The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-06-25
NUMBER 9.

favor of something else,-be the minority,
---what is it but resistance 10 the first article
Of our own political creed as republicans
Who is it that would thus open the dread
Pandora box Of free State They are
The men who claim to be the peculiar friends
of abstract rights. Blinded by the dazzle Of
the sun upon which they insist upon fixing
their gaze, and the gaze of all they would
have TO follow, the light that should guide
them becomes but snare for their destruc-
ton. Aud these sophsi politicians, who en-;
courage them by mistifying the law with lel
gal subtletcs, are We to consider them az
Llind, or as scheming 10 rise by creating con-
fusion ?
We have not felt ourselves called upon
heretofore to discuss in this Review this
question directly on It's merits, because here
tofore it has been kept in the region of spec
ulatior, theory, and discussion. Al last
however, it appears 10 be assuming the tan
gible shape of resistance, and men looked
up to as guides are Intentionally or not) en-
couragibg treason to our Constitutional obs
legations. Ii is our duty therefore 10 at-
tempt TO embody what we know 10 be the
opinion Of all sound and patriotic minds In
the Republic. That this overt or covert re-
sis'ance is something entirely new, and BE-.
yond he proteSsed principles Of the most ul-
ira abolition organizations or organs, may be
startling proposition to some who have un-
!hinkinsly lent themselves to the work; W.
we shall demonstrate to them 10 few words
tba, so it is. The following is the preamble
TO the Constitution of the New England
Anti Slavery Society -
ave. the undersigned. hold tha: every
person of full age and sane mind has a right
to immediate freedom from personal bondage,
Of whatsoever kind, unless imposed by The
sentence of the law for thu commission Of
some crime. We hold shat man cannot,
consistently with reason. religion, and the e
ternal and immutabe principles Of justice,
be the property Of man. We hold that who
ever retains his fellow-mAR in bondage is
guilty of grievous wrong. We hold that
mere difference Of complexion 10 DO reason
why any man should be deprived Of any Of
bis natural rights. or subjected TO any polit-
cal disability. While zee 0dooncs these opin-
ions as the principles on. Vhich toe intend to
act, We declare that zoe 0iu not operate on The
ezisfing relations Of socsty BY ether nan
peaceful and iarful means, and that ue Uiit
gire no countendnce TO violence or insurTee-
lion NJ! m
And the second article Of The Constitution
is as follows:-
"The object OF this Society will be to en-.
deavor, by all means sanctioned BY lac, hu-
ndri'y and religion, to effect the abolition OF
slavery in the United States; TO improve the
r character and condition OF the free people
Of color {; to reform and correct public opin-
them equal civil and political rights and
privileges with the whites.'
The American Anti. Slavery Society, Is.
:ablished IN 1888, declared is objects 10 be
1.-THE entire abolition Of slavery in the
United States. While it admits that each
State in which Slavery exists has, by the
Constitution of the United States, the ex-
elusive right to egislate in regard to its ab-;
clifton in that State, it shall aim to convince
all our fellow.citzens, by arguments address
ed to their Understandings and consciences,
that slaveholding is a heinous crime in the
sight of God and that the duty, safety, and
best interests of all concerned require it's
immediate abandonment, uithout erparidtion.
} The Society wiH also endearor, in a consiiiu>
fiondi rdy, TO infance Congress 10 put an
end 10 The domestic serri,ude, and 10 abolish
slavery IN all those portions of our common
country which come under its control, espe:
cidlly in The District of Columbia, and hke>
,cise TO prevent The extension ofdto any State
that may hereafter be admitted 10 The Union"
And other objects of the Society were
stated thus -
"This Society shall aim 10 elevate the char
icter and condition OF the people of color;
by encouraging their intellectusl, moral, aud
religious improvement, and by removing
public prejudice; that thus they may show,
according TO their moral and intellectual
worth, an EQUALITY with the whites OF civ-
i! and religious privileges tnt The Society
uiH nepe,, in any ,cdy. coun'enance the OPP
pressed in rtnaicdting their rights by resorfing
10 physical force"
In the address put forth by them in the
year 1855, they say -
1--WE hold that Congress has no moro
right to abolish slavery in the Southern
States than in the French West India IS
lands. Of course, we desire no national
legislation on the subject. We hold ihas
slavery can only be id,cfuiiy abolished By The
Legislatures Of the several States in uhich it
prerd'ls, and thai the exercise of any other
than moral influence TO induce such abolition
is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. We believe thar
Congress has the same right to abolish slave
~ in the District of Columbia that the State
Governments have within their respective
Jurisdictions and that it is their dsiyt 10 eface
so taul blot from he national escttcheon.
| We believe that American citizens have
the right 10 express and publish their opin-
ions Of the Constitution, and laws, and inst--
tutions of any and every State and nation,
and zee mean nerer 10 surrender fhe liberty
Of speech, of the press, or Of conscience"
In the address of The Anti. Slavery Socie>
ty of Massachusetts,, signed by w. L. Gar
rison and twenty.three others, is the follow
| ing, TO the same effect -
We are accused of interfering in tho
domestic concerns OF the Southern States,
We would ask those who charge this 10 ex-
plain precisely what they mean BY in,erfcr-
ence. IT, by interference, be meant any
attempt to legisiate for the Southern States,
or to compel them by force or intimidation.
! 10 emancipate their slaves, we at once deny
any. such pretension. We are utterly on
posed 10 any force on the subject but that Of
conscience ard reason, which are mighty,
through God, in The pulling down of strong
holds. We fully acknowledge that no change
in the siare idscs Of the Southern SAFES can
be made unless by The .Southern Legislatures.
Neither ConOreSs nor The Ie0islafurss of lhs