Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-18
The President and the Fugitive
Slave Bill,

Although we have no particular fault to find
with President FIlmore's Message as stat isti-
cal document, or expose of State affairs, DISC
nected with the only true issues of the day vet
we think hatportion Of it relating TO lheFus,itve
Slave Law should not be suffered to pass with.
out receiving the most pointed condemn alton
and rebuke of every true democrat, every lover
Of freedom aud indeed of every lover OF truth
and justice. The unqualified assumptol that
the Constitution required the enactment of the
Fugitive Slave Law, made in direct con tradic-
ton to the well known opinions of large If
not the largest, proportion of the abest men in
The free States, including even that of the Chief
officer Of his cabinet, Daniel Webster himself
is certainly very extraordinary one lille the
charge that the opponents of this law are aiming
to subvert the Constitution under pref ence of
opposing that law is still more false and prepos
ferrous. While the Free Soil party have ever
and everywhere been claiming the Constitution
as the sheet anchor of their hopes, their great
and,it fairly interpreted sufficient shield against
the aggresslons OF the Slave Power and while
the great hilh priests of that Power, such as
Calhoun, Dallas, and others, have frankly con-
ceded the lack of authority in the Constitution
tor the protection of slavery by Congressional
enactment, and advocated Its amendment for that
purpose, we confess we never expected to
hear such charge from President of the Uni
ted States. Reams of detraction and falsehood
have been thrown off by the Hunker presses the
past year against the free soil party walls of
wrath and obloquy have been poured upon their
heads IN ceasoess showers by the bought up
stump minlons of the South, from the apostate
Webster all the way down to his dirties negro.
catcher, but among them all, few Or none have
had the etfrontery seriously to persl st in such
ridiculous charge as this. But are, YOU sure.
asks one, perhaps, that the Presiden means the
free soil party in his charge that " tn main Cd
position is aimed at the Constitution itself nd
proceeds from persons and classes of persons
many of whom declare their wish see the
Constitution overturned? Yes. w hy moi p
If he does not mean the freesoilers HON does
he mean? Not the Southern Cisunie nists. TO,
they never opposed the slave law, eiti yer in tbs
whole or in "the Details" besides thou Oh they
are STEPPED to the lips in treason,he in is doub.
ly-kneaded dough-facelsm, would not da - even
to alude to them. Who then Lloyd ga rrison,
Abby Kelly, and the handful of their folIt ,wers?
No, 1t would be absurd to say TIE maia ppoSi-
tioH" CONES fIom them, while the frees, pliers.
numbering hundred to one Garrisonite, are
making the country ring with denunclations of
the law, and the latter, in their warfare direct
upon slavery, scarcely deign to discuss the slave
law al all. No, the President means neither of
these; but the great Freeso party; and in the
name OF that party we take it upon ourselves 10
plon"unce his charge deliberate caumuy, or
piece Of contemplate demagogueisnl, leavn g
him the option of these two horns of the dilem-
ma.