Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-04-24

slaves hat Is the question. II she cannot,
then most individually tn fugitive slave law
should be essentially modified or repealed. Ifshe
can then the modification or repeal of the law is
matter of no Importance, and the people Of Yer
mont may well be content 70 let it stand as it is
relying on their own good remedies, by habeas
corpus and trial by jury, TO protect their own
rights. Congress could provide no better way.
We suspect this view of the matter has never
been taken by those persons who most zealously
denounce The act Of Vermont Their antpathy
to "agitators' is unconqucrable, to be sure they
do not see that the law of Vermont may be a
first rate remedy for "agtation.' Some people
have a terrible anipathy to medicine: nevcrthe-
less it is an indispensable article in cases Of dan
gerous disease.
Or Purpose.
1t is our purpose TO maintain that the State has
the right to protect the personal liberty of its in
habitants and we shall endeovor to do this upon
the most ndsputable authority to wit: the Con
stitution, decisions Of the Z. S. Supreme Court
and of State Courts and the opinions of learned
Commentators uponth the Constitution and the Law.
We shall endeavor to do this in order to defend
States-and the good name and fame Of Yer
mont In attempting this, we seek no conro-
yersy, for the sake Of controversy; no discussion
for the sake Of popular excitement or party adj
vantage; but our purpose simply is 10 stand
ourselves, and induce others y;sassand, if we
can. without the slightest reference 10 party
platforms" or party advantage, upon the broad
ground Of Truth Liberty and Law. Happily,
the liabcas corpus act Of Vermont was the act
Of all parties If it is right. let all stand by it
if it is ,crong, let all abandon it Our conyic-
ton IS that it is rights clearly and entirely right
and il is a conviction drawn from consideration
Of the highest authorities. II we mistake those
authorities, we do II honestly; and we do also
Just what thousands Of others will honestly do,
when they Investigate the question. 1t will
therefore become the duty Of the opponents Of
the law to enlghton us errmg moftals to show
us ho'c it is that the Liberty Of the Inhabitants
Of Vermont is TO be protected With ali due def
erence to the distinguished men who have de-
the act of Vermont without dcmonstra-
ting its error-who have held up for the CON
denim on of the whole country, without even 50
much as telling the country what that law is. or
does, or oiicmyis 10 do-wc say, with an due def
ercnce to such men. we think it is worth while
10 know whether there is any. and ,cherc there IS
any guaranty for the Liberty Of freemon against
the gross abuses which have already been at
tempted. elsewhere. under cover of federal au-
thority, nd hich moy be attempted here Pre-
lmna.y % tn- inquiry leius u-thers say that we
believe
Fremont IS on The site Of Laic and Orfcr.
It has been the fashion in some quarters TO
stigmaiise the last Legislature Of Vermont as a
band Of disorganzers, nstigl,ors of rebellion.
accomplices before the fact in riots and mobs.-
In no sense are such accusations warranted. Bv
the very act complained OF, Vermont necessarily
ranges herself on the side of law and ORDER
The only interference she countenances is legal
and peaceful-interfcrcn by her own lawfully
constituted authorities, and according TO well es-
tabhshed forms Of law. lie who would under
take 10 raise a mob, must do il against Tie State
with all is authorities. When the state courts
take possession Of a man, they must protect him,
and all concerned, from mobs Were state
court backed by the verdict Of Jury. 10 remind
tins man into the hands of federal officers. the
State would be false to its own duty and dignity
were it 10 permit its authority to be despised and
overturned. So long as the habeas corpus act
of Vermont stands and is fairly executed, we
doubt whether there is a county. or even town
within IFS borders, where unlawful resistance
would be countenanced for a moment, either bv
the authorities or the people. To say the least,
the tendency Of the law is to prevent the abuses,
and to relieve the people from that sense of IN
security and fear of injustice, out Of which for
ever grows the spirit of rebellion. Had Massa-
chusetts a habeas corpus act and trial by Jury,
like Vermont we verify believe that dozen ne
groes never would have carr ed Boston Court
house by storm. as in the case of Shadrach-nor
would 1t be necessary to guard the entrance of
the temple of justice with iron chains, and COM
pei the ministers of the law to bow to these in
sigma Of servitude, as in the case Of Simms.
pc7nontis not uafaNGd to The Union.
Though Veunonters, for this act, are ranked,
IN certain quarters, among those whose integrity
to the Union Is TO be doubted, and though il is
auihorltatigely announced tina, they are not to be
trusted-we venture still to believe, that the au-
thors and defenders of the hlbcas corpus act
need not fear II try titles with their accusers, in
the matter of loyalty to the Constitution and the
Union. The loyalty of these freemen of the
Green Mountains rests not upon professions !:
like charity it "yaunteth not itself-is not puff
fed up doth not behave itself unseemly"-that
Is, by affecting to doubt the loyalty of every
body else; "sreketh not her own" that is, to
the disadvantage Of others; and it reioicch not
ia iaiqaity bui reo ceih in The Truth" In the
very act, which has been made the occasion Of
questioning the integrity of Vermont, she has
most plainly manifested her loyalty to the Union,
aud her P c reliance upon the tribunals es-
tabh-hea nde ~ by simply appealing to The
lar, as admins .f.a lf ro,larly constituted au-
thontes OBJ 'c 1sn Constitutional rights
and the hi Of her citizens. She commits
herself 10 M, constitution as the only bond Of
Unions and sne expects to receive It's protection
and submit 10 It's requirements. If that be
lr..t a