Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-07-25

8
the subject of Slavery, is equally tree Of
other important matters. Our calamities
may still further be traced to an abandon
ment Of those ancient landmarks which the
Republican fathers fixed, and by which the
Wing party has ever been and still is ruled.
We will advert to single yet signal in-
stance of this truth.
At this moment the business Of the coun-
try is seriously depressed-its commerce is
and its debt TO foreign coun-
tries alarmingly augmenting daily, by vast
" increased importations Of foreign manu-
factures, and vast decrease in the export
alton Of American products,-legiiimate
and palpable consequences of abandoning
the good old fashioned Wing doctrine Of
Protection, and substituting the principles
Of British Free Trade.
There are errors Of omission also, for
which we are in no way responsible. The
currency is uselessly disturbed, and the Gov
eminent itself not unfrequentIy enbarrass-
ed, BY the operation Of the Sub-rreasnry
System; spoliations are daily committed on
the public domain; and the interests Of
commerce in the lakes, rivers and harbors Of
the country, are almost entirely neglected.
Nor is this neglect chargeabIe to the late
Executive and his Cabinet Most faithful
Iy have their duties been performed in the
Recommendation of moderate, discreet and
measures of Reform: Congress.
with an opposition majority in both branch
es. and committees carefully organized with
majorities opposed to the Administration.
has most industriously and successfully neg
Rcfed the recommendations of the Execu-
tive, and the great interests Of the country.
In such review of the state of public
affairs We see no ground to distrust the
principles or policy Of the Wings OF YER
mont-no GROUND to sacrifice or essentially
modify single article in the old. the cher
ished. the ever gIoriously sustained VER-
MONT VINO CREED.
ResoiUed therefore, That the Wings Of
Vermont, in Convention assembled, refer to
the Declaration Of Independence, to the
Federal Constitution, as understood and
expounded by its trainers, to the enuncia-
ton of the great principle Of human liberty
and the restriction Of domestic slavery pro-
mulgated by the ordinance of 81, and to
their own former resolutions in convention,
as the constant and uuchauging standards
of their political faith.
: ResoiUed, That Slavery is crime against
humanity, aud so,e evil in the body poll
tic, that was excused by the trainers Of the
Federal Constitution as crime entaied
upon The country by their predecessors, and
tolerated solely as thing of memorable
necessity.
Resolred, That the so called "Compro-
misses of the Constitution" restrained the
Federal Government from interference with
Slavery only in the States in which it then
existed, and from interference with the
Slave Trade only for limited time, which
has long since expired; and that the pow
ers, conferred upon Congress by the Consti-
tuition, to suppress the Slave trade, to reg
ulate commerce between the States, to gov
ern the Territories, and 20 admit new States,
powers conferred with an express inten-
ton to form more perfect union, estab-
lish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro
vide for the common defence, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessings OF
liberty to ourselves and our posteritv, p
may all rIghtfully be used so as to prevent
the extension of Slavery into territory now
free, and to abolish Slavery aud the Slave
Trade wherever either exists under the juris.
diction of Congress.
Resolred, That we are entirely g. uncom.
promIsingly opposed to the extension of sla.
very in any manner, whether by the annex.
alton To slavehoIding Texas ofterritory now
free, or by the admission to the Union Of
territory already acquired, or which may
hereafter be acquired. without an ex.
press prohibition Of slavery, either in the
Constitution Of each new State asking ad.
mission, or in the act Of Congress providing
for such admission.
| ResoiUed, That we hold it 10 be the right
and believe it to he the duty of Congress te
devise just and prudent measures for the ex
clusiou of Slavery from the District of Co
lumbia; for the entire suppression Of the
slave trade on the high seas, and wherever
else Congress has jurisdiction and, gener
ally, to relieve the Federal Government from
all responsibility for the existence, mainte
nance, or tolerance Of Slavery, or the traffic
in slaves.
Resoiced, That in the strong and expli
cit language Of Daniel Webster, our oPpo
sition ito the increase Of Slavery in thi,
country, or the increase Of Slave Represen
tation in Congress, is general and universal
It has no reference to the lines of latitud,
or points Of the compass" We shall cop
pose all such extension and all such increase
in all places, at all times, under all circum
stances, even against all inducements, a
gainst all combination, against all compro
MISE" ~
Resoiced. That in recognizing the obi
CATIONS imposed by the Constitution in ref
erence to fugitive slaves. we insist upon I
strict observance Of all the principles o.
that instrument applicable to the subject
and especially Of the right to the writ O
habeas corpus and trial by jury, whenever
and wherever the liberty Of a single hu
man being is called in question.
Resokred, That we still adhere to the an
cient whig doctrine of the SOVEREIGNTY OF
THE PEOPLE, and their independence both
Of foreign dominion and of executive dicta.
ton, and do accordingly approve the senti
ments of our late honored chief magistrate
in regard to the exercise ofthe Veto power
Resolved, That among the measures de.
r.