Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-02-27
From the Hartford Republican.
BOUND TO EXECUTE THE
LAWS

President Fillmore has very formally annoUn-
eel, that he is bound by his oath to execute the
wa OF the United States, and that he will dis
charge this duty infexiby. But when ne said
laws he meant the Fugitive Slave Law.
That such was hi4 meaning is sufficiently
proved, by the circum .tances under which the
declaration was made, as well as by his conduct.
He has shown great zeal for the Fugitive Slave
Law, vet he steadily tolerntes the violation OF
some of the highest laws of the land laws,
which no one pretends to regard as unconstltu-
tiolal or unnecessary. Who does not know
how it often fares in the slave States, with the
mails and with the rights of Northern men Z
But we have treaty with Great Britain, and
this treaty having been duly ratified, is one OF
tn supreme laws of the land. The President
is bound to see its provisions executed
But the shareholders have the audacity to
trample on that provision of the treaty which re-
ates 10 the rights Of British citizens in or ports.
They lmprson British seamen with view OF
selling them into slavery, If this becomes neces
sary to pay the jail fees. The British Govern
ment has demonstrated at Washington, and has
been put off with some story about the 'mgher
laws OF slavery, Being thus put off, the British
minister has carried the matter to the royal court
of South Carolina; and we now have the humll-
iating spectacle OF the British Government ne
gotiatlng, not witt President Fillmore, hut with
Gov Means, for the fulfilnent OF treaty.
This is violation OF The Constitution, and SC
far as it goes, actually dissolves the Union
President Fillmore and his friends call Other
people disunion,Sts and hypocritically parade
before us a declaration, that the President is
bound to execute the laws, and will do so faith
fully! Yes, they having in their hands the gu
preme power Of the nation, steadily allow slave
nv to violate the Constitution, tranpe on the
laws, uslrp the prerogatives of the Federal Gov
eminent, and thus dissolve the Union; and
meanwhile, to divert attention from their owl
reasonable conduct, they call other people dis
unionsts.
TIE only dangerous men in the country, ,-th'
only men who are actually corrupting ana oe
stroyng the Union are the scoundrelly Pollti
clans who seek and get power, by panderlng Z
slavery, and allowing it to do as it will. incl
brazen hypocracy, when they talk Of their devo
ton to the Union and the laws, or when they e
lectioneer among the grannies, by calling non
est men dsunionsts, is enough to convulse al
iceberg with Indignation.
'Dsunionists = 'Destroyers of the Union" YOU
unprinclpled panders to slavery, are the destroy
ers of the Union Yes you are dlssoIvlng Il
link by link Patriotism Do you talk OF pat
rotsn? You, who are so eager to execute an
law for which slavery clamors, and quite as ca
ger to recognize no law which slavery torblds
In the slave States, you allow the constitutions
authority of the Federal Government, to be dis
honored and cked about like some coward
cur, or plantation slave and, still, you have tn
audacity to talk of patriotism, and call YOU
selves and your mercenaries, 'saviOurs Of tn
Union
The American Union was never designed
be an end 10 which anything and everythin
must be sacrificed. They who would make
so are its meanest and basest enemies. 1t ws
established to be means to certain ends, will
out which its failure is sure the progress
Of time. The disease and curse of the COUNT
10, that we have so many Tending statesmen
statesmen torsooth y who have that rottenness
reckless ambition which steams contapion thr
every channel Of influence that connec ther
with the people, and leaves its deadly smile O
everything they touch as they crawl toward
the places of power by any path that seems fes
sible
These are the men who convert Congress in
to green room, where they gamble for the Pres
ldency aud IFS Accomplishments. What car
they for establishing JUSTICE when to do 8
would embarrass their game? What care the
tor the purpose or authority of the Union, wheI
they can gam power by allowing them to be null
lifted? Thew who value the Union, thew VIII
would save 1t from destruction, and make it per
petual, should unite 10 rescue IN its fate from tn
hands of such political desperadoes.