The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-24

LETTER FROM MIR. PHELPS.
IIoS. Jo.IrH SiGAE,
Dear Sir,
the honor 10 acknowledge the receipt Of
your letter, dated Richmond. and ad-
dressed TO my colIeagc and myself. con-
tanning on inqSiry in relation to the re-
cen, act Of the Legislature Of Vermont,
which has been the subject OF such gen
eral remark throughout the country.
/ hesitate not 10 say,in the most une-
qui,ocal manner, and in THIS | have the
concurrence Of my colleague in the Sem
ate, and ] believe that Of the entire
delegation Of Vermont, that the act re-
fcred 10 does not "embody the delibcr-
a,c sense Of the people of Vermont y
| may add with truth, that il does
not, in my opinion, embody the de-
liLerate sentiment Of the legislative
body Of the State. The act was
hurried through the Legislature at the
close Of the session, in the absence
of many Of the members. without dis.
cussion or explanation of its character
aud effect, and have reason to believe
in utter ignorance on the part Of many
members who were present of lis objec-
tionable features. Such was the haste
attending the passage Of The act, that
the first inlma,ion to the public that
such measure was in contemplation
was through the publication Of the law
itself.
That publication produced general
surprise, and. among men Of reflection
almost universal and deep regrct,-The
ac, is d>approved by the almost entire
press, and doubt rot by vast ma
jority of the people of the State. 1t
certainly was received by her deleSa-
ton in Congress with sentiments of
deep regret aud modification, as inhict-
ing stain upon the high character OF
her people for patriotism, attachment to
! the Union, and submission TO constitu.
,onal authority; and as falsifying the
professions and pledges so boldly and
confidently made during recent excit-
ing discussions by her delegation on the
floor Of Congress. The law has been
the subjec, Of general discussion by the
press of that State, and, with one OF
two exceptions, has recci, cd from that
source the mos, pointed reprobation.
have seen but one or two attempts tc
yindicate it. Perhaps the courtesy due
70 the source from which those effort,
are supposed 10 proceed, forbid the ex-
preston tha; they may be characterized
as weak but tina, tllcy will fail to sat
isfy the people Of the State OF the pro
pricty and conatiiu,ionality Of the act
Of her Legislature, | most confidently
predict.
No attempt has been made, or vii
he made, 10 sustain the right OF th'
State to override. modify, or annnl al
act Of Congress, by State legislation
The only attempt 10 vindicate the Law
which has fallen under my obscrvaii Oh
consists in the effort to reconcile the Law
Of the State with the act OF Congrcs
commonly called the fugitive slave law
task SO hopeless, in my judgmcnt,'ha
whoever attempts it will very soon fin
Utmost convenient and mos, agreeable
TO relinouish it. If there be at this mo
men, any difference of opinion among
the people Of that State as 10 the mer
, ils OF the State law, it is upon this point
, Those, # such there be. who can discoy
{; er no conflict between it and the act {
: Congress, will of course discover Il
: constitutional impcdimcnt 10 the exer
! else Of legislative discretion by the Stat
! Legislature; but Jet the poin, be onc
settled that the law is repugnant Il
, and irrcconcilable with the act OF Cor
gress, and | pledge myself that ther
{ is not one Of ten Of the voters
| that State, including the whole popul;
r ton. who would stand by the State la
, for a moment. That ,hcy will discov'
- the utter incompatbili,y Of the Nv
G laws, ! have no doubt. They are
!. intelligent, as well as patriotic peop
. and will no, fail to perceive that, uule
:. they can endow dark skin with II
e power Of ubiqu:ty, 30 as 70 surrender
fugitive to the claimant TO be remove
: 10 The State whence be fed, in conform
g iry with the ac, Of Congress, and at ii
i same time retain him as IL free man u
y der their protection, for further invest
n r.,;on. and with q view 10 his taiu
e discharge as such. the Two acts can''
!. be carried on without conflict.
ot /, is nay deliberate opinion thai u
Law viii share the falc Of other acts
IS has;y and improvideh, legislation
II which the history of State legislation
D. full 4 few years since, similar u
,e was enacted by the Legislature Of N'
v mont, but il conformity with the dec