The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-04-19
FTum tps Boston AtlnH.
. VERMONT qualifications.

NrfWuNii march ult 1901 B
The law passed by the Legislature Of Yer |
mont last Fall for the protection ofsuoh ofhor /
eiuaons as may bo claimed as a fugitive slaves, /
! lias subjected ibis State 20 much unmerted /
abuse. She has been assaulted hy ndicule and .
IdenunciafOn in no measured terms, and .
sometimes from quarters where she had least
reason 20 expect iti but she has quietly sui-
| iared the storm % spend rs force aud neil |
/ Their threatened "a secede from the Union,
nor armed herself 20 the teeth for ioroible |
resistance Of the Federal Government, There |
. TOO much stability Of character, and con
scious reclltude Of purpose on the part Of our
citizens, 90 be very greatly moved by the
taunts uf the Nirginians "that Vermont b no
larger than two o. three counties Of the old
Dominion, sending only four Representatives
10 Congress and whose inhabitants afe chief
ly distinguished Dor their skill 10 whiting
nine sticks" We can even ibrgye General
I hamilton, Of South Carolina, for charging
our Legislature with "being under the inhn
ence Of that inspiration which makes men
more merry than wise" when they enacted
the law In question, for We infer that such
conclusion would not be drawn, except by one
who Ia seldom inspired by any more con'men'
dahle influences
But 10 one respect we cannot so readily
Yield 10 public cAlumny, and 80 down quietly
under false, u not a malicious charge, When
p our lutcHllfNt our love Dl bitltft our hlffhlH
once " tha laws are called iHqurrtiun, and
might add, when attempts are made 20 cast
doubt on the fidelity Of large proportion OF
: our citizens 90 sound Wing principles, We
. then claim the right 10 be heard.
Henry Clay never uttered remark more
full of truth than Wlcn be- and all liz
' po,sessious which appertain 20 man. IA his
j collective or individual condition, none should
! be- preserved with more scdulous aud unrr-
rfT
actcr, Il l. impossible 20 estimate Il too high
is In society when attached % an individual,
nor can ID boz exaggerated ur too greatly mag
v nihed in q nation. Those who lose or are
L. indifferent 10 IL, become just objects ol scorn
aud contempt" These words are Ike zap
, pies OF gold" and deserve 10 be- ",ct In pir-
i iurOs 0rSitytE- Their truth and justice will
k be- acknowledged by all whose moral sense is
n not very greatly perverted. What can BE-
, more valued by WUuous man than HE rep
uation aud next I'd h.s own, the reputation
p OF the State or country wirh 10 his home q
Il Aud what can ho moro trying 10 q man Of a
10 generous mature, than 60 be regarded with
/. suspicion or To- be- falsely charged with wrong
nr d,-Aagagatl.- eertur't t'rwhUt witt EuuU'
u or rouse his indignation than 10 hear the
. State in which lac claims ciuScnshlp thus
l. charged
IL l. this reputation which Ncmontcrs val.
T., ne, The hardy aud cnirrpridug character
" OF our population the high moral tone which
p peryadca the ailorOnt olas-es, and the stcHdy
e unwaNcring attachment which they have ey'
4. en- maintained for correct principles, have, un'
" IA recently, been generally acknowledged
An'honcst Independence stern and unyicld
1t ing resistance ofcvcry attempt 60 trample on
L. their rights, an ardent love OF liberty, and Q
d, patriotic obedience Ia Just and wholesome
" laws, are prominent ia the character OF oui
u proplc and these traits have heretofore gain
vi Ell them the respect and honorable regard Of
thr ,irtuuur and ruod IN all communities.
.o But change has oggurrcd. The uusulliet
reputation of our Mountain State has bcrI
II assaulted, aud from ever, quarter of the I'm
ID ion the cry has hccn reiterated, "Nrruon
~. notification " This dcnunciatlon has hec'
~, cspcrally loud ia the Slave States. Tit
reckless and unhridlcd press Of the South o
" pcncd in full pack on our State like hounds OF
stag NJ hay; and not n few OF the Journal
OF our northern cite, Joined the chorus. Bu
a. il has been city Journals only, for the mos
N part in the northern States, that have at
n tempted TO read ~ hnmilcs on uullihcalinn
e The country press has been more generous
While these charges. OF notification wcr
III ringing ont from 80 many sOunccsall attempt
rel Ia get hearing for our state, either IN JUST
ms dcation or cXtcnuation of her high offence
4, were huilrss but now that the clamur !
Nd,siling perhaps a few words may bc hear
o" in her defence,
or There is no cause why Vermont should ID
or thus yilifcd. She has ever maintained al
-, adhesion to the Union ~ firm, an obcdienc
to the laws as faithful, rs any other State u
- our r6ufrdcracy aud sho hAS never givcl
nc OCCASION for the Charges -hrsls A+aFaiHst ht-f
rs IL is well known that large majority, prob
~ ably ninctccn-twepticths Of our citizens, wcr
-,+--irlrritv -uTrTuvurt N thU TIyS1p1 or Jhc To
" t.itivr slave lr7v ifhu invU ~ liberty Is per
IS liaps the strongest principle IN their nature
ly and they could hardly brook the idea tina
Il the cause OF freedom should take such hug
bnck ward stride as the law contemplated
=" But when il finally passed, they considered
he the matter settled, and obedience 10 the Law
b. Gas thcucctorwnrd the duty of oil good cti
ho zcns, until it could bc repealed or modified
They did believe, however that if Vernon
>" could no longer be the asylum ofthe oppressed
r. who had burst their letters and breathcd on
s- free mountain air. yet every possible measure
at should be adoptcd,to guard their own citizen
=, from the ruthless grasp Of the slavc-huntcr
and for this purpose the law of the last Sos
n sion of our Legislature was enacted, wbicl
he has been stgmatiscd as an act Of notification
IL and which charge some leading Wing ant
neutral papers, in the good cities Of Boston
and New York, have been most oiiicious il
~ ttrcircrating
M The two essential features Of this law which
If have been objected to, arc the provisions IL
a, relation to the issuing of the writ of habca
corpus and in relation to the trial by jury.
- The special legislation in our State IN re
a gard 20 the writ of habcas corpus was render
II ed necessary by the change in our judiciary
# SYSTEM which takes effect this year, and tn,
act gives no new powers to our Courts. The
1t Constitution of the United States, Che au
at thority of which Vermont acknowledges, a
Or well as her revilers) provides expressly tina
IN 1.-THE privilege OF the writ of habeas corpus
shall not be suspended unless when inacase'
8 Of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may
t require it," Tho opinion Of the Attorney
NJ General and the proceedings in the case of
q Long in New York, seem TO settle the qucs
ton in regard TO this privilege being extend
'e ed to persons claimed as fugitive slaves. Judge
OF Story relnarks-"although writs of habca,
n corpus have been issued by State Judges and
= .....l... IL, mi LL.riL. -