The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-14

ster in all he has said or acted compromit
his dignity, or violate principle avowed by
him in twenty years past II any territory
claimed by Texas should be decided 10 be.
long to the United States, or should become
hers by purchase ar compromise, and Mr..
Webster should vote TO pat slavery in the
same, then, and not till then, would he re-
cede from former and often avowed princi-
pies and measures. Then he would he no
more open 10 ccnsurc than the Hon. Senator
who said he would vote for the admission of
California, on The ground of cxpediency, al
though slavery were Incorporated in her
constitution, thus making the end justify the
means, as the South did in taking in Texas
to save her from falling into the hands of
foreign power.
Again, Mr.. W. is censurcd for saying that,
"rhc God of nature has excluded slavery
from the Mexican territory" Slavery"
SAYS an Hon. member, "cxisted all over
Europe, from sunny Ital, to bleak England,
and is existing now stronger than in any
other land, in ice bound Russia" 1t has ex.
listed in the Northern States, and extended
even to the cold regions of the Canada line.
Now, so far us American slavery is concern.
cd, it prevailed at a time when the moral
sense Of the community was not awakened
as il now is to its turpitudc. Who believes
that the free States need prohi6iory stat
ute 10 prevent them from re-enacting slave
nv? As slavery is being bounded on the
North, and the West, and even the sunny
South by free labor free institutions, light,
civilization, and stupendous Improvements,
the common sense opinion of the communi-
~ is against any such supposed extension Of
slavery. AS no STAKEHOLDER can 90 into any
free territory and enjoy the fruits of slave
labor without positive action of Congress,
and as Il majority of the nation will never
put slavery into any such territory, and as
there is no more Stare territory in the ,corld
to acquire. except of Texas, and rs it is GER
tain that the subject of slavery or no slavery
would be definitely settled in said acqusi-
ton or compromise, the Wilmot Provisc
would be as useless in the future as it ha,
been in the past.
As it respects fugitive slaves, Mr.. Clay.
views, in considering it the duty of citizen.
70 assist the civil officers to arrest them, were
far more unpalatabe than Mr. Webster's
who leaves ii with the government officers
without their aid in securing them Yet he
is more highly censured |; is probable tina,
neither ne nor NIT. OiaV, any more tnai
Mr. Seward, ever really supposed that the
officers or people of the free States cve'
would engage in such business Yet, Will,
the latter gentleman, and many others, wout
erect the divine law, and the law of nature
and of humanity above tho constitution ant
thereby declare this provision void, and thus
subject themselves TO the charge of disuniOn
lists, as much as the defenders of slavery a
the South, Mr.. Webster " would be law
abiding subject would sacredly ful6l al
constitutional Obligations in the social com
pact. and leave it to the gospel ST 10 toucl
the heart, to purify the soul and TO improv,
the lives of individual men," thus preparin.
them for the discharge of "poliicAl and So
cial relations in constitutional manner, il
the abatement of evils, or the redress o
grievances. Are not these ideas and sug
gesiions equally honorable to the head ant
the heart of the expounder Of the consi
tuition 2" And is it not obviously the dui,
OF shcrifis ami other government officers, WHIT
have sworn To support the constitution ant
laws Of the United States, to resign thei
Offices if they cannot conscientiously live W
to and enforce the same, prorided they coute
succeed in arresting the fugitive slaves?
sense Of propricty and Of duty would surcl,
dictate such course.
Shoreham, W. JUsrUs.