Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-05

PShSSo
king settlements in the wilderness which are
usually fully equal to the actual cost, and OF the
public dement's resulting therefrom, of reasonable
portions of the public lands, under suitable Inn
itations, is a wise and just measure OF public
policy, which will promote in various ways, the
interests of all the States eff the Union. and is
entitled to the favorable consideration OF the
American people.
s. That Congress has no power to Interfere
with, or control the domestic institutions OF the
several States, and that such States are the sole
and proper judges of everything, appertaining
to their own affairs, not prohibited by the Con-
stitution, nor in violation of the rights OF the
citizens of other States under It.
9. That Slavery, in the several States of this
Union which recognize its existence, depends
upon State laws alone, which cannot be repeal
ed or modified by the Federal government, and
for which that government is not responsible;
and being both State, and sectional institution,
is not under the control of Congress to establish
or abolish within the limits of the States, it can
claim no support from Congress as a national
interest, to be fostered within the states, or to
be extended and legazed beyond their limits.
10. That the action Of the founders of the
government, with Jefferson at their head and
the acutal exclusion of slavery from the North
| Western Territory by the ordinance of 1857,
unanimously adopted by the first Congress which
met under the Constitution, and the entire histo-
ny of that period, clearly show that slavery was
considered local and sectional institution, and
that the settled policy of the nation was then
mol to ertend ,,ationaiize, and encourage, but to
limit, localize, and discourage it and to this pol
icy, which should never have been departed
from, the government ought to return
H. That it is the duty of the Federal gov
erDment to relieve itself from all responsibility
for the existence or continuance of slavery in
the District of Columbia, and everywhere else
that government possesses constitutional author
ity to egslate and is thus responsible for its ex
istence; so that freedom instead of slavery shall
become national, and slavery instead of freedom,
become sectional.
10. That the only safe means Of preventing
the extension of slavery into territory now free,
is to prohibit its extension into all such territory
by an act Of Congress.
IL. That no more slave states ought to be
admitted into the Union.
IA. that in relation to the Fugitive Slave Law
passed at the last session of Congress, we hold;
That no person in any State of this Union
can be lawfully deprived of his liberty without
due process of law; which process, in the case
Of an alleged fugitive from service, is suit at
common law wherein the fact, whether said
fugitive was lawfully held to service, in the
State from which he is alledged to have escaped
shall be determined by trial by jury
That such trial by jury should precede the
delivery into the hands OF the party claiming
him, of such alleged fugitive, and should be
had in the vicinity where the said alleged fu-
gitlve is found.
That in the determination of the question of
liberty, all Prescriptions Of law and fact, are,
and ought to be, in favor of liberty.
That The fugitive slave law enacted by the
Congress lately expired, contravening these
principles, is unjust, unconstitutional, Ill dero.
CATION Of the fundamental maxims of free gov
ernment, and ought to be speedily and forever
repealed
15 That we base all our hopes of the final
overthrow of slave domination in this nation,
upon the fidelity of the Democratic Masses to
the sublime principles of their creed, and that
we cannot regard those as true interpreters of
Democracy, who would introduce adherance to
the compromise measures of the last Congress,
as test of Democratic orthodoxy.
16. That ropal tho basa and ,.n,-ap-a A4a-
BILE accusation that, in opposing the supremacy
of the Slave Power, we are wanting in loyalty
to the Constitution and the Union and that we
insist that fidelity to the Union is best manifest
ed by unrelenting efforts to restore the govern
ment to the old Democratic policy of limiting,
discouraging and localizing the institution of
slavery.
II. That we are unalteraby devoted in our at
tachment to the Union, and that we will stand
by it, come veal or come woe, so long as it full
fills the objects for which it was established and
until it is converted into an engine to overthrow
the sovereignty of the States and the liberties
of the people.
l8. That the present administration through
the message of its President, and through the
letters and speeches Of its chief Secretary, hay
ing pledged itself to the maintenance of the
Compromise measures, without modification OF
alteration" no person can directly uphold thai
administration, without upholding the policy o.
leaving the Territories open to the introduction
of slavery, of admitting new slave States into
the Union, and Of enforcing that gigantic out
rage on civil liberty, the Fugitive Slave Law.
10. That the law passed by our last Legisla
ture in relation to the Habeas Corpus, is a prop
or safeguard for the liberties of our citizens, ant
a just exercise Of the power Of the State to pro
tect all within its limits, from summary and ty
rannical proceedings.
On motion of Mr.. Barlow
RsSolved, That we pledge our best efforts t,
. secure the election of Lucius B. Peck, Rylant
f Fletcher, and Daniel P. Thompson, to the off
ces to which they have this day been nominated
!. On motion of J. Bradley,
e Resolued, That the proceedings of the Con
ventlon be signed by It's officers, and publisher
IN the Democratic papers OF this State.
The business of the Convention being nov
completed, the meeting, on motion of L. A
Stansbuiy Esq. adjourned to meet again at tn
Rutland Railroad Depot at Z O'Clock p. NJ, t
listen to an address from the Hon. John Va
e Buren,.
II EVENING.
Il AT the appointed hour the delegates of tn
= Convention, together with vast assemblage @
citizens from Burlington and vicinity, the Who'll
10 numbering several thousands, met in the larg
and commodous Depot of the Rutland Railroad
the use of which its officers kindly tendere
for the occasion; when Mr.. Van Buren, pro
:, ceeded with an address which occupied near
- two hours in delivery,-when, after the passap
of resolution of thanks to the speaker for hi
1t unusually able and eloquent effort, the Conven
u u ton adjourned sine die,
y C, B. HARRINGTON, President.
!; DIP. THOMPSON,
& GEO. WILKINS, c.,
P. WEIGH, '''''0'"'eS'
}. H. Dow,
J. ------
= WEBSTER has made another long speech q