Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-14
{)olttitol.
YERM0yT VlYDEGiTED.
SPEECH OF MR. PHELPS,
On the subject OF Slavery, &c.
OF VEEaEONE

" 49, ''"''''s5 'N'"'4'NH h'S Sp'iSlu-
eration OF the motion to print the resolu-
ions oi the General Assembly ct the State
OF Vermont on the subject OF slavery which
were sometime since presented by Mr.. UF-
HAN
MT. PHELrs. At'er the few remarks
winch made the other day, / entertained
the nope that should not Ind myself under
the necessity at present OF participating any
further IN tie debate on tins question. Bat,
SIR, aiier what has iai'en iFom the ether side
oil TINS cha'nber, ieel 1t due to myself and
due 10 The State which IN part represent,
to otter some further remarks in vlndication
OF any course and thelf course.
Slr, have been called upon to face The
music haze 40 disposition, Mr.. Press
dent, to avoid tie iacinZ' OF any " music"
--"ai / must be allowed to say, SIR, that |
tniAA we nave some very bad music" on
ihis Hoer. AlFe been called upon, slr, TO
meet ine issue. make no Issue here which
/ am moi prepared TO meet, and trust nv
constituents viii make no issue here which
au DOT prepared 10 meet. Nav. sir. am
prepared Go meet the approaching issue.
pregnant as it Is with consequences TO tins
country
Sir, IT. has been said by gentlemen ON the
other SIDE Of Ills chamber. that this Great
issue was forced upon them. Il has not.
hoH ever. been forced npon them by the Of
fciousaess of auv portion Of tbs country
it IS an issue which has forced Itself anon
us. an issue which has come here unif,riied
ard uaHe.caae. Il presents Itself as one
of thai train al consequences which many
Of Us loresaw aad resisted. 1t comes here
as tie conseqacnce-th necessary cop.e.
qne;ce-cf q tram Of measures which tor
one have resisted from The outset. lis one
Of the ir!us If that spirit Of arrrandize-
ineni. aud conquest. and military aconi.i-
tioa, uA.ch seems TO have infected and III
fitn.fed ever, republican Gorernr,cnt Sir
it iso,.e al tie fruits Of eur Mexican var
the fruits of that policy which orjguated in
the disposition To- extend the area Of our
power. bat which carries in lis train the ell
cneni ,shicl, may IN the end dissolve ,b;s
republic. SIR, am NOT surprised a, this Is
sue. J, is what have long anticipated it
is an issue which We cannot avoid; aud
here, sir, lies lis difficulty aud lis danger
it Is question to be settled but hJic set
tied no s4an on this floor can Low aniici-
pate.
Sir. IN approaching this question, am
moi f,rectlu! ut the p.edae which / cave the
Senate ou former occasion, that should
approach it coally. deliberately. aud with
feehaqs Of ccncillatiou: and thai | should
approach it with an ardent attachment to
the constitution and . The Union. Sir,
shall net he diverted from this determina-
ton. whatever may be the tenor or The lem
per Of the debate L Is true that there are
many considerations, some Of them of great
maun.tnGe. pressing upon me not to depart
IN the least lrom what consider cool and
disD.ss,oua;e and rational consideration of
1h,s question.
Sir. we are all attached 1.-THE Union; We
all value the harmony aud stability Of that
Union and no topic which tends to enIan-
ger either, should, IN my Judgment, be DIS
cussed here in anger.
Sir. these professions nav be douhe1.-
NV professions the Other dav seem not to
have carried with them tie most implicit
confidence on The part of some gentlemen.
SIR If proof were wanting Of tie sincerity
Of nav professions on this subject. it is to be
found IN the history Of my public life
There are nassares. Mr.. President. IN that
life here which Senators ought not to have
FORGOTTEN. Il Is but few moi.t!.s since. in
the situation where now stand, advoca-
ted the me sure alluded to by tic honorable
Senator from South Carolina. allude to
the Territorial bin reDor,ed bv the select
committee, commonly called the Clayton
compromise. The honorable Senator from
Sonfs Csrsli;a the other day pronounced
that b,li satisfactory to the south. His cx-
nression was. that il was " framed to save
The honor Of the South" | sustained that
rim. and under what circumstances Sir,
knew from The outset tie position | was
ahont f. take in consenlinq to be member
Of thai committee. kne.g that 1t was no
env;able but perilous position. knew
VII he aif,icu!tv Of .econcsiine the excited
c,elinrs Of ei,ferent sections Of TINS couu-
,r,. ,v,s nat i.nnraui Of the DANGER of
49, ,,.,,,o.s;,,r With = vif,y to ccnDromise.
-, -, ,,a ,ef,ner Of the De,nie Of DIFF
80, -. ,l,,s JTnio, aad that eve
,..,l..r.,4a ..,,ve,e, e,n,il