Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-28


sons because, first, | do not consider that
the Legislature of Massachusetts, has any.
thing to do with it and next, do not con.
slider that |, as her representative here, have
anything TO do with it. Sir, it has become
in my opinion, quite too common and il
the Legislatures of the States do not like
that opinion, they have great deal more
power TO put it down than | have to uphold
1t. 1t has become, in my opinion, quite
too common practice for the state legisla-
lures TO present resolutions here, on all sub
jects, and TO instruct us here on all subjects.
There is no public man that requires ill.,
structions more than do, OF who requires
information more than | do, or desires it
more heartily; but do not like to have it
come in too imperative shape. took no.
tIce, with pleasure, OF some remarks upon
this subject made the other day in the Sem
ale of Massachusetts, by young man of
talent and character, from whom the best
hopes may be entained. | mean Mr. Hill
lard. He told the Senate of Massachusetts
that he would vote for no Instructions what
ever to be forwarded TO members of Con-
gress, nor for any resolutions TO be offered
expressive of the sense of Massachusetts as
to what their members of Congress ought
to do. He said that he saw no propriety in
one set of public servants giving instruc-
tons and reading lectures to another set Of
public servants. To their own master all
of them must stand or fall, and that master
is their constituents | wish these sentl-
ments could become more common, great
7 lpll | Inv
into the question, and never shall, about the
binding force of Instructions. | WILL how
ever, simply say this: if there be any mat
ter of interest pending in this body, while
am 4 member of it, in which Massachusetts
has an interest of her own not adverse to
the general interest of the country, | shall
pursue her Instructions with gladnesS Of
heart, and with all the efficiency which
can bring II. But if the question be one
Which affects her interest, and at the same
time affects the interests of all other states,
shall no more regard her particular wishes
or Instructions than | would regard the
wishes of a man who might appoint me an
arbier or referee to decide some question
of important private right, and who might
instruct me to decide IN his favor. II ever
there WAS Government upon earth, it is
this Government, If ever there was body
upon earth, 1t Is this body which should
consider itself as composed by agreement
OF all, appointed by some, but organized by
the general consent of all, sitting here IN
der the solemn obligations of oath and con-
science to do that which they think is best
for the good of the whole
Then, sir, there are these abolition soci-
cites, Of which am unwilling 10 speak, but
in regard to which have very clear notions
and opinions. | do not think them useful.
| think their operations Cor the last twenty
years have produced nothing good or valu-
able. At the same time, know thousands
Of them are honest and good men; perfect
ly well meaning men. They have excited
feelings, they think they must do something
for the cause of liberty, and IN their sphere
of action they do not see what else they can
do, than to contribute to an abolition press
or an abolition society, or to pay an abol-
ton lecturer. | do not mean to lmpute
gross motives even TO the leaders of these
societies, but | am rot blind TO the conse-
quences. | cannot but see what mlschIeis
their interference with the South has produ
ced. And is it not PLAIN to every man ,
Let any gentleman who doubts OF that, re-
cur to the debates in the Virginia House of
Delegates in lS32, and he VIII see with
what freedom a proposition made by Mr.
Randolph for the grddu Il abolition of slave
ry was discussed in that body. Every one
spoke of slavery as he thought; very ig-
nomlnous and disparagng names and epi-
thets were applied 10 1t. The debates IN
the House of Delegates On that occasion,
believe, were all published. They were read
by every colored man who could read, and
If there were any ~ho could not read, those
debates were read to them by others. At
that time Virginia was not unwilling nor a.
fraid to discuss this question, and TO lei that
part Of her population know as much of 1t
as they could learn. That was in IS32.-I
As has been SAID by the honorable member
from South Carolina, these abolition soce
ties commenced their course of action III
1885. 1t is said do not know how true ii
may be-that they sent incendlary publica-
tons into the slave states; at any event,
they attempted 10 arouse, and did arouse, a
very strong feeling; in other words, they
created great agitation IN the North against
Southern slavery. Well, what was the re-
suit The bonds of the slaves were bound
more firmly than before; their rivets were
more strongly fastened. Public opinion,
which in Virginia had begun to be exhibit
ed against slavery, and was opening out for
the discussion of the question, drew back
aud shut itself up in It's castle. l wish to
know whether any body in Virginia, can,
now, talk as Mr. Randolph, Gov. Mellow
ell, and others talked there, openly, and
sent their remarks to the press, in lS32-
We all know the fact, and we all know the
cause, and every thing that this agltatng
people have done has been, not TO enlarge
but to restrain, not TO set free, but to bind
faster the slave population of the South
That is my judgment. Sir, as have said,
| know many abolItlonists IN my own neigh
borhood, very honest and good people, mis-
led, as think, by strange enthusiasm but
they wish to do something and they are cal
led on to contribute, and they do contrib
ute and it is my firm opinion this day, that
within the last twenty years as much money
has been collected and paid to the abolition
I nd holt