Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-11-07
Gov. Seward---Slavery in the Dis
triCt,

There is no truer or more eloquent man
in the United States Senate than Gov. Sc
ward of New York. WatchfuI, sagacious,
and always ready to deal blow for free
dom he is Just now the object of more bit
ter vituperation, at the hands of the slave
drivers and their "Northern allies" than
any other man in that body-not excepting
Messrs. Hale and Chase. During the pen
dency ofthe bill to abolish the ''Slave-pens"
in the district, Mr. Seward offered an amend
mcnt to alEOw the people Of the District
to abolish Slavery, at some legal meeting
of the voters, to be held for that purpose. g.
This proposition one the most nohensiye
to be conceived of, called down a perfect
avalanche Of abuse from the doughfaces and
their masters. TO all these, the New York
Senator replies with force, dignity and ell
oquence, which must have made his assail-
ants feel how weak are all weapons against
a true man battling for justice and human
freedom. The conclusion Of his speach, in
reply to Mr.. Winthrop who protested to
like the amendment, but thought Its intro
duction at this time "indiscreet," is as foil
ows :-Iadependant Democrat.
"And now for the indiscretion, SO far
as it depends upon time and circumstances
| think it wrong to hold men in bondage
at any time and under any circumstances.
l think it right and just therefore, wherey-
er we have the power at any time, at all
times, under any circumstances. Now,
Sir, so far as the objection rest upon the
time when this measure is proposed, beg
leave to say that if the present is not the
right time, then there must be or must have
been some other time when it would be or
would have been right. That other time
must be a time that is already past, or a
time yet to come. Well, Sir, slavery has
existed here, under the sanction ct Con-
gress, for 50 years updsterbed' The right
time then has not passed 1t must, there.
fore, be future time. Will gentlemea
obige me and the country by telling us
how far down in the future the right lies :
+ w llen Will It come VIM !" w NV W
year, or at the end Of the next hall century,
or of the next hundred years When will
it be discreet to bring before Congress and
the people the abolition of slavery in the
District Of Columbus Sir, let not Sena-
tors deIude themselves. had the honor
to submit to the Senate some weeks ago a
proposition TO admit New Mexico as State.
1t was rejected then by vote unanimous,
except my own--those who were iniavor
the measure voting with its opponents be-
cause it was not the right time.
They said the Constitution had not been
ofliciaiy received. 1t was not fit occa-
sion. The measure was offered as an a
mendmem 10 the bill. Sir The Constiu-
ton was officially received yesterday aud
the Senators of the State were waiting
But New Mexico in the meantime has been
organized as Territory and her State Con-
stitutiop is not even honored with refer
enee. There is no right time for New Mex
leo to enter the Union Is Free state
So, Sir il will be with the abolition OF Sla-
very in the District d Columbia The
right time. iii be not now will never conc.
Sir, each senator must Judge for h'm9cIl