Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-12-27
The Bull and the Ok.

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marks are from the New York Tribune, pa
per which can speak sense, perhaps, without
being supposed by agitating wings to be acting
under administration or slver-grey influence
GAS a general proposition, we esteem it un-
sound and perilous 10 assume or argue popu-
lary that legislative act is unconstitutional,
with the intent to deprive it Of the obedience
and spect to which every valid law is entitled,
unless you are preparing TO contest the point
before the proper tribunal, intending TO abide
its decision"
On the 18th inst. the same paper speaks of
the law passed BY our own Legislature, rea-
ting to Ilabcus Corpus and Trial by Jury, as
! follows:
1" The Legislature of our hitherto much-re
speCted State passed an act, at its last session,
intended by the mover to over-rule the law VI
Congress respecting fugitives from labor
We lave lefrained from all aluson to this
most unfortunate enactment, from mere cha
grin and shame. 1t was whirled through the
two Houses on the last day Of the session, in
the tempest of Legislation which was concen-
trated into the closing hours-passing the sew
eral lornaties of law-making without notice
or remark. 1t is not strictly true to say that ii
was al considered" for, in strctest truth, it
was not considered at all.
For the substance and scope of the law, no
defense or excuse can be made 1t attempts
to repeal certain portions OF the late law OF
Con, ress IN rms; and instrucs certain State
Officers and Magistrates to treat that law as
to such portions Of it, with utter dlsreEard.-
This is not the treatment which the dignity or
or sef-respect of Vermont should lead her to
beslow upon the legislation of Congress. II
laws Of Congress are unwse, or even uncon.
| I ic NAT Gnr Nprmput or other
State to nullify or repeal them. We have pla-
ced ourselves by this act, in position in which
we have no defence against the judgment OF the
whole country. We were thrice armed
when we had our quarrel Just Why did we
throw away our strength The influence of
Vermont VAS by no means iuconside able upon
This very subj CT Of slavery. As constitution
al opponent of that evil institution, she was
strnng-as petish nullifer of the constitution
and the laws, she will become weak and con-
,empibe indeed. In every view, the passage
of this act is deplorabl,
> The severity of condemnation which this
mjs-s,ep has drawn upon our State from quar-
lers wber, wise man would be proudest OF
approval is most painful to us. We had in
dulged the hope, IA somewhat fond one we
: confess that the act would sink at once into
it's appropriate oblivion. We encouraged thai
hope was vain"
In the latter case, it was your OK that gored
: my bull, and that makes all the difference IN
the world Our friends Of the Union Wing are
quite delighted to find the New York TriJuh
recommending prospect and obedience" to the
Law which gives to Southern Shareholders thu
y, power to 'grab" anybody they may please t.
'claim" as Fugitive Slave" but they lool
= "with chagrin and shame" upon Vernon
Law whose only intent is to protect the RICH
d Of her "inhabitan,s' to personal freedom!
" -But what does the Wing mean by speak
" ing of "our hitherto much respected State ~
We claim that the glorious old State of Yer
V mont has done nothing, thus far, that shout
= not INCREASE the "respect" of any of her CHI il
y! dren for her good name. Her llabeas Corpu
- and Trial by Jury Law, of the last Session,
" just, proper, constitutional, humane, admire
- bic law. |, does not 'atlempt to repeal eithe
- 'u, terms" or any other way, "certain portion
Of the late law of Congress" And we den
- that it was passed without onsderation.
~ was passed calmly, deliberately. IL first pas
y ed the House in due form and was referre
80 IN The Senate, to the Judiciary Committee
We that body, who reported favoraby upon it.
lie is not for the Wig, or any body else, to asse
IL that this report was made with "no considers
re ton at all" 1t was made on due consider
SIS ton, and unanimously concurred in by the Sc
ut ate, az it ought to have been.
:" Vermont seeks neither TO "nuify" n
Nv repeal any claw of Congress-" and if S
u" ever becomes weak and contemplate indeed
VI it will be when she deserts the Cause OF Ere
dom, and fails to guaranty to her "inhabitant
the right of llabeas Corpus aud Trial by it
., When the Supreme Court Of the United Sta
III; decides that she has unc0nStitutionally guara
ted tied tho-e rights, in any given instance,
rise will submit-n the mean time, she will sta
MA by them.
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