The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-10

Phelps. late L. S. Senator from VT, to
Joseph Segor, Esq, member IF The
JIrgiaia House Of Delegates, explain
ina the circum stances under which the
Vermont law, in opposition 10 the exc
cu,ion e the Fugitive Slave law Of the
La, session Of Congress, was cnac'cd.--
The letter i dated "Senate Chamber,
Jan. /, 1851" Tie following is an
extract -
u hesitate no, to SAY, in tic most I'M
conivocal manner, (and in this / have
the concurrence Of my colleague III the
Senate. and lclieve the entire del
cration of Ncrm9n,.) that the &C, referred
to does not 'embody the deliberate
sense of the poole Of Vermont |
NAV add with truth that it does not,
in my opinion. omhody the deliberate
sentiment Of the legislative body Of
the State. The act was hurried
throu h the Legislature at the close
of the session. in the absence Of many
Of the members. withou; discussion or
exclamation of its character and ef-
feet, and | have reason to believe IN
uttcr ignorance on the Tart of many
members who were present, OF its Oh
jcctionable features. Such was the
haste attending the passage Of the
act. that the first intimation to the
public that such a measure was in
contemplation, was through the pub.
LEGATION Of the law itself. That pub.
LEGATION produced general surprise land
among men Of reflection, almost uni
vcrsal and very deep regret. The
act is disapprovcl by the almost en-.
. tire press, and, I doubt not, by vast
majority of the people Of the State.
|, 1t certainly was received By her dele.
CATION in Congress with sentiments Of
regret and deep modification, as in
Aicting a stain upon the hi I'll charac
ter of her people for patriotism, at
tachment to the Union and su1mis
: sion to constitutional authority ; and
y as classifying the professions and
, Pledges so boldly and confidently
5 made, during recent exciting discus
sions, by her delegation, on tho floors
of Congress. The law has been the
, subject Of general discussion by the
T press of that State, and. with one OF
two exceptions has received from
y that source the most pointed repro
y baton. | have seen but one or two
attempts to vindicatc it. Perhaps
the courtesy due to the source from
: which those efforts are supposed t.
l. proceed, forbid the expression tina
d they may be characterized as weak
}. but that they will fail to. satisfy tn,
|, people of the State of the prophet,
:. and constitutionallty Of the act of he
:. Legislature, l most confidently Pre-
10 dict.
IS "No attempt has been made, o
't will be made, to sustain the right Q
d the State to override, modify, an ac
of Congress by State legislation. -
s. The only attempt to vindicate the la,
y which has fallen under my observation
|. consists in the effort to reconcile thu
. law of the State with the act of Con
- gress commonly called the Fugitive
y lava task 50 hopeless, in my judo
y mcnt, that whoever attempts it vii
Is very soon find it most convenient ant
e most agreeable to rclinquish it."
n Mr.. Phelps expresses his belieftha
.e when the Legislature meets again, til
r, act will be promptly repealed.
id If the character of the letter abov
If alluded to, is fairly exhibited by the ey
- tract givcn-whch we take from I'll
J. Republic, and is all we have seen {
i. tive are inclined to think it will sui
e. prise. somewhat, many Of our Vernon
,e friends.
II Under what authority the Hon, Ger
of acted, as The apologist Of Vermont,
lie the Virginia House Of Delegates we ar
not informed. Whether he has assun
!e ed this duty in lis Senatorial .capaci,.
y, or whether as the organ Of that band {
IS Union men who think the Con>lit'
ID ton can only be broken at the Norll
,r and who have clung with singular te
o nacily to such men as Webster, Gas
,f and himself, in all their temporzin
f. policy with the slavcocracy-he h;
Mt thus venturcd out as the defender
h. their peculiar views, we know not
l. 1t may be however, that having hin
IL self, just been judged by Vermont thr
er her legislature, he thought it no mo,
n. than fair that he should judge Vernon
al through the medium of his letter. Ho
- far his letter represents the feelings (
a. the Vermont people will be judged
to by The people themselves.
a We would however, beg leave, re
re pectfuliy to submit whether safer sue
" an apology" them resolutions should n
of have been sent on without further que
H. tiopinu1