The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-02-23

ihn fnaHlhhoHhi hhatHf AHeJ pf"hhh4 ~ WN
same moment with which they blanfnd the
institution 40 a crime, the excuse % eErulPa
tinn Of the South, could not regard the sen'
ument aa an impniati0n upon them u was
with this view that | haHarded the remark
which thea considered, and now consider.
rather a. common place one, without the
slightest idea ID could give offence 10 any one
but, sir, does the assertion need pfooff--
Does the opinion that the institution 10 ineon'
sistent with tho dictates Of humanity need
proof
Sir, what has been the opinion, and what is
now lhe opinion Of the civilized world What
has buen the iHnHuuEe uf the HbiuSt and best
men Of fthesouthf What language have they
held before the world, aud shat has the CIV;
iliIod world Al large said aud done on this sub
ieeti Sir. II We look sbfbad va find the opln-
ion Of the civilized nations Of Europe express
I'd by their acts Great Britain has put an
end 10 the in.ututioni France demolished II al
a single blow One of the first acts Of the
French Republio-I speak of tho existing re
publo-was the abolition of this institution
totally, universally, absolutely, without re-
seTvAtion aud without qualihe heaton, through
out her dominions. Sir, how did We feel, and
how did this Senate act, in regard 10 that mat.
terf Have gentlemen forgotten The reaolu,
tons Of oongTatulAton, aud sympathy, and
appreciation which were transmitted from this
body 10 France immediately sflet hes late Teye
luton And have gentlemen forgotten the
remark which thought proper 10 make an
that occasion, when, We were eKpTeaalng-our
gratiGeation that, among the first acts OF the
new government with whom We were syinpa'
thiEing, and 20 whom We were extending our
congratulations, was the absolute and unquAl.
ihrd execution Of n measure about which my
humbl. constituents were not even permitted
20 talk Yes, ar, the are was put 20 the root
vi Iic insulul,OA, ~ sas lJHt U6IITy (, TTU11It-
ly, deoisivelyi and yet, At the moment when
We we're thus expressing our sympathirs and
eKtcndsQg our eonRTA tu lationa, the subject
when ffcsentad here from constituency rep
resented ON this door, was laid upon the table
upon the question Of reception. Now, 80, |
find no fault with that disposition Of the sub
ioet 40 long a. II ~ brought hero by the Off
oious fanateism Of people. who had better let
u hlone 30 long az Il il the mere topic Of
demagbEuism and popular excitement, care
not, Il prrsentod here IN that spirit II u
10 Pot under your table. Bnt the subject pre-.
srnts itself nov "a dliisrcnt aspcet--it comes
Go Us, a. have already remarked, uninYited
and unweleome, II ~ an Intruder upon usi
but, even though a is an intruder, u must be
received for We eaunont get rd OF u The
issue ~ made ~ rec peet Ia iheae ictLllptlcA IN
reference 10 tins institution, aud Il cannot be-
eyadcd, II must be met and IL must be deeid'
ed Under these circumstances " ~ tho right
Of every State and Of any State In this Union
10 express tts sentiments upon this engrossing
subject II 10 the right and duty, IN this as.
pcct OF the question, for every State 10 EpreEs
not only its opinion M to tho prophety OF "a
tending this institution to our territories, but
ita opinion Of the institution itself.
Hut II was not'Tightin the remark drop.
ped the nther day with reference 10 the views
and opinions N the civilized world-with the
exception, perhaps, ofa small portion Of IL in
which the institution sEisis--ifI am In erQr.
let gentlemen point me TO some spot ia the
civilized world where the institution does not
nhw cpist, and where n civilized people de.
mAnd ~ Introduction. Sir, who desires u '--
when odd where, in what portion ofthe globe.
DO YOU find an earnest wish expressed isr.lts
introduction where It has not heretofore ex.
istsd What 10 now the sentiment Of the
people Of all these territories What was the
sentiment Of Oregon, and what is the senti-
mrnt of California; She has presented US
here constitution, in which the people have
attempted to prohibit the institution. But, cir,
need not 90 abroad for material TO vindicate
my expression; may appeal to the expressed
opinions of the Rhlest and the best men OF the
South--thc ablcst and the best men whom
this country has ever produced. What were
the opinions Of Washington, of Madison, aud
OF Jefferson
% Sir, gSailepen seem 10 have fotgoten ihe
expressive language of these men, when they
regard the expression of similar sentiments 10
these resolutions as offensive TO the South
Sir Ict me advert TO some OF the opinions al
Thomas jefferson on this subject, and let me,
Al tho same time, advert TO the course OF Vir-
Rinin herself IN relation TO the Introduction Of
tttia iustitalionl Mr. Ie iIn sznn inllS NJ.
UDuTing the regal Government, we had nj
ono time obtained a law which Imposed such
duty ON the importation OF sia%es as aaleahisd
nearly 60 a prohibition, when one inconslder'
ate assembly, placed UNDER peculiarly OF
circumstances, repealed the law. Ihis repeal
met joyfui sApctiou from thu ttru Sovereign,
L. htRh nnIL
ever aGleT be- attempted by Huhrequcni Haseni-
blics-and they seldom met without attempt.
ing thcm-could succeed in getting the royal
nssent 60 n renewal of the duty. la the very
first session held under the Republican Gov
eminent. the assembly passeda law for the
perpetuhl prohibition of the Importation OF
slaves This will in some measure stop the
tncrrusc of this great pel'iiesA and moral epiL,
while the minds of our citizens may DO r'pen-
cd for n complete emancipation OF human ma
tpre, e,"--.Natts an Rirgiaial Rp, l6l l62
Sir, the sentiments here expressed nre the
sentiments Of this day OF the free states, and
II an APOLOGY be necessary on their part for
their e xpression here, II il 10 be found 10 The
fact that the language is that OF diSHn g1ish'
ID statesman aud patriot of the South. Mr.
Jefferson says further; We,
UAnd can the liberties otu nsirop be AeoAeht
secure when we hnyGrcmoyed their Quay hrta
bAsis. n con yiction in the minds of the people
that these liberties are the gift of God That
they are not 10 be violated but with his wrath
Indeed | trentble for my country when re-
feet that God is Just: that his justice cannot
sieep forever. = Same, p. 300.
Why trcmblcs IfslOvery be no siu aud no
crime, Why tremble at the reflection "that
God is Just" Sir. This language, when u was
uttered, was abe Language of the patriot and
the statesman. ltwus the language OF man
more prominent us q Southeru ataiesmnn than
.nv oiher man who ever existed in that quar-
Ter Of the Union But this language OF the
,,,.- ,,.ryipt-rna -tlt,.-@ta4.l@g.,az.