Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-01
CALIFORNIA AND SLAVERY,

this Union by the vote of very decisive maio-
rity of both branches of the National Legisla.
ture. We have never entertained any fears
that this would not be the result, especially since
Mr.. CLAY announced his position on the sub.
jcct. The two Wing Senators from Kentucky,
Mr.. CLAY and Mr.. UNDERWOOD, will vote for
the admission and so, doubtless, will Mr..
Free States, will make decided majority in
the Senate. The majority in the House will
be still more emphatic. We count upon from
rs to 80.
We can exercise neither charity nor patience
towards the cutlery of the Slave, propagandsts
OF the South connected with the question of
admitting Califons, Their vociferous asser-
ton is that if the "rights" Of the South are
trampled on, the Union is not uorth preserving.
Exactly I'VE agree with them. If the RIGHTS
of any section OF the Union arc really tramplcd
upon, that section is thereby absoved from its
allegiance. Nobody will deny it. But the
conclusion to which these hot-headed disunion.
lists arrive, is based upon premises that are
that if Congress excludes Slavery from the
Territories, that exclusion is an infringement
of their rights This we deny. We hold, with
Mr.. Clay, that Congress has unlimited power
over Slavery in the Territories, and that it is
simply exercising that power when it prohibits
the existence of the peculiar institution" there
nj. Slavery is wholly and exclusively a domestic
notwithstanding for its existence entire
ly upon the municipaI laws Of the State which
tolerates or legalizcs it, There is nothing Ma
tional about it but the shame and disgrace 1t
has not right nor privilege outside of its
several bailiwicks. And when Slavehodng
Representatives make loud speeches about
Southern RIGHTS in the premises, they simply
talk about what the Free States understand to
be a =" right to do crying WRONG "a right
to extend an institution that has no right to be
extended 1t is easy, and has an imposing
sound, to talk about the rights" Of the South.
There is something quite captivating in the
abstract term. Bal when the people of the
Free States (who compose vast majority Of
the people of this Unon) understand that this
eoquencc about rights" means nothing more
nor loss than claim to spread human Slavery
over Free Territory that is the Common property
Of the Republic, they look upon it as a good
deal worse than a huinbug They regard it
as an attempt to serve the devil in the livery Of
/ Heaven. They neither recognizes nor admit
such rights 1t is. TO them a contradiction
/ in terms
The North, therefore, say to the South "You
have chosen to foster and encourage Slavery,
and, while we look upon you as abusing God
and yourselves by the course, we admit that we
have nothing to do with it. 1t is business OF
| your own. We wash our hands of it. We alb.
hor the Institution, and can make no Legal "com.
promises" with it, Now, you ask US, having
an EQUAL right with you I'VE need claim no
more) to the National Domain--beiug equally
REsPoN 5IBLE with you for tho character of its
Government, to permit you to legcI2s great
human wrong therein You ask us to permit
you to carry Slarery into OUR jurisdiction -
We shall do no such thing. With all due res
pect and submission, we are not Obliged to do
any such thing, and we tell yol, kindly, yet
firmly, that we WILL NOT Our principles are
our own, and, thank God, the votes by which
we are to vndcate those principles are our own.
Ask US to give you license to steal sheep, or
commit highway robbery in California and New
Mexico, and we-will think Of it. But ask US
! to give you liberty to import Slavery chow alb
surdly the words sound in juXtaT osition-liber-
~ to import S'4reryD into our own Domain,
and we tell you at once, NO! We desire to
interfere with no "rights" of yours-bnt we
shall insist upon OUR owS. Keep your Slaves
at home or send them to Texas but no
Northern man, excepting Levi, Cass, will ever
consent to their being further " Gffuscd," for
their or your imaginary benefit - This, we
believe, is the sentiment Of the North on the sub
jecf, and it is one incapable, utterly, of being
yielded or a." compromised"
We think immense consequences to the real
welfare of the human race hang upon the in
tegrty and perpetuity Of this Union. No man
holds it in higher venertton than we do, nor
deprecates more sincerely the prospect of lis
dissolution. But we are free to say that, in our
Judgment, IL mas IOht us power 10 Oenenl the
cause OF Freedom and Humanity, it is emptier
in behalf of the beneficial Progress Of our race
than sounding brass and the tinkling eymbal,"
if its high sanction is EVER AGAIN to be given
to the spread of human Slavery HAY more. if
its combined energy is not cxer,ed, in every
coYsr ITUTu NAL method, to restrict the terrific
rial limits OF this oppressive and dishonoring
institution, and to prevent its perpetuation I'M
der the banner of the Republic Texas WAS
FREE STATE, under the benign laws of what it
is the custom to call degraded and benighted
Mexico, the people Of The North will never
forget that her ACKNOWLEDGMENT from Mexico,
and annexation to the frcest Republic on
cath" resulted in fixing upon her the inefiaca-
Bile stain of perpetual Sldrery! The lesson will
not be forgotten. No such enormity will be per-
United to be written on the annals OF California
or New Mexico.
These, we believe, are the sentiments and