Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-12

Slavery and the Slave Bill.


[The following article, which speaks for it.
self, is, we think, from one of what has been
called the Old Liberty G,ard-a class of men
who are entitled, if any are, to place in the
columns of the paper they have done SO much
to establish and sustain.
Mr. EDlToR:-
Wishing to communicate my views on several
points connected with slavery, send for your
columns a communication containing them.
The question Of slavery, for the two years past
has become an unusually important one, and
caused no small amount OF excitement and All.
taton in all parts of our Union. need not
here ask what has caused this emotion and ex
element upon this deeply interesting natiunal
topic tor trust the reasons are not only known
to your readers, but to every reader of the signs
of the times in our Republic, that by he infa-
nous Mexican war we obtained large tract of
territory, for what purpose do not know; and
the question whether SloCeIy shall be prohibited
in this territory, has caused as before SAID "no
snall amount o excitement and agitation IN all
parts Of our Union" And this question has ar
rayed the North against the South, and vice Der
SG And the South have even gone so far as to
threaten the dissolution Of the Union provided
the tree States will not let them carry slavery
into this territory. But at the last session Of
Congress these questions were acted upon and
mostly settled, and in manner unsatisfactory to
the friends of FREEDOM, save the admission Of
California nto the Union as q FREE State.
New Mexico, after having elected Hugh N.
Smith, as her delegate 10 Congress, ana presen
ted to that body constitution (for admission in.
to the Union as a State prohibiting slavery, had
he pleasure (2) of seeing her legally e'ectea del
Tyate sent home with flea in his ear, and sad
Old with his expenses, and her constitution re.
iced, aud herself only admitted as territory
VINE in all good rights she ought to have beer
"hinSd as STATE, leaving her again to decide
whemt she will have slavery prohibited In hel
ine las boundary question was Unjust,
set o oa nCothere was no need of giving Texas
Sio'VUo'oveor land that did not belong to her
hI' tn7 S''V) square miles of territory ove
my Tion sue haI,o honest claim of jurisdiction
HIS lnis was " wRSG-;. fagrantiy tUrong. 1t wal
GN"s ~ eHaAnd slavery, money and lane
lt o'S", 10 haVtbeen secured to New Mexico
anu "eeuom' VII however give our Yer
on this wicked and coNtemnt,hle measure.
But as bad as was tkt measure, the fugitive
slave bill which passed Congress on the 18th O
September, was the GROWING act ofthe inioui
ties OF that recreant body. Ii is an opIOus en-
UNCONSTITUTIONAL and ought to b,
RESISTED by every ore vino - willing 10 CIV
all their equal fights The 9Th and 9Th section
ofthis act allows the fugitive claimed no rights
not even those that are granted him by the law
of our country. 1t places the poor fugitive g
the mercy [9) Of his claimant, and perhaps NOR
al the feelings, integrity, etc, OF the commits
sIoner before whom his case is decided 1t to
crates kidnapping aud negro stealing from tn
the free States, and gives them no reef-n
constitutional remedy, and we know not ho'
many free negro, under the false oath of hi
pretended claimant will be taken from us an
carried into slavery Let the people of the FIRE
States | say, keep good look out for thes
things This law, should think, to use crud
expression, was conceived by the Devil and bro
forth in his own place e., Judging from il
import. That section of the U. S. Constitute
relating to the recovery of fugitves from justic
and labor, is amply sufficient for the purpose
which it was framed to meet, and any other la
on the subject is useless, If not demonstrations
But even of that section, the Hon. ]. @. Adam
once said, " 1t was an engagement positively pr
hibited by the laws of God delivered from Mou
Sinai"
| will close my remarks on this subject by ga
ing, that hope the people of the free Stat
will at the present session of Congress, mo
for the repeal of this Infamous law, and 10
well to it, while it is in force, to see how its pr
visions are executed Let the friends Of FIRE
dom do all in their power for the extinction, a
to prevent its further extension, and when thu
principles are adopted and their objects acco
pshed, freedom will be secured to one and 9
and humanity will rejoice. H.
Windsor Co. Dec. 1850.