Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-01
VOL. Xiv. NO. SO. WHOLE NO. 1885.

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abused the agent who, in = friendly manner,
applied TO her % do it. These acts of out
rage and violenes were calculatedto irritate
the people Of the North and pot them on
the defensive. They regarded the law Of
South Carolina y IN SUCCESSION, on their
rights, and believed il TO Be uncoustitution-
a, aud all they desired to do was to test its
validity before the Judicial tribunals Of the
country. &t y
What reasonable objection could the peo-
pie Of South Carolina have had, If they had
been disposed to deal justly with she North,
to the arrangement proposed by Massachu-
settsi If their law turned out to be con-
stitutional it would stand, if unconstitution-
al it ought to fall. But South Carolina did
Dossstop here in her aggressious upon
Northern rights and the rights Of Northern
ffeemen. in December, 1924, another law
was passed depriving all free colored per-
sons. inprisoned under her act Of 1872, Of
the writ Of hobeGs eorpss. So you see, sir,
that our imprisoned seamen have no reme-
dy for the grievous wrongs inflicted upon
them. NoProcess can be sued out by them
or their friends to test the constitutionaIity
Of the law under which they are restrained
of their liberty. Hopeless bondage is their
condition unless redeemed by the master OF
consignee Of the vessel to which they be-
long.
But. MI. President, South Carolina is not
alone in her acts of aggression on Northern
rights. Louisiana and Alabama have laws
Of asimiIsr character; and, if have not
been misinformed, an agent sent from the
North to New Orleans to make some ar
rangement to test the constitutIonality Of
the law Of Louisiana, was obliged to leave
the city to save himself from personal vio-
lence. The South, know, contend with
great confidence that these laws are consti-
tutional; and the North, with equal conf
dence, contend that they are unconstitu-
tional. Here, then, is an issue formed be-
tween the two sections of the Union upon
a great constitutional question. And how,
| ask, can it be settled but by the Judicial
tribunals of the countryl And is it too
much for the North, in the spirit Of kind
ness, TO ask for such settlement
But pass, sir, to notice briefly other
grievances Of which the North complain
The great right of petition, secured BY the
constitution to the people of all the States,
has been not only abridged, but virtually de-
MED to the people Of the North by stand
ing rule Of the House Of Representatives,
adopted by Southern votes. No petition
touching the subject Of slavery or the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia, or in the
Territories of the United States, could, I'M
der the rule, be received, read, or referred
This proceeding 10 the House of Represen-
tatives was regarded by the people Of the
North q direct attack upon the right Of
petision---a right without which no people
can be free. They knew that petitions
touching the subject Of slavery, and pray
ing the exercise Of all the power Congress
possessed for its abolition, had been receive
ed and considered in the House of Repre-
sentatives from 1883 up to the period ofthe
adoption Of the rule. And they knew, too,
that Congress had in numerous instances
exercised the power of excluding slaves
from the territories Of the United States.
No wonder, then, that the attention ofihe
North wss directed to the subject Of slave
ry and its power in the councils of the ma
ton. No wonder that excitement and agi-
talion followed the denial Of right so dear
to the people. Mr.. President, il the wise
men in the South had assembled in Conven-
ton to devise ways and means to irsitate
and provoke the people Of the North and
force them into the discussion of the slave
question. they could not have hit upon a
plan % well calculated to accomplish their
object As the rule of the House Of Repre-
sentatives to which have referred. It was
a bold attempt not only to stifle the voice
Of the people on 4 great question OF human
rights, but to close the ouly channel through
which they could approach the Government
for redress Of grievances. And like ev-
cry other attempt to silence the complaints
of the people against what they regard to
be acts Of injustice and oppression, it in
creased them thousand fold. Yes, Mr..
President, thousands aud tens Of thousands
Of sober minded men, who, up tothat time,
held no sympathy with the little band Of alb
olitionists in the North, rushed to their STAN
dard in vindication Of the great right ofpe-
tition. well remember the excitement
that prevailed in my own State when the
news arrived that petitions praying for the
abolition Of slavery and the slave trade in
ss1S A<ssss W. " OOI0mOto ou0 buo CIIi-
tories Of the United States. had been excIu-
ded from the halls Of Congress. Public
were held-exciting addresses
we're delivered, and resolutions were passed
declaring that the aggressions of the slave
power had become intolerabIe and must be
resisted.
But, Mr.. President, the aggressions of
The South upon the rights Of the North did
not stop here. The mails of the United
States were violated to search for what the
South called incendiary publications. Yes,
'ir. an espionage was established over tho
post-ofices of the country to prevent the
of such publications and com
a did NOT suit the taste of
Notwithstanding the highly
PENAL laws for the security Of al matter
committed to the mail. many packages from
he North were broken open in the slave
States and destroyed before they reached
be persons 70 whom they we're directed.-
l'he North protested in the most solemn
erms against this violation Of their rights.
ind claimed the protection Of the Law for
heir correspondence. But IN yain--slaye-