Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-04-18
For The Green Mountain Freeman.
THE PROVESO.
MEssRs. EDIToRs :

MESSRS. EDITORS:
Since the appearance in the Waterman, Of
Mr.. Webstcr's speech against the WIlm"t pro
vlso, and in favor of more slave States. I'm favor
of the Southern policy generality have wnited
with considerable anxiety for the appearance in
the columns of that paper, Of Mr.. Stewards
speech also, gulng the other side Of the ques
ton. Notwithstanding the editor of the Watch
man At first affected to dissent from the views Of
Mr.. Webster alleging that he hid committed a
great bundcr; it appears that he (the EDITOR is
more ready to give suplcty to Mr.. Webster's
views than to Mr.. Stewards. Mr.. Webster is
Wing, .Norther, vhig (of Southern principles)
and 1t was proper enough to publish his--and
Mr.. Seward is also a whig, aud why sh' Md not
the Watchman publish his speech also? But
probably he has the sume objection to Mr.. Sew
ND that he has and always had, to Mr.. Gid
/ dlngs. Perhaps Mr.. Seward is an ultra wing"
/ Mr.. Webster says the provso is Unnecessary
that the laws Of nature and of God Prohibits sla-
very in New Mexico and California, and that he
would not e-enact The laws of Gcd, &c. This,
in my opinion, is mere bubble TO get off 10
| avoid the provso. But let hear ~ hat Mr.
sss'~sfd says. Ifo spcahs c" the puiut. Ife
says:-
"The argument is that the proriso is unneces
sny. | answer, then. there can be no error in
insisting upon it. But why is it unnecessary !?
II Is sand. first, by reason of the climate. Ifthis
hnc bt, ri, III
States yield the Frovl>o? They deny that eli.
mate prevents the introduction Of slavery. Then
| Will leave nothing to contingency. But in
liuth think the argument is against the propo
Sltlon Is there any climate where slavery has
not existed 1t haa prevailed all over Europe
from sunny Italy to bleak England. and is exist
mg now, stronger than IN any other land in ice
bound Russia.
But It will be replied that this is not African
slavery. reIoln, that nnly makes the case the
stronger. If this vigorous Saxon race of ours
was reduced to slavery while it retained the
courage OF sem barbarsm, ~ its own high Nor.
thern latitude, what security does climate afford
against the transportation Of the more gentle,
uinrc dnclIc, and already enslaved and debased
African. to The genial climate Of New Mexico
ana California Sir, there is no climate uncoD
GENIAL to slavery. 1t is true it IS less product.
e than Tree labor in many of the Northern
countries; but 50 1t Is less productive than free
White labor III even topical CLIMATES. Labor is
IN quick demand IN all new countries Slave la
Dor Is cheaper than free labor and will 90 first
into new regions, and wherever it goes it brings
labor Into dlshonor and therefore free white la
bor avoids competition with it. Sir might re-
y on climate, if had not been born in a land
where slavery existed, and that land was all of
it North of the 40h parallel of latitude, and if |
did not know the struggle that 1t has cost n, d
winch Is yet gong on, to get complete relief
from the Institution and its 6uefnl conseoueuces.
| desire to PROFOUND thus question to those who
are now in favor of dispensing with the Wimot
pfovISo. Was the ordinance of 1881 necessary
or not? Necessary, we all agree. 1t has re-
ceved too many euognms to be now decried
as al idle and Superluous thing. And vet that
ordinance extended The inhibition of slavery
from the 9th to the 40Ih parallel of north lati-
tude. And now We are told that the inhibition
named is unnecessary any where north of SO
30 mlnntcs We are told that we may RELY no
IN the laws of God, winch prohibit slave labor
north Ut TINT inc, and that It absurd to re-. en-.
&c, the laws OF God. Sir, there is m human en-.
actment which Is Just, that is not re. enactment
Of the laws OF God. The Constitution of the IT,
nlted States and he Constitution ut all the States
IRE full of such re rnacments. Wherever find
law ofGnd or II law Of nature dIsregirded, or
IN danger of being disrrgarded, there Ishall vote
IA rr.atlirm ii. with I'LL the sanction Of the civil
authority. But find no authority for the posi-
lIon that climate prevents slavery anywhere. 1t
Is the Incidence OF mankind in any climate, and
not the natural necessity, HAT introduces slavery
in any climate.
shall dwell only very briefly on the nrgu-
ment derived from the Mexican laws. The prop.
oSiton that those laws must remain in force mn.
I'll altered by laws of our own, is satisfactory
and ST. is the proposition that those Mexican laws
abolished aud continue to prohibit slavery and
sub deem an enactment by ourselves wise and
even necessary.
| Both Of the propositions have stated are de
MED with just $ much confidence by Southern
statesmen and JUrlsts as they are affirmed nv
those Of the Tree States. The nopulntion nc tho
new territories is rapidly bee ominq an Amer.
can one, to whom the Mexican code will seen, n
foreign one, entitled to little Difference or ohedi
rnce. Slavery has never obtained anywhere nv
express legislative authority, hut always by
trampllng down laws higher than any mere mn
nicipal hws-the law Of nature aud OF nuiions.
here can ne no oppression IN superaddlnU the
snnction ct Congress the authority which is so
weak and so vehemenly questioned And there
is some possibility, lfnot Il probability, that thu
institution might obtain toothold surreptnouslv
! if 1t should not be absolutely forbidden BY our
ownauth"tty
What is insisted upon. therefore. is not ncrr
abstraction or mere sentiment u cnnrpndt
nv those who concur with ~ as to admitting
California, but would waive the prnvso. And
what is conclusive on the subject is that it is
conceded IN all hands that the effect of insistinr
on 1t prevents the extension of slavery INTO the
region to which 1t is proposed to apply it, Again.
1t ID insisted that the diffusion of SLAVERY does