Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-28

COIuCAlOu, tuiiClN sCHStiCSS, piONiso iC
main. For myself, will say that we heal
much Of the annexation of Canada; and 4
there be any man, any of the Northern de.
mocracy, or any one of the free soil party
who supposes it necessary to insert VIII
mot proviso in Il territorial government for
New Mexico, that man will of course be o.
opinion that ii is necessary to protect the
everlasting SHOWS of Canada trcm the foot
/ of slavery by the same overpowerlng wing
! of an act of Congress. Sir, wherever there
is particular good to be done; wherever
there is foot of land to be staid back from
becoming slave territory, | am ready to as
sert the principle of the exclusion of slave
ny. am pledged to it from the year 1887
] have been pledged to it again and again
and ! will perform those pledges; but
will not do a thinZ unnecessary, that wounds
the feelings of others, or that does disgrace
to my own understanding.
MIR President, in the excited times in
which we live, there is found to exist state
of elimination and recrimlnation between
the North and South. There are lists OF
grievances produced by each; and those
grievances, real or supposed, ALLEVIATE the
VI ObO p'iiiOh VA tiC SOuhtif
the other, exasperate the feelings, subdue
the sense of iraternal connexion, and patri-
otto love and mutual regard. | shall be-
stow little attention, upon these various
grievances produced on the one side and on
the other. | begin with the complaints of
the South. | will not answer, further than
| have, the general statements of the hon
orabl5 Senator from South Carolina, that
the North has grown upon the South in
consequence of the manner OF administer
ing this government, in the collecting of lis
revenues, ana so forth. These are dis
puted topics, and have no inclination to
enter into them. But | will state these
complaints, especially one complaint of the
South, which has, IN my opinion, Just iouu-
datlon; aud that Is, that there has been
found at tie North, among individuals, and
among the legislators of the North, a dis
inclination to perform, fully, their constitu-
tIonal duties In regard to the return of per-
sons bound To service, who have escaped M
to the free States. In that respect II Is my
Judgment that the South is right, and the
North IS wrong. Every member of every
Northern Legislature is bound Ike every
ttiiSi bAitti az tllc ny bdtiI, ~
port the Constitution Of the United States :;
and this article of the Constitution, which
says to these States they shall deliver up
tuTitves from service, is Us binding IN hon
or and conscience Us any other article. No
man fuliils his duty in any Legislature who
sets himself to fad excuses, eyasIons, es
capeS from this constitutional obligation. |
have always thought that the constitution
addressed itself to the Legislatures of the
States themselves, or to the States them-
selves Ii saws that those persons escaping
10 other States shall be delivered up, aud
confess | have always been of the opinion
that it was an injunction upon the States
themselves. When it IS SAID that a person
escaping into another State, and becoming
therefore within the jurisdiction of that
State shall be delivered up, it seems to me
the import OF the passage Is, that the State
itself, in obedience to the Constitution
shall cruise him to be delivered up. That
is my Judgment. | have always entertained
that opinion, and entertain 1t now. Bat
when the subject, some years ago, was be-
fore the Supreme Court of the United
States, the majority OF the Judges he'd that
the power to cause fugltives from service to
be delivered up was a power 10 be exerciS-
ed under the authority of this Government.
| do not know, on the whole, that 1t may
not have been fortunate decision. My
habit Is To respect the result OF judicial de-
lIberations, aHd the soiemnlty OF Judicial
decisions But as it now stands, tie busl-
ness Of seeing that these iugltlves are de-
livered up resides in the power of Congress
aid the national judicature, and my friend
at the bead OF the judiciary Committee has
4 bill on the subject now before the Senate,
with some amendments to 1t, winch pro-
pose to support, with ali Its provisions, to
the fullest extent And | desire to call the
attention of all sober-minded men, Of all
conscientious men, in the Ncrth, OF all men
who are not carried away by any ianatical
idea or by any false idea Whatever, 10 their
Constitutional obligations. put 1t to all
tie sober aud sound minds at the North as
question Of morals and question of con-
science. What right have they, IN their ie-
gisiatye capacity, or any other, To endeayor
10 yet round this constitution, to em5arrass
the free exercise of tie rights secured by the
Constitution to the persons whose slaves es-
cape from them! None at all none at ALL
Neither III the forum of conscience, nor be-
fore the face of the Constitution, are they
justified. in my opinion. OF course 1t Is
matter for their consideration. They prob
ably, in the turmoil of the times, have not
stopped to consider of this they have fol-
lowed what seem 10 be the current OF thought
aud of motives, as the occasion arose, and
neglected to investigate fully the real ques-
tlon, and to consider their constitutional OBJ
legations; as | am sure, if they did consid-
er, they would fulfil them with aldcrity.-
Therefore, repeat, sir, that here Is ground
of complaint against the North well found
ed, which ought TO be removed, which i; is
now in the power Of the different depart
ments of tins Government to remove which
calls for the enactment of proper laws au-
thorizing the ludicature of;his government,
in the several states, to do all that is neces-
sary for the recapture of fugitive slaves, and
for the restoration of them to those who
claim them. Wherever | go, aud whenev-
er speak on this subject-and when L
speak here | desire to speak to the whole