Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-30
Natioa-l Address
OF the Free Soil Convention,
Held at Cleveland, Sept. "a, 1851.
0 the People of the United States !.

Maintaining political organization dis
tinct from the othe. great parties of the
nation, and having assembled for the pur-
pose of consultation, and of uniting the
friends of freedom for future action, We
deem it proper to re-state some of the con-
siderations which moved US to adopt and
which now induces US to pursue the policy
of independent political action.
With Jefferson and Hancock and the
patriots of l776 we re affirm the selfevi-
dent truths" "that all are created equal,
that they are endowed by their creator with
certain inalienabe rights, among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
that governments are instituted among
men 10 secure these rights"
The American Revolution was but a
practical assertion Of these Truths. Our
Federal Union is based OH them. And our
Constitution, the formal bond of that I'm
ion. was Instituted to secure, within the
sphere Of its operation, the realization OF
those same seCevident Truths" But
the National Government, formed to admin
lister that noble Constitution, has grossly
disregarded the grand purpose of the lat
ter's adoption. Instead Of using tn &, pow
ers clearly granted by this instrument for
securing to the people the blessings of Lib
erty. that Government has prostltuted those
powers to multiplying the unutterable curses
of Slavery. 1t has done so in multitude
of paIpable instances. To some two or
three, as specimens of the whole, we will
refer.
By an act approved February 28th, 1901 ,
Congress ordained that those laws of Mary
land which had been previously In force IN
that part of the District Of Columbia ce-
ded by that State to the Federal Govern
ment, shall continue in force therein. by
this statute the slave laws of Mary land were
re-enacted by Congress and became Laaos Of
the United States. Thus was slavery and
the slave trade with its crimes re-establish'
ed in the District Of Columbia, and they
are now upheld and sustained there by the
Federal power Men and women are there
reared for market and sold like beasts at
public auction. There the dealer in human
flesh pursues his vocation, shielded by the
laws of our Federal Government. These
laws should be repealed. This disgrace Of
our Nation should be wiped out. But we
are told by both Wing and Democratic par
ties, that by the compromise measures Of
the last Congress the whole slave question
is settled, and that this sIave-trade in the
District of Columbia must continue as II
now is Thus both parties now stand il
the attitude of protecting this commerce III
human flesh.
We are also panied at Witnessing the Ell
forts made to induce the people to believe
that this slave-lrade, in the District OF Col
umbia has been abolished by statute pass
ed during the late Congress. That statute
was not designed to save single being iron
the horrors of the slave trade. 1t merely
prohibits the people of the surrounding
States from the slave market of Washing
ton CITY and Of Georgetown, thus operating
as prohibitory tariff in favor OF the slave
grown in district.
Both the Wing and the Democratic par
ties voted for these Compromise measures
and they now insist that this slave trad
shall continue under the protection OF Con
gress. To support either of those parties
would be to maintain this sIave-traoe-t'
vote for a continuation Of this atroclou
commerce. with its crimes and its guilt
We here declare that we will not pariici
nate in the responsibility of sustaining tina
traffic. nor will we share in its guilt. "
the other hand we declare that we Will ne'
or cease our efforts, nor surrender our OF
oanization while these enormltles exi'
1nder the sanction of our National statute
In 1877, Congress, by statute enactment
proyided for, established, and regulated IL
coast-wise slave-trade. By that law the tia
Of our country was prostltuted to the pr
lection of car goes of human beings held
slaves, Under this law, men, women an
children are purchased in the sIave'gro'
inU States and IN the District OF Column
and transported under our National flag
southern markets there they are pup &c
sold and employed in the production of CO
ton and su gar and rice and taking IL
statements of shareholders themselves tn
are driven so hard that the average Ieng
Of their lives is only from hive to seven yea l
In this way it is estimated that at least ~
UUU human DeluBo "O o""
under the laws of our Nation.
We are now told by both the Wing al
Democratic parties that this commerce
mankind must continue, that under I
COMPROMISE of the late Congress 1t "
settled that the whole subject OF slave
should remain undsturbed, protected a
upheld by both the leading parties OF
nation. Against this law, against the
murders, against the disgrace OF our n
tional flag, we solemnly protest. To Vt
for either the Wing or the Democratic p
ties would be in effect to vote for this la
to involve ourselves in those crimes.
such guilt we will not participate, but "
continue our efforts to repeal such Law
and to purify our nation from those Grim
At the first session of the last Congre
laws were passed 10 organize TerrItor
Governments in Utah and New-MexIco.
By those laws slavery and the save-tra
are permitted to contaminate that soil WIN
had been consecrated to freedom by
laws of Mexico. Those laws permittl
slavery to extend into these TerrItor
we're enacted by both the Wing and De
ocratic parties, and in constituting the
Territorial Governments both of the gr'
parties practically denied the doctrine Il
"Governments are instituted to secure
rights of all men to life, liberty and the p
suit of happiness" They refused to g
this security to the people of those Terri
ries; and slaves are now held in Utah a
New Mexico in utter disregard of the m
al sentiments of the christian world.
avow our first determination to do what
NAV to rescue the people of those teri
ries from the blight and curse oil hun
slavery.
A, The came session Of Congress