Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-06-21
SLAVERY IN VERMONT.
REMARKS OF MR.. UPHAM,
In reply 10 .Ur. Souic Of Louisiana, .Nqy 22, 81

| I 'oPJ ~ o'"' nOHtc q LOUtldHf, .udy ~, JU
Mr. President, when rose yesterday
stated that did not propose 10 offer any
remarks on the question then pending be-
fore the Senate, because | had been con-
fined to my chamber two months by severe
indisposition. and had not gained sufficient
strength for such an underaking.--And !
stated, also, that rose simply for the pur,
pose Of correcting a mistake which had
been made by the honorable Senator from
Louisiana, in regard 10 the constitution Of
tho State Of Vermont. When the honor
able Senator alluded 10 sister State
whose constitution tolerated a system Of
pconage, that is, slavery for debt, did not
notice that he alluded TO the State Of Ncr
mont. My attention at the time was di.
rectcd 10 another quarter, and did not
know tat he alluded 10 the State of Yer
mont uutil ! was SO informed by a friend
Had known it at the time should have
risen and begged the Senator 10 yield the
floor, so that | might have corrected the
mistake. In the course of his remarks
on slavery in Mexico, he alluded to the
system Of poonage, which, as | understand
it, compels the debtor TO serve his creditor
until his debt is paid and. if it is not
paid in his lifetime, his children and his
childrcn's children are held TO service un-
til the debt is discharged. The creditor.
however, takes good care that the debt is
not discharged during the debtors lifetime,
nor that Of his postcrity. understood him
TO say also that in Vermont the constitution
Of that State authorised this practice, and
in support of this position he read the first
article Of the bill ofrights in the constilu-
ton of the State Of Vermont, which is as
fJllows -
"That all men are born equally free
and Independent, and have certain natural, |
Inherent, and inalienablo rights, amongst
which are the enjoying and defending life
and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and pro-
tectng property, and pursuing and obtain |
ing happiness and safety. Therefore no
male person, born in this country, or
brought from over sea, ought TO be holden |
by law TO serve any person as servant, |
slave, or apprentice, after he arrives at the |
age OF twcnty-one years; nor female in
like manner after she arrives at the age Of
eighteen years, unless they arc bound by |
their own consent after they arrive at such |
age, or bound by law for the payment of
debts, damages, fines, costs or the like"
The honorable Senator contcndcd that !
this section fully established the fact that
slavery was sustained there for the pay |
ment of debts. can inform him, however,
that no such system was ever establish ed |
in the State Of Vermont. The first const- |
fntion of Nor,,ont <ct,11;1l,l q.
year l777, and the government was CON
Quoted under that constitution for sixteen
years. During that period sundry laws
were passed furnishing slight offences with .
fines. Some of these fines were recover
able by action Of debt, on the statute, the .
money so recovered paid into the town
treasury, and others were prosecuted by
way OF information and Indictment, for the |
purpose of collecting the fine and the .
law authorized the magistrate before whom !
the offender was brought and convicted, if |
he had no means of paying the debt. dam
ages or fine, instead Of committing him to
Jail TO assign him to the service of the per-
son who would pay the amount of the debt,
or fine and costs, fer the shortest period .
of service. This law was in force when .
tho constitution of 1893 was adopted. !
There were then some instances in which
the respondents, being unable to pay pc
naltes thus imposed, were assigned to the
service of persons who came forward and
paid the amounts recovered for certain pc
RODS of service. These laws, however,
SO far as they relate to the assignment of
persons to service, have long ago been re-
pealed Laws Of this character have, !
believe, existed in nearly all the States in
the Union.
Now, sir, this section declares that no
person ought to be bound by law 10 ser.