Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-05-06
What do they Mean J

In summary Of speech delivered by MI
Stephens of Ga. in Congress on the 9th nit.
we find this:
He urped that there ought not to be section
nj division upon the question of the right OF the
master TO reclaim his fugitive slave. The ma
iority of the people of the United States are IN
favor of fulfilling this and every other consiitu-
tional obigation-an had so asserted by their
votes in the House, spoken in the language OF
law, and affirmed by the courts Of the country.
There was an overwhelming majority OF the
American people in favor of sustaining this prin-
ciple If. then, the old parties cannot bring
their organizations to the recognition OF this
principle he was for dividing asunder the bands
which held them together The honorable gen
tleman urged the point at some length and much
energy. lie was opposed TO the election OF any
man to the Presidency, who is not unquaiiiediy
pledged to the support of the Fugitive Slave
Law--and opposed to any party that did not dis.
tinctly assert and maintain every obligation OF
the Constitution.
If Mr. Stephens is the intelligent man that we
think he is, he must know that the Wings Of the
North of Vermont most certainly are as sound
as he is himself in all the principles set forth in
this paragraph. They hold that there ought to
be, and can be, no question Of the right OF mas
tiers to reclaim fugitive slaves, and they are IN
favor of honestly and fairly fulfilling this, aud
every other constitutional obligation" Now,
does Mr.. Stephens mean that his is all he asks :
or does he mean that the parties aud people OF
the North shall 90 farther and approve Of a mode
of retaining fugitive slaves which they believe
to be inconsistent with the true intent and mean
ing of other constitutional obligations Does he
mean 20 make The present Fugiiire Stare Lar a
Test, and require US TO forego the constitutional
right to improve it whenever the opportunity is
offered? We suspect the last is his ground, and
! it is unconstitutional and untenuble, and never
/ viii be tamely submitted toso Tonga the people
respect the Constitution, and the lrhoic of The
Constitution We can speak for the wings OF
Vermont, because they have spoken for them
selves they will respect the Constitution; they
will respect the present Fugitive Slave law, bat
as it is just far, and just long as it is really
the law of the land; but we believe the Vernon
wings are very few in numb r, if indeed there be
even one such to be found who will ever consent
to surrender their right TO do what in them lies
to improve that law. If Mr. Stephens counts upol
any such thing Us that he is counting chlcken
that never viii be Matched He may count upol
this; The wings of Vermont will not agitats 70
agitatons sake will make no war upon the con
stitutonal rights Of any citizen state will dis
turb nothing ,het is really "settled !" but on ev
cry question which may arise touching slavery
he may be sure that they will net consistently
firmly, manfully, up to their honest conviction
against that institution, and TO the full extent Q
their constitutional power According to me
of different convictions the same right, they vii
never surrender their own.