Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-05-16

ted one-thrd of the men and oDe-thlrd of
the money, to carry on the Revolutionary
War, am willing to compensate her for her
lost blood and treasure, TO the amount OF
hundreds of millions of dollars, with which
she may fertiIlze the barrenness Of her gen.
Jus, and indulge her insane love for church.
es and schools" Had the great Southern
Senator spoken thus, | think that even
idolatrous, MISUNDERSTANDING South Caro-
lima State which Mr.. Calhoun has ruled
and moved for the last twenty-five years, as
apuppet-show man playing Punch and Judy
would have sent forth through all her or
gans, voice of unanimous dissent.
As much as Freedom is higher than Tar
if, so much stronger than their dissent
should be ours
Mr.. Webster's averment that he would
not " re-afiirm an ordInaacH of Nature, nor
re-enact the word of God" P. Al has been
commented on more pungently than | am
able or willing to do. 1t has been SAID that
all law aud all voltion must De III harmony
with the will of the Good Spirit or with that
of the EVIL One; and, If we will not re-en-
act the will of the former, then, either all
legislation ceases, or we must register the
DEGREES OF the latter But one important
and pertinent consideration belongs 10 this
subject. which have nowhere seen derel-
oped II is this Endless doubts and con-
tradictlons exist among men, as to what Is
the viii of God; aud on no subject Is there
a wider diversity OF opinion than on this
very subject of slavery. Whose law was
i i,,t I.af nt wi.
when the African slave trade was prohib-
tied whose, when 1t was declared piracy
True, ii is useless 10 put upon our statute
book an astronomical law, regulating sun
rise, or high tides; but that is physical and
beyond the jurisdiction OF man, wnile slave
nv belongs to morals, and Is within the lu-
rsdction of man. Cease to transcrlbe upon
the statute book what our wIsest and best
men believe to be the will Of God IN regard
to our worldly affairs, and tie passions
winch we think appropriate to devils will
soon take possession OF society. In regard
to slavery, piracy, and SO forth, there are
mutitudes of men, whose fear OF the penal
sanctions of another life is very much aided
by little salutary fine and Imprisonment
III tins Look at that noble array Of prin-
clples which is contained II the Declare
ton of Rights IN the Constitution of Mas
sachusettS Is 1t not u most grand and
beautiful exposition of the VIII of God,
"a transcript, as Ii were, from the Book OF
Life; SO of the amendments to the Con-
sti;ution Of the United States Yet our
fathers thought it no tamperlng with holy
things to enact them; and, III times OF
struggle and peril, they have been to many
a tempted man as an anchor to the soul,
sure and steadiast.
approach Mr.. Webster's treatment of
the Texas question, with no ordinary anx-
iety. Having been accustomed from my
boyhood TO regard him as almost iniallible
cxPounder of constitutional law, 1t Is impos-
slb.e to describe the struggle, the reyulslon
Of mind, with which | have passed from an
instructed and joyous acqulescehce in his
former opinions, to unlcsliatlng dissent
from has present ones.
l must Premise that cannot see any ne
cessary or beoaiiclal connection between
the subject OF nov Texan States and the
ADMISSION OF O4iiioi' ~ and the government
of the territories. Tia former rAf.-s q.
ful womb of slavery, Teas shall seek TO
cast forth its untmely BIRTH In this ex-
cited state of the countr,,-at this critical
iuncture of our affairs, Wien there Is sober
talk of massacreing majority of the House
Of Representatives, on their own floor, and
a Senator. instead of threatening to hang
brother Senator on the highest tree, pro-
vlded he could catch hin IN his own State,
now draws a revolver of SIX barrels on an
other brother Senator, III the floor OF the
Senate, in mid session at such time,
say. when. however few Abels there may
be at work in the political field, there are
Cams more than enough, would 1t not have
been well TO have SAID, Sufficient unto
tie day is the evil thereof!
As the basis of his argument, Mr.. Web
ster quotes the following resolution:
" New States of convenient SIZE, not eX-
cecdlnc four IN number, IN addition to SAID
State Of Texas, and having sufficient popu-
lation. may hereafter, by the consent OF SAID
stale. be formed out OF the territory thereof
which shall be entitled to admission under
rho provisions of the Federal constitution
And such States as may be formed out of
that norton of said territory lying south of
36 20 north latitude, commonly known as
the Missouri compromise line, shall be adj
mitted into the Union with or without sia-
very, as the people of each State asking adj
mission may desire; and in such State or
states IS shall be formed out Of said terri
tory north of said Missouri compromise
line, slavery or involuntary sersitude Tex
cept for crime) shall be prohibited. y
Note here, first, that only -four" States
are TO he admitted in " addition to SAID
State of Texas > and second, that such
State or States" (in the Plufal) as shall be
formed from territory North OF 30 deg. 30
min. shaHJe free. If t'co, or only one free
State is to exist on the north side of the
line then how many will be left for the
eouth side | should expose myself to rdI-
chile were to set it down automatically,
f6nr minus one, equal to three. Yet Mr..
Webster says " the guaranty is, that new
States shall be made out of IT, the Texan
terfitoryl and that such States are formed
out of that portion of Texas, laying south
of 80 deg. 30 min., may come III as slave
states, to the number Of FOUR, in addition to
the State then iii existence, and admitted
1 ,I,a.o rasolnftnns 4,