Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-04-17
VERMONT AND IT'S LEGISLA-
TURE DEFENDED.

CALEDONIA County,,
Vermont, March 81, ic5i.

The law passed by the Legislature Of Yer
mont last Fall, for the protection Of such of
her citizens as may be claimed as fugitive
slaves, has subjected this State to much I'M
meriied abuse She has been assaled by
ridicule aud denunciaiion IN no measured
terms, and sometimes from quarters where
she had least reason TO expect 1t but she
has quietly suffered the storm to spend It's
force, aud neither threatened to secede from
the Union, nor armed herself to the teeth
for lorclble resistance of the Federal Gov
eminent There is too much stability of
character, and conscious rectltude Of pur-
pose on the part of our citizens, to be very
greatly moved by the taunts Of the Vugln-
lans, " that Vermont is no larger than two
or three counties of the Old Dominion,
sending only four Representatives to Com
gress, and whose inhabitants are chiefly DIS
,ingushed for their skill IN whiting pine
sticks" We can even forgive Gen. Ham
,on of South Carolina, for charging our
Legislature with being under the luilu-
ence of that inspiration which makes men
more merry than wlse, when they enacted
the law in question, for we infer that such
a conclusion would not be drawn, except 10y
one who is seldom inspired by any more
commendable influence.
But, in one respect, we cannot so readily
yield To public calumny, and sit down our
city under a false, iinot malicious charge,
When our integrity, our love of order, our
obedience TO the laws are called IN question,
and | might add, when attempts are made
to cast doubt on the fidelity OF large
proportion of our citizens to sound Wing
principles, we then clam the right TO be
heard.
Henry Clay never uttered remark more
full OF truth than when he said " OF all
the possessions which appertain to man, IN
/ his collective or individual condition, none
should be preserved with more sedulous aud
unremltiiag care, than that of an unsullied
character. Ii is impossible TO estimate II
too highly IN society, when attached TO an
individual, nor can It be exaggerated or too
greatly magnlied ia a nation. Those who
lose or are indifferent TO II, become Just OBJ
lects of scorn and contempt" These words
are like "apples Of gold" aud deserve to
be " set IN pictures oil silver" Their truth
aud justice WILL be acknowledged by all
whose moral sense - not very greatly per-
yerted. What can be more valued 10y a var
tuous man than his reputation and next To
his own, the reputation oilhe state or country
which is his home , And what eau be more
trying to man OF generous nature, than
To be regarded with suspicion or TO be
falsely charged with wrong or dlshonorable
conduct Or what will sooner rouse has
Indignation than to hear the State ia which
he claims citizenship thus charged
1t Is this reputation which Nefmonters
value The hardy and enterprising charac-
ter of our population, the high moral tone
which peryades the different classes, and
the steady, unwayerlng attachment which
they have ever maintained Tor correct prln-
clples, have, until recently, been generally
acknowledged. An honest independence,
a stern aud unyielding resistance OF every
attempt to trample on their rights, an ardent
love of liberty, and patriotic obedience to
Just aud holesome laws, are prominent IN
the character Of our people and these
traits have heretofore gained them the re-
specl and honorable regard OF the vlrtuou
aud good ia all communities, laa sa4s.9 q
But change has occurred, ne unsul
HE'D reputation Of our Mountain State IA
been assaulted, aud from ever ynqaafteE Of "a
! Uaion the cry has been reiterated, Vel