Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-01-16
RYLAND FLETCHER
Washington City, Jan. 4, 1851
My DEAR Sir:

Ny DEAR Sir:
have read your favor of the 25th ult. with
interest | thank you for your kind illusions to
my course in Congress,-but am not conscious
of having merted the commentator you award
me. 1t is true that my Congressional life has
not been one Of indolcnt ease yet my abors in
maintaining my position have not been SO great
as some imagine. 1t has been an established
rule with me never to assume doubtful position.
Acting on this principle, it has not been mere
labor to maintain the doctrines which have at
all times avOwed. Indeed, at no time has it
been difficult TO meet the enemies of freedom in
the form of debate. They appear instinctively
conscious of their Inability to grapple with truth
and justice. They reco from such conflict,
and have recourse to that policy of personal de-
traction and caumny to which you allude, and
of which have so long been made the subject.
When, in 1919, | denied the constitutional
power of Congress to lnvove the people of the
free States in the crime of sustaining the coast
wise slave trade. Neither STAKEHOLDER nor
doughace dared deny the correctness Of my pc
stion, but they had the brute numbers to pass
resolution of censure upon me for asserting
truths which to this day no man of character
has, or will deny.
the opponents of freedom have pursued for ten
years past, againNthose who stand prominent in
the cause Of liberty. OF this do not complain.
1t demonstrates the strength of our position :
that our doctrines are irrefu;abe, and this resort
personal vltupeution and SANDER, is had in or
der to to divert public attention from our princi-
pes--to substitute prejudice for reason, and to
make calumny take the place of logic. 1t viii
at no distant day be regarded as an ingorious
subterfuse for honorable men an intelligent
people will not fail to appreciate it.
But sir, the people are awakening to the state
OF things around us. To the Legislature of your
State award great honor for the passage Of her
State Law to protect her citizens. How much
more glorious is the position of the Green Noun
lain State than that of Pennsylvania. Her off
GERS, her citizens, her government, stand witt
folded arms, and see one Of their number, fret
american citizen, seized, ironed, and sent to the
land of whips, slghs and tears. No proud Oh
manly voice is heard even 10 protest on behalf o.
old Commonwealth, against the ''deep Damn
ton of his taking off, No officer of that State
nterposes to save him. For years Pennsylvania
has permitted South Carolina and other Southern
States to seize her colored people when visiting
those States and carrying them back to slavery
where they are now sold from hand to hand like
cattle or swine
She permits the STAKEHOLDER to come into he
own soil, seize her free inhabitants and carry
them to bondage and degradation. | rejoice
however, that recently the colored females o
that State, conscious of their situation, have ris
en- in their strength and driven the slave catch
ers back to their dens. alude to the late case
in Chester County, where deputy Marshall art
five assistant bloodhounds were beaten back ant
defeated by two females assisted by one man
armed with axes. wonder at the forbearanct
of the colored people of that State. On the oc
casion referred to- the Marshall and his assist
ants are said to have fired several shots at the
colOred people, one of whom was badly wound
ed. And we were told in November, tina
two colored men who were supposed to be III
gitives, were shot and killed in Bradford Coun
ty of that State. ! am astonlshed Ihat the color
ed people do not shoot down those who thus muir
der them. Indeed they will do it. A border wa
has commenced blood has already been shet
under this atrocious fugitive law. The murder
ers are yet at large unhanged and unpublished
and so far as my observation extends, no meas
res have been taken to bring them to justice
There is no other course for the colored to pur
sue but TO defend themselves
Your State has been the first TO move for thu
protection of its people against their murderon
bloodhonnds in human shape, who seek to fast
en- their fangs upon Northen freemen. Self re
spect required the law to which allude. Flo
her Legislature to have remained silent and in
active would have been inconsistent with tn
character of her people. Her position is worth
Of the descendants of her revolutionary slres.
Very Respectfully
]. r. GIDDINGS.
GEN. RYLAND FLETCHER.
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First EI1nritirra Slave Case in Tndi