Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-06-06


to be slave or a freeman, and all those who in
any way harbor him, even to allow him shelter
from the storm in shed, or give him piece Of
mouldy bread to keep him from starving, or, as
the law will probably be construed) refuse to aid
in securing and delivering him up to his claim
ants-all such to be subjected to a fine of one
thousand dollars-one half to go to the State,
and the other to the tempted reprobate who shall
prosecute--and in addition to this mild a.
Increment, to be imprisoned one year, which if
the victim has not the property to pay the fine,
will operate as a sentence of imprisonment for
life!
Such, if we understand it, is the extraordinary
character, and such will be the practical work.
ing and effect Of this justly, but far too feebly
denomnated "bill of denominations" which
Webster and his fellow apostaes have pledged
themselves TO help fasten on the free states
the first place, we believe the proposed law,
as ably contended by Judge Jay on a recent &C.
cason, to be wholly uawarranted by any power
VeSteu Ill lIe CoHSIllutlol; WHICH lhouSh ~ CO
tablshes the general principle that the slaves Of
one state escaping into another, shall be delivered
up, yet leaves, as one ofthe powers not delegat-
ed, but reserved 70 the stata0, tho right of pre-
scrbing and regulating the mode of the fugi-
tives delivery.
In the second place, it's provisions are an open
and palpable violation ofone of the most widely
established principles of law and precedent
known in civilized countries, by making the
plaintiff or party in interest, in property trans
action, sufficient witness, while it wholly ex-
cludes the testimony and showing of the defend
ant, and putt him completely in the power ofthe
corrupt and tyranical, whom there is no law TO
bring to account however great the outrage
that has been Perpetrated.
And lastly, to say nothing about the mons
trously corrupting tendencies of the bill on eve
ry community where it may be put in operation,
it leaves all the people of the free states, only
the wretchcd alternatives of becoming the SER
wants and minions of slave catchers, or of being
stripped oftheir property and made the compan-
ions of incacerated felons.
And yet this is one of the principal measures
claimed to be indispensable to make up the on
ly compromise with which the South can at all
be satisfied
What say the liberty loving sons of the Green
Mountains TO all this? When our fathers, in
that memorable controversy, which resulted in
Our State independence, were placed under the
ban of that tyrannical law of the royal Assembly
Of New Yolk, which, without trial was to de-
prive them of life and liberty if they dared to
assist their noi2hbors in defending heir lawfully
acquired possessions, how did they act I? Did
they tameIy submit to that outrage upon their
rights? History tells us how they acted, and
what theydid. They unitedy raised their vol
ces against that infamous enactment, till they
made it a by word and reproach throughout the
colonies. They defed its despotic originators.
and drove the minions attempting to execute it,
with the scorpion lash of the Beech seal, far be-
yond their borders. Hear what the old Green
Mountain Poet, Thomas Rowley, sung or said
on that occasion.
"When Caesar reigncd king at Rome
~. raul was sent To hear his DOOM
But ROMAN laws in such q case
Must have the accuser face TO face
Or Caesar gives fiat denial
Kul here's law now made of late
Which destines men to awful fate
.lnd hangs aud damns without a trial
(Which made me look all nature through
70 md a law where men were tied
ny ltgaIact, which doth exact
Mems lives before they'r tried
hen down took the sacred book
Gnu turned The pages DER
but c0uId not find Of the kind
By God or man befure'
No, nothing of the kind before, and but one
since; and that is the Fugitive Slave Bill, which
IN case of its passage, if we should suffer it to
be executed here, with our feet on British
graves, and the walls of Beech.seaed Workers
sill lingering in our ears, the bones of old Ethan
Allen, Warner, and their departed compatriots
would rattle in their graves in token of indigna-
tiOn at our sba p,nf,l