Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-14

rulers govern SUBJECTS Dy tneir own mere VIII
by DEGREES and laws emanating from their un-
controlled will, in the enactment and extension
of which the ruled had no voice, and under
which they have no right, except at the will OF
the rulers Despotism does not depend upon the
number of the rulers, or the number of the sub
liects 1t may have one ruler or many. Rome
was despotism under Nero; so she was under
the triumvirate Athens was despotism under
her thirty tvrants, under her four hundred ty
rants, under her three thousand tyrants- 1t has
been generally observed that despotlsm lncreas-
es in severity with the number of despots; the
responsibility is more divided, and the claims
more numerous. The trumvlrs each demand
ed his victims The smaller the number of sub
iects in proportion to the tyrants, the more cruel
1.-The oppression, because the less danger from
rebellion In this Government the free win
citizens are the ruers-thc sovereIgns, as we
delight to be called. All others are subjects
There are perhaps, some sixteen or seventeen
millions of soveregns, and some four millions
of subjects.
The rulers and the ruled are of all colors, from
the clear white Of Caucasian tribes to the swar
thv Ethiopian. The former, by courtesy, are
called white The latter black. In this Gov
eminent the subject has no rights. social, poili-
cal or personal. He has no voice IN the laws
which govern him. lie can hold no property
His very wife and children are moi his. Ills
labor is another's lie, and all that appertalns
to him, are the absolute properly IF his rulers =
He is governed, bought, sold, punished, execu-
ted by laws TO which he never gave his assent,
and BY rulers whom he never chose. He Is not
n serl merely with half the rights OF men like
despotic Russia but naked slave, stripped oil
every right which God and nature gave him
and which the high spirit OF our Revolution de-
clared nalienabIe which he himself could not
surrender, and which man could not take from
him. Is he not, then, the subject Of dcspo,Ic
sway?
The slaves of Athens and Rome were free, in
comparison They had some rights could ac-
qure some property could choose their own
masters, and purchase their. freedom; and when
free, could rise in social and political life. The
slaves of America then, lie under the most ao-
soIute aud grinding de>potlsm that the world
ever saw Blu. who are the despols 1.-The
rulers of the country-the sovereign people =
Not merely the stakeholder who cracks the lash;
he is the instrument of despo,ism hat despo-
tism is the Government of the slave States, and
the United States, consisting OF all Its ru. erS-
ali the free citizens. Do no. lGok upon ihs as
a paradox. because Won and and the sixteen
millions of rulers are free. The rulers ct every
despoiism are free. Nicholas OF Russia Is free.
The Grand SUDAN of Turkey is Tree. he
Butcher of Austria IS free Augustus. Antony,
and LepIdus were free white they drenchej
Rome in blood The Thirty Tyrans the -Four
Hundred, the Three Thousand, were free while
they bound their couutryuen IN chains. f'u
and and the sixteen millions are free, while
we fasen in chains and rivet miracles on four
millions of our feliow-men, tear their wives and
children from them, separate, sell them, qud
doom them to perpetual, eternal boid, Are
we not, then. despots -desPots such as history
VIII brand, and God abhors:
But we are told that hat is none of our bas
ness Thlt Southern Sl-vcfy Is matter be
tween the Shareholders and Their own coiscien-
ces. trust II may be 50 decided by impartial
history. and the uneIring judge, tliit We may
not be branded with that great st.gn.a, and that
grieyous burden not weigh upon our souls.
But could we hope for that Jusilticl ION, 1t now,
when we have the power 10 prevent II, We
should permit this evil 10 spreal over thousands
OF square leagues, now tree, ana settle upon
unborn millions /: Sir, for myself, should look
upon any Northern nan, enlightened by
Northern education. who would Directly or midi
recly, bv omission or commission, by ba>ely
voting or cowaIdly skukIng, permit II 10 spread
liberty and recreant to his God.
Slavery tends to render he people among
whom plant, d, arrogant, insolent Intoierdni,
and tyrannlcdl towards the freemen of other
plrts u the Union. The honorable member ON
Virginia from whom have quoted, Mr. Meade
says, speaking of slavery
Our past history testifies to the fact that il
eeyaics the character of the white man. Though
We have been in a hume neal minority in the Un
Ion for fifty years ye, during the greater part of
that period, we have managed TO control the des
TIMES of the Union. Whether on the battle
field or In the council, the sons OF the Souh
have taken the lead ; and the records OF llie IA
ton afford ample testimony OF their superior en-
ergy and gt MUS I"
SIR, "a not complain of this statement. Tie
iormer part of 1t is both candid aud true. But
canDot listen 10 the recital without feeling the
tur ne blush on my coun en- ince, ihai the North,
| with her overshadowlng millions oil treeineu, has
for halt century, been tame sn1 serslie cnou.
10 submit 10 this arrogant rule.
The South inprson Northern freemen when
found within her borders, If they happen To be
guilty of dark SKIN, aud "carry il be-
tween the wind and their aobIty." And y hen
Il sovereign Stale sends learned and venerable
agent TO test the Legality OF such Imprisonment
before their own Tribunals, he Is driven with yIo-
!ence and lndl unity tro their shores. Massa-
chusetts has suffered, and trust, rene nbers the
insult.
How often have these walls been profaucd
and the North lnsulIed, by the lnsoent threat
mat II congress leg suite against oOuthefE VIII!
II should be dlsregarded. resisted TO extremity,
and the Union destroyed. during the present
session, we have Deeu more than once told, "a
midst ravIug excitement that II we dared to leg
Isaie IN certain way, The iuth would telca
the North lesson Tint their minds we're made
up 10 extreme rcs.sianoel Is this the place
10 use threats Instead of arguments Are the
Representatives. at ireeiGen TO be thus treated
True, you are not wholly without JgsulcatIea IN
The belief that II vii! be eifectual. You have
Too often ntimidated Congress You have more
;han once frightened tue tame North from ;
propnety, and found =" doughtaces" euou. b t. be
your tools. And when you lacked gwen mum
Der, take no pride IN saying, you were sure to
find them in old Pennsylvania, who, IN former
years, has ranked portion OF her delegation a.
,nong your most submissive slaves. But hope,
with some fears, that the race OF doug hiaces is
extinct. | do not see how II could we'll be 9TH
erwlse. They were an unnan.y, an unvIrlle
race, incapable, according 10 the laws OF nature,
OF reproduction. hope they have lett no de-
sceEdants. The old ones deep III political
graves. For them, am sure there Is resur-
reciIon, for they were soulless. Now, when the
whole civilized world unites IN denounc'ng Sid
very a curse, shame, aud Il c.IIne, trust
IL. l. I