Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-03-28
THE CRISIs-HOW rs TT TO BE
MET?

Whoever has paid any attention to the indi'
cations which hive been developed for the past
three months even the most care ess observer
must have discovered I'M inlic1ton, il not set
tied determination to avoid the issue which has
been presented before the country. We mea9
the dlestion Of slavery Tho hi9"hs OF lree'
dom have been laboring for years to bring the
country to this issue. They hive so far sue
corded as to procure the passage Of resolutions
of the most emphatic character, through all the
legislatures except Iowa, binding the Senators
and representatives. from the free states to
specific course Of action upon tho subject of
slavery During the time tint the institution of
slavery, in its moral and political chqracter, has
been discussed, End its evils, cn,rmities and ng
cressions fully set forth, our country has cHlarg-
ed her boundaries and extended her territory to
the Pacific ocean. The South claims the right
to extend her institutions over these territories.
Morr especially has the issue been presented
upon maintaining the territories free. The
present Congress assembled unlor rhn reson-
lions Of instruction above referred to, and what
has been the result? All eyes have been turn.
ed to Washington with the utmost interest,
watching with anxiety every proposition-cvery
move--evcry speech, and every vote touching
the question of freedom. and what have we seen?
First, Gen. Cass, elected to the Senate undei
specill instructions to carry ont aud use his in.
fucnce 10 establish the Wlmot Proviso cmbrl.
ced the first opportunity to make n speech Of
81 mortal columns long, to prove to tho Senate
and American people that Congress has no pow.
er to provide by legislation for the welfare Of the
people Of the territories by restricting slavery
And secondly, to establish the doctrine Of non
intervention, 50 that he could hive letters pa ent
granted 10 him and his heirs TINT the great
Nicholson letter, contained the original inycn.
tion, which by the law of usage entitled him to
nothing shot If the presidential chair
Next from the North, Daniel Webster, an
other aspirant to tn, pres dencv mounts the ros-
tru,n to show the South his devotion to their in
terests, and as the slying is, "hc mikes clean
sweep. and goes clear over. neck and lcels'' into
the vortex of slavery pr"D1rrn!isn. The great
eXpoundrr now stands The mighty champion of
NEW sllve statcs--sl1ve hrecIinr-Slayn catch.
ing and slave d wing he, who should have
used his giant mind and inference to destroy an
institution which demands the Incarceration Of
the citizens Of Massachusetts in South Carroll
M prisons, and deprvcs her nohest men the
privilege Of Cnqnrng after the victims immoat
ed upon the altar of slavery-row turns his beck
upon his own state, and upon all the free states,
and prostitutes himself to,hc base. unrodIv pur-
pose ofaiding the South in the helli>h work Of
perpeuoting aud extending slavery
The leader Of the whjg party in New Eng
land has beliel his ftrG1cr decLraion-has swal
lowed his own wor s. he hls become the plant
tool Of the slave power, he has betrayed the land
Of his birth-he has hv his acts secured to him
self everlasting infrny and disgrace Alas, fol
freedom, when men from the free states become
the advocates of law which compols the pro
pie to take a level with the Hood hounds onl
sIavc-catchcrs, to hunt tie flying, panjin- fnci
tive back to his bonls ana Chains. Bat our Oh
iect more especially in this article was in view
Of the base treachery of the leading men a
Washington, to notice some of the reaction
movements in the free stltes. The two great par
ties in the free states have so far condemned
and couned the assistance and aid Of fec sol
men as become committed profcssedly. to polili
cal action against slavery. The time has nov
arrived that will try the sincerity Of those pro
fessions. The organs of these great p9,ti,
at Washington have sounded the alarm. An,
ever sncethe present Congress assembled moth
ing has been done but to devise means to thwar
the action Of those men who are true to thei
trust and to freedom.
bunker Democracy aud Thinker Taylorisu
unite to orgmi2c ard systematise plan ofopcr
tionsto throttle every movement. break down cv
cry effort by the cry OF q. fana!jcism, abolition
ism the Ut'on 'OW be d,ssotpei," until the fire.
states begin 10 retreat
The legislature Of Michigan has refused +
reaffirn the WiImo Proviso resolutions Penn
sylvana democracy recognises to the fulles
extent" the obligation to assist Southern blood
hounds and slavc-cOtchers and join the fendis
clan in hunting down the oppressed who ma
have escaped from IA bondage which wont
damn heahen nation forever, to escape wbic
many have preferred the grave itself. Hunke
Democracy in Connecticut and Ohio and Ne,
York, and our own state are rallying all lhe
strength 10 plraIyze and destroy all obligation
imposed upon Representatives in Congress- :
stand up to the fight in favor of freedom Oar
lei Webster, the man who has been sigmatjze
by the Democratic party for the last twent
years as Hartford Convention tederalist is no
taken into the bosoms of these bunker Demo
erats for his great speech, The UNION and III
Post applaud, ana embrace with respect an
symplthyI he man who his now lent himself an
his influence to break down the prn,iples an
dispose OF a political organization which com,
in contact with the policy and success of III
Democratic party. And so with the Tay,
party. We repeat, bunker Democracy an
Hdnker Taylorlsn has, and will unite to f.
the friends of freedom. But do any of our re;
ders inquire what ought to be done in this or
sis' We answer, there should be mass NEE
ings through the length and breadth of the fro
states, after the noble example set at Fanue
Hall. In every county, district and state, the,
should be a convocaon of those opposed
slavery. Resolutions should be passed remor