b. f. Haskell, c. w, Wicker, II l.. Full |
Ter, and Lyman p White, were appointed |
committee to nominate officers for the Con
vention.
The above Committee appointed the fol
lowing:
For President: Col. Abraham Foot
Vice Presidents: Dca. Asahel Bingham.
Edwin Hammond, Esq, ARA Tracy, Milo
Stow.
Secretaries: S. J. Boyntou, j. Croker.
A committee Of one from each town rep
resented, was appointed for the purpose of
nominating suitable persons to be recon-
mehded as candidates for the several County
lowing gentlemen composed the above com
mittec ARA Tracy, Charles Gilbert, A.
Foot, Moses Sargent, Charles Blood, L. ID.
L
liver Russell, J. Morrel Charles Bacon,
John Britiell, Lyman p. White
On motion, +. d. Barber, G. Prinde b.
were appointed a committee to report reso-
lutions Tor the consideration of the Conven-
ton.
Mr.. Barber, from the committee on reso-
lutions, reported the following which were
rno1 and np,u;,rnusl,. oIo,,oJ.
This Convention do adopt the following
as the sentiments Of the party which they
represent:
!. That the government of the United
States is founded upon the principles set forth
in the Declaration Of independence, and
was instituted TO sustain and perpetuate those
principles by the promp. and just exercise
Of all the powers conferred upon it, and that
by consequences its great mission and first
and highest aim, must be the security of the
rights of man and the establishment, main
flamenco and peipetuatlon OF freedom and
free institutions among men.
g That, notwithstanding slavery existed
in several Of the States, at the formation of
the Constitution yet the object, and purpose
of the government were not to foster the
growth of slavery and protect it rs nation
ize, discourage and fiualy to eradicate IL
and that, consequently, when it seeks, by
the exercise of its powers or by neglecting
to exercise them, TO countenanc0 or aid the
extension of slavery or prolong its existence
under its jurisdiction, it proves recrcant to
the principles upon which it is founded and
to the purposes for which it was established.
g. That the founders Of the government
gave this scope and Interpretation to its OBJ
iects and duties and studiously employed all
its powers to crcumscrbe the bounds Of sla-
very, to diminish its growth and TO secure lis
extinction.
4. That the ordinance of 1887, which
was originated by the author of the Declar-
alton of independence and sanctioned by
the trainers of the constitution, which pro-
hibited the existence of Slavery in the North
west Territory, which was then slave soil
and in which slavery actually existed, was
not only legitimate exercise of the power
of Congress but was in strict unison with
the spirit and principles OF the government
as an anti-slavery government.
5. That the power OF Congress under
the constitution, to prohibit slavery in the
Territories, having been exercised from the
foundation of the government, and having
4
George Washington to James X. Polk, it is
the bounden duty of Congress to continue
to exercise that power, and to do it immedi-
ately on every portion of the public domain,
where slavery has not already been prohib
tied by Congress or the people,
6. That any compromise made by Con-
gress by which Territory now free, is given
up to slavery, or left open to its introduce
ton, is violation of the principles on which
the government is founded and departure
from the ancient policy OF the nation
T. That ho more States with slavehold-
ing constitutions ought to be admitted into
the Union.
8. That no " plan for the adjustment OF
tie questions respecting slavery is just or
worthy of support that does not provide a
eainst its extension to an inch o. Territory
where it does not exist, beyond peradven-
ture and that the abandonment of the poll
CIV of governments for the Territories with
the Proviso," for either the Compromise Bill
of Mr.. Clay or the non-interveniion and
non-action policy of Generals Cas- and Tay-
lor, has prevented the settlement before now,
of this great question on the basis of free
dom and has opened the door for distracted
and divided councils in the North and new
and exorbitant demands on the par: of the
south.
o. That California ought TO be immedi
atey admitted into the Union without her
admission being coupled with any other
measure. This is due 10 the people of Cali
forn,a-to the State of Caliiorna-io the
demands of jusice-to the suggestions of
sound polcy-to the honor Of the govern
menl-to the triumph of freedom and flee
institutions on the shores Of the Pacific.
10 That we hail with JOY The intelligence
that New Mexico is taking her stand side by
side, with California against Slavery; and
that while we open our arms to welcome her
into the Union, we can not but be fearful
that the policy which has refused her Ter
ritorial government with the Proyiso, account
ing to her wishes, and has driven her TO the
formation of a State government TO protect
herself from Texas and slavery, has only
complicated the difficulties in which the ma
ton is involved and DELAYED the full and fl
nal establishment of freedom in all the Ter
ritories of the government.
IL. That, while we hold that Congress
has no power under The Constitution 10 in
terfere with slavery in the several States we
maintain that Congress has full constitution
al power to prohibit its introduction and ex-
istence in the Territories of the nation to
abolish it and its Internal concomitant, the
slave trade, in the District of Columbia, and
ouahl Immediately TO exercise its power in
the premises, and that we utter y repudiate
all compromises, and all non-interveniion
and non action in relation to these vital ques-
tions.
12. That while we occupy the grounds
above sci forth upon those topics which are