Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-19

was designed 70 destroy slavery, wherever It's
principles should be carried into full erect
The Fugitive Slave Law, what Is IT, that a'i
called upon to obey it, and assist IN It's eXecu'
ton? II is the most disgraceful, attroci1us' u''
list detestable, barbarous, HeaVen-deiying ao'
ever perpetrated in any age OF the worlu' W
persons claiming to have eonsciences ana Dc
lief in ms God How came it upon the sta''
ute books of the nation? 1t was put there' "o'
BY the will of The people, but it found It's way
there BY the fundamentally OF the darkest ana
most wicked treachery-ip vlolatlonof prIncip'e'
humanity, Liberty, and independence but ioI
Daniel Webstefs 9TH Of March speech the "Om'
nibus Committee" never wonld have been con
ceiyed. Without his vote, it would never have
been brought into existence. All had voted but
the Arch Traitor, and it lacked one vote to
give it life. While he was on the point OF let
ting bis courage ooze out at his fngures' ends,
he was prompted by Southern gentleman to
come up, ynte tor the committee, and redeem
his PLEDGE tie work was done. His constu-
ents, hls country, hu,usnity, " Gpd and liberty"
betrayed Mr.Webster had only the promise
Of thirty states d preside over, Had the great
"expounder," iuhs said 9TH OF March speech,
ranged himself 10 the side of Freedom, instead
of Slavery, and declared in his place, what he
had enunciated Upon the soil Of Massachusetts,,
and elsewhet !" The Wlmot Provi@-D-:ss
my Ilndgr-. sls.sa--ty n
50 mose Slave representation
s- -sss gfess--No more Slave states-Not an
other inch Of Slave territory" would the "On-
nibus Committee ever have been conceived {?
Then had Mr.. Webster added, tn Sc are the
sentiments Of my constituents, of the free North,
and weare pledged to sustain them, would the
Fugitive Slave law ever disgraced the statute
books II this Repucbllc? No A law put upon
our stduta books under these circumstances, is
a law, "n 1t fit to be made" " Not fit" To be o
beyedand executed by any one. 1t should be
rxpunsed. 1t is wholly unconstitutional. There
is nothing in the Constitution Of the United
States tDnferng the least authority upon Con
gress to pass such law. The same opinion Is
entertained by eminent civilians, jursts and
statesmen, the country over, the Prophecy of
Daniel to the contrary notW outstanding. With
the view take az the Fugitive Slave Law,
certainly shall not obey ii, or assist in its exc
cuton God forbid that any painting fugitive
from the prison house of bondage should ever
tap at my door and be TUNED away empty.
Were fugitive from southern plantation.
ct ,capDg to free state, should be pursued by
any one claiming me as fugitive slave. with a
ciew to take me back to bondage by authority
of the Fugitive Slave Saw, you'd resort to
any means Of defence that might be unsuitable
in case Of AN attack from highwaymHn or any
case where my life was at hazard, to escape
their grasp. Who dares affirm that it would be
wrong? Let hlm who can, present himself and
show why.
When human laws conflict with the law OF
God, theyconsequrItly have ITO moral binding on
man. II right lIes.in obedience to law, the
'"higher law" clums the pre-emnencc. In my
judgment, any law OF the land clearly requiring
direct violation of the law of God-of the
plain principles of moral justice aud humanity
! he obligation we are under to our God and hu
manity require that we should refuse to obel
such lawi upt making physical resistance
but to sssEs the ssalty. ! shall never be mad
the instru'Etnt reducing mario slavery, lie
the consequences be what they may; but shal
endeavor to "re0ember those that are in bond
as bound with them' A.P.
East Calais, January, 1852.