The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-15
rHr sLAvsaY auEsTIos.

Mr.. HEBARD, Of Vermont, said that tho pretexi
set up by gentlemen for dissolution Of tho Union
was, the aggressions OF the North upon the South.
After all that had been uttered he would have con-
tented himself with remaining silent, had not the
State which he lad the honor ia part, 10 represent
been most unnecessarily and untruthfully made
the subject Of this charge The peopleo OF Vermont
are law-abidng people; they have no disposition
10 trespass the rights Of those of other States.
The gentleman from Arkansas mir. JonS soS)
had issued address % his constituents, in which
he says that the Legislature Of Vermont asserted
" that Congress has power over slavery In every
State except the original parties 10 the compact.
Now, there " foundation for declaring this 10 be
tho sentiment Of the people Of Vermont. The gen.
ucman from North Carolina (Mr. NEsaRLE) fol-
lowed In the same train Of remark with the gentle
man from Arkansas.
Mt. yRNABLE read the resolution Of the Legs.
sture OF Fcrmont-''that the 30. called compromise
Of the Constitution rcstrains The Federal Govern
ent only in the States ~horc slavery existed al the
time Of ts formation.n The inference w. that Con-
grcss has power 10 abolish slavery In the States
which have since into the Union. n any other
construction could be placed the resolution then
he did not understand the English language.
Mr.. HEBARD said that the resolution referred W
the time the Constitution adopted. Bc would
ask whether the Constitution Restraints slavery in
any OF the States which have since comc into exist
encel Does the Constitution restrain slavery in
Missouri, Florida, and Texaei The construction
was an invention of the gentlemen themselves. He
did not wish 10 disguise e ssct that the people Of
fertnoHI arc ppposcd 70 Slavery, because they be
heye u 10 be morally wrong, and Of injurious DO
ihcsl consequcncesj and they opposed 20 its ex
tension. They do not propose ointerfero with sa
very as II exists IN the southern States They know
that they have not the power 70 do 90. lie believed
that II The solemn determination and especta
ton OF the country nj the time the Constitution was
framed that slavery would not be extended, and
that At some future period II would 70 exist
Gentlemen had said that they would dissolve the
Union ON account Of tho conduct OF the North
They had better wait for overt acts than 10 resist
sor mere expression OF opinion. n an expression
Of opinion should dissolve the Union now, shy did
not opposition 10 slavery, then expressed, prevent
The formation Of TIC Consntutioni Is there an in
qptpiiop that cannot be named without disgrscing
tbose who are engaged In ~ " slavery IL such
high institution as tho gentleman from Virginia
fMf. MrtDs) says u il, u can hardly degrade any
ono by naming H. The gentleman from Mssissip-
pi Mr. Bsows) says that Il u great moral, 20
htical, and social blessing blessing 10 the master
pnd the slsve-and that i planted in the coun-
try by the providence Of God That was a matter
ofopinion. lfit was given by God, Il must have
been az God gave the people Of Israel laer first
king his wrath. Further remarks were made
by the honorable gentleman