Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-01

hich desire to call the attention of the
Senate and the country, as it contains an
unlimited condemnation Of slavery. II Is
in the words following:
"If it were possible for men to exercise their
reason 10 believe that the Divine Author Of our
existence intended part Of the humsn race 10
mold an absolute properly ia, and an unbounded
power over others. marked out by His infinite
goodness and wisdom a. the objects Of legal
dominion, never rightfully resistible, however
sc sere end oppressive, the Inhabitants Of these
colonies might a. least r. quire from the Psrlia-
ment Of Great Britain some evidence that this
dreadful authority over them had been granted
to that body"
Here sir is declaration, in terms clear
and unequivocal, by the Continental Con-
gress. representing all the States, against
the right, moral or political, Of one portion
of the human race 10 hold absolute proper
~ in another.
But, Mr.. President, the patriotic men,
bers of the Continental Congress did not
content themselves with declarations alone
against slavery. They did more. They
prohibited the importation Of slaves into
any part Of the Confederacy in April, l776.
The same Congress on the 4th Of July,
l716, published to the world that great dec
Iaration Of universal freedom which forever
separated the Colonies from the British
Crown. And, sir, among the causes which
impeIIed the separation, find written down
by Mr.. Jefferson the following:
He 1.-THE King of Great Bri.ainl has waged
cruel war against human nature itself; violating
ats most sacred rights Of HE aud liberty in the
persons OF distant people who never offended
lin; captivating aud Carrying them into slavery
IN another ht mispherr. or TO incur miserable
death in their transportation hitler. This pirat-
ical warfare, the opprobism If infidel Powers, is
the warfare OF the Christian kirg Of Great Brit
ain. Determined 10 keep open a market where
men should be bought aud sold, he has prosttu-
ted his negative for suppfessIng every legisls-
tive attempt 10 prohibit or restrain this execfab.e
coiiii.crNe."
Yes, sir, the keeping open market in
the Colonies where men, women, a6d child
rem were sold like sheep in the shambles to
the highest bidder, was regarded by the i'm
mortal author of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence as worthy of place among the
causes which impelled our iorefathers SOL
EMMY TO publish and declare THAT these
United Colonies are, and Of right ought to
be. free and independcnt States ; that they
are absolved FROM all allegiance to the Brit
ish Crown, and that al! political cohnexion
between them and the State of Great Brit
ain is, aud ought to be, totally dissolved"
Now, sir, TO digress for moment, ask, in
all candor, is it not disgrace--a shame
burning shame, that in this city-in sight
of this Capitol, market is now kept open
where men, women. and children are made
merchandise, and daily bought and sold =
Is it not time, high time, that Congress
should put an end 10 this accursed traffic in
human feshi 1t is an execrabIe COM
merce,1 aud the ingenuity Of man can urge
nothing in justification or excavation of II.
No, sir, ,s..
"Not ell that heialds rake from coffned clay,
Nor aO,id pross, no, bone,ed lies Of rhyme,
Can blason evil deeds, consecrate a crime"
pass, MIR. President, TO the proceedings
of the Congress of 1884, (lhe first after the
peace Of 1888, touching the subject of
slavery. On the 18th of April, 1884. a
committee, Of which Mr. Jefferson was
chairman, reported a plan for the Temporal
~ government of The Western Territory.
The plain reported contained clause for
prohibiting slavery III the Territory after
the year 1900. The clause, however, for
reasons shall hereafter assign, was strick-
en- out, and the plan adopted without it,
The clause was again offered on the 10th
Of March, 1875, aud again rejected.
On the 18th of July, 1850, a committee,
to whom was referred the report of COM
miitee touching the temporary government
Of the Western Territory, reported an ordi-
nance for the government Of the Territory
of the United States northwest of the river
Ohio. The 9th article of the ordinance
reported prohibited slavery in the territory,
and provided for the restoration of fugitive
slaves claimed by any one of the original
States. On the 18th Of July the ordinance
was read third time, and passed by a unan-
imous vote. Thus, sir, was slavery forever
excluded from all the territory belonging 10
the United States, by the consent and vote
Of every state represented in the Congress
of 1877.
As shall have occasion, in another part
# my remarks, to refer again to this ordi-
nance, l will leave it Cor the present, and
pass to the Federal Convention Of 1857.
The members of that Convention. II
had no idea Of framing govern
ment under which slavery could be EXTEND
ed and perpetuated. No, sir; far from il.
They expected the gradual diminution and
not remote extinction Of slavery, and de-
,igRed to prevent its extension. This, sir,
is apparent TO my mind, not only from the
debates in the Convention, and of the Con-
,titution ITSELF but from the we'll known
opinion Of many Of the leading members Of
he body upon this subject, and the con-
'truction they put upon the instrument in
he State Conventions called for its ratifica-
ion. The debates in the Convention show
hat Congress would have been left at liber-
y forthwith to have prohibited the slave
rade, both foreign aud domestic, had it not
,eeu for the opposition Of Georgia and
South Carolina They insisted upon the
continuance Of the trade for twenty years.
md refused to come into the Union upon a.
~ other condition. Mr. Madison, 4 MEM
yer Of the Federal Convention, must be re-
,arded, suppose, as good authority on
his subject. He said, in speech in the