Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-15

HOW THEY SERVED FREE SOILISs


HOW THEY SERVED FREE SOILIsN.
sa We give the resolutions ofthe Coalition State
Convention, holden on the I'd ut. in order thai
our readers may judge for themselves.
I. Resolved, that we adhere with unwaverins
constancy to the Jef1ersonian proviso, and not
withstanding it's abandonment by many Of thoss
who have heretofore claimed to be its exclusive
L friends, we will insist on its application to al
Territory of which the United States now have
or shall hereafter have jurisdiction.
2. Resolved, That Congress possess the pow
er to prohibit slavery in the territories and thai
its uninterrupted exercise since the formation
Of the government, under all administration ms
from Washington to Polk. has established it a
an admitted rule Of practice.
3. Resolved, That slavery does not now b,
law exist in the Territory conquered or acquir
ed from Mexico-and that we stand opposed Il
the admission of any slave state into the Unlor
that shall be formed out of any part of that ter
ritory, by whomsoever, and wheresoever slavery
shall be therein established. t
4. Resolved, That slavery does not depend
on lines of latitude or points of compass, OF
upon physical Geography" but upon the un'
holy cupicny Of men to enjoy the fruit of the
labor of others.
5. Resolved, That the existence of slavery
and the slave trude in our National Capitol is 8
disgraceful inconsistency which calls loudly fol
correction, and that we insist on the abolition oil
oolh by act Of Congress. ssf'sfa
6. Resolved, That Congress should leave the
question of the reclamation of fugitive slaves
where it is left under the constitution: but If il
undertakes to pass an act TO aid The Shareholder
in the pursuit Of his victim, protest against a.
ny law on that subject which does not fully pro-
vide for trial BY jury for every person claimed
as fugitive slave, in the state where he may be
arrested.
q. Resolved, That California ought immedi-
afely to be admitted into the Union a state,
without the admission being coupled in any way
with any other measure.
3 8. Resolved, That we hail with deep satisfac-
ton the announcement that the people of New
Mexico by forming State Constitution and
prohibiting slavery, have done for themselves
Whist the schemes of politicians have prevented
Congress from doing for them, and we regard
their action in the premises as pointed rebukc
of the preteDce that direct prohibition Is nee
ded 10 exclude slavery from the territories.
Thus far the coalition on slavery. Shall we
say that this platform, SO far as slavery is con-
cerned, is no better than that the Wings of Yer
mont have long occupied? We are not content
with that 1t is not SO broad, SO effective, 50
true, so good as the Wing anti-slavery ground.
We specify the shcrl comings of this ex.free soil
party.
is TO The Stare Trade. The Wings have long
ago gone to the whole extent Of the Constltu-
ton against the slave-trade-against it in the
District, in the Territories, on the high seas, and
every where within the jurisdiction of Congress
See resolutions of the Legislature of lS49, and
ofthe Wing State Conventions of lei9 and 1850
The x-free soil party seem not TO have learned
that the slave trade exists any where but in the
District of Columbia, and limit their resolution 10
that! See resolution Eve. In short, these con-
scien,ious gentlemen have just come up to the
q Clay Compromise on this point-not whit be-
yond.
As 10 .Slarery. Here, too, the Wings cover
the whole ground Of the Constitution, and 60 a.
eainst the admission Of any pe,0 Stale, whether
from territory already acquired or 10 be acquired,
without excluding slavery; and against the Err
tension Of slavery, whether by extending the a.
rea Of Texas or otherwise. Not SO the ex-free
soil party they limit their restriction to terrific
~ only, (see first resolutions; to the territories,
fsee second resolution, and to the territory con-
ouered or acquired from Merico," see third resolu-
fion.) Now we call the attention of anti-slave-
~ men to the remarkable facttha the very place
where the most danger exists, both OF the exten
sion Of slavery and the creation of more slave
States these ardent free sellers have LEFT entirely
eM of their platform. We alIude TO Texas
Texas is the great point of danger-th the only re-
al point Of danger, indeed, since California and
New Mexico have voluntarily excluded Slavery.
Utah, we know, remains unseitled-but her insu-
lated position, bordering the free soil of Cali
fornia and New Mexico, renders it pretty GER
tain that slavery never can get foot-hold there.
Teras is the point of danger; the Wings Oliver
mont have guarded themselves against this dan
ger-bui Ttrus Is Omitted from The coalition creed
and omitted, too, at the very time when she
insists, not only that she has right to carve out
new save states, but also to slice OF the best part
of the free soil of New Mexico and dedicate
that to slavery! The coalition leaders cannot
plead ignorance. They well knew tibet Texas
was admitted wiihout defining her iCesterR boun-
Diary, as if for the very purpose Of enabling her
TO claim more territory: for this was the act Of
their party, when they were locofocos, red hot fol
annexation They well knew that Texas was
admitted to the Union, with constitution pro-
hibiiing her from ever abolishing slavery, and
wi,hou. guarantee that any of the new states
ever formed from her should be free; an act o.
fraud it was too, for she had held out the idea Of
an equal division of the territory between Slave.
~ and Freedom. This, too, was the act Of tkei
party, in the days of James K. Polk. These
gentlemen thea swore by the Baltimore plat
fom-and-the Baltimore platform brought IL
Texas and Slavery. They well knew that Texas
spas elaiming large part Of JNsw Msriee, as be-
ing under her slayocratc Jurisdiction, at the ".
~ moment they were adopting these resolutions
on the I'd Of July last: but they pass no resola.
zion against this claim! They well knew thai
Texas is large enough for At least four states,
end hat the night is reserved to make four states
- ~ hev. hut they mas no reoolutiou recurring