Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-05-13
Convention Of the Democracy held at
BerLingtOn, May 29th, 1851.

a committee to draft resolutions expressive of
the sense of the convention, viz: E. A, Slams
bury, Daniel Roberts, Timothy P. Redfield
E. D. Barber, Rayland Fletcher, J.. &. Smith,
J. P Kidder, John Cain, Theron Howard,
Charles K. Fields, H. H. Reynolds and s.
Churchill.
When after retiring E. D. Barber, Esq.
in behalf of the Committee appointed for the pur-
pose, reported the following resolutions, which
were read, discussed, and severaly adopted:
Resolved-1. That the Federal Government
is one of limited power, derived solely from the
Constitution and grants of power contained
therein, and onght to be strictly constructed by
all departments and agents of the government!
and that it lsinexpedlent and dangerous to exer-
else doubtful constitutional power
2. That the Constitution does not confer upon
the general government the power to commence
and carry on, a general system OF internal I'M
provements IN the states but that Congress has
the power, aud it is the duty of Congress, to
make such improvements in Rivers and Harbors
as are required for the safety and convenience of
commerce with foreign nations or among the
States, and are thus of strictly national char
acter.
3 That justice and sound policy forbid the Fed
eraI Government TO foster one branch ofndus.
try to the detriment of another, or to cherish
the interests OF one portion to the injury of an
other portion of our common country, and that
every citizen and every section of the country
has right to demand and insist upon an equal
ity of rights and privileges, and to complete, and
| u,nnla afr and from
domestic violence. or foreign aggression.
4. That it is the duty Of every branch OF the
government to enforce, and practice the most
rigid economy in conducting our public affairs
and that no more revenue ought 10 he raised,
than is required to defray the necessary expenses
of the government, and for the gradual, but GER
tain extinction Of the just debts OF the nation.
S. That we are opposed to the establishment
Of N tlonal Bank.
6. That we are in favor OF maintaining the
Independent Treasury.
z. That the free grant to actual settlers, IN
considerations of the expenses they incur III ma
king settlements in the wilderness when are
usually fully equal to the actual cost, ana OF
the public benefits resulting theretrom, OF rea
sonabIe portions OF the public lands, under suit
able Limitations, is wise and just measure OF
public policy which will promote in various
ways. the interests of all the States OF the Umon.
and is entitled to the favorable consideration OF
the American people.
s. That Congress has no power to interfere
with, or control the domestic institutions OF the
several States and that such States are the SOLE
and proper Judges of everything, appertanlng
70 their own affairs, not prohibited by the con
stitutlon, nor in violation OF the ngA'" OF '"e
ciuzens of other States under 1t. O.. g ,h;s
0 Fisat Slavery. in the seveia! o'-'S' 1 =,
| UHion which recognize It's existence, depenoS
upon State laws alone. which cannot be repeal
al or rtfed by the Federal government and
| Tor which that government is not responsible /;
and being both State, and sectional institution,
Is not nnder the control ct Congress to establish
or abolish within The limits of the States, 1t can
claim no support from Congress as national
interest," to be tostered within the States or to be
extended and legaized beyond their limits.
10. That the action OF the founders OF the gov
eminent, with Jefferson at their head, and the
actual exclusion of slavery from the North
Western Territory by the ordinance of 1887,
unanimously adopted BY the first Congress which
met under the Constitution, and, the entire his
tory of that period, clearly show that slavery
was considered local and sectional institution
and that the settled policy of the nation was
then mol 10 ertpnd, YatlonGiize, and encourage,
but to limit, iOcdLrze, GnG discourage it and to
this policy, which should never have been de-
parted from, the government ought to return.
II. That a the duty of the Federal govern
ment to relieve itself from all responsibility for
the existence or continuance of slavery IN the
District of Columbia, and everywhere else that
government possesses constitutional authority to
legIslate and is thus responsible for its existence
SO that freedom instead Of slavery shall become
national, and slavery instead of freedom, become
sectional.
IL. That the only safe means OF preventing
the extension of slavery into territory now free,
is to prohibit It's extension into oil such territory
by an act of Congress.
IL. That no more slaves states ought to be
admitted into the Union.
Ia. That in relation 10 the Fugitive Slave
Law passed at the last session of Congress, we
hold;
That no person in any State of this Union can
be lawfully deprived of his liberty without due
process of law which process, in the case of an
alleged fugitive from service, is suit at common
law wherein the fact, whether said fugitive
was lawfully held to service, ia the State from
which he is alledged to have escaped shall be
determined by trial by jury.
That such trial by jury should precede the
delivery into the hands of the party claiming
him, OF such alleged fugitive, and should be had
IN the vicinity where the said alleged fugitive is
found. .-...-.. .--.. =. &C.. -.
That in the determination of the question of
liberty, all Prescriptions OF law and fact, are, and
ought 10 be, in favor of liberty.
That the fugitive slave law enacted by the
Congress lately EXPIRED cCtltravenlng these prin-
clples, Is UNJUST unconstitutional, In derogaton
oil the fundamental maXlns Of free government.
and ought to be speedily and forever repealed.
10. That we base all our hopes of the final
overflow OF slave domination in this nation. nm
on the fidelity Of the Democratic masses to the
sublime principles Of their creed and that we
cannot regard those as true interpreters OF Demo.
crazy, who would introduce adherence to the
compromise measures of the last Congress, as a
test OF Democratic orthodoxy.
10. That we repe the base and unwarranta.
BILE accusation ihat,in opposing the supremacy of
the Slave Power, we are wanting in loyalty 10
the Constitution and the Union and that we in
slst that fidelity to the Union is best manifested
by unrelentlng efforts to restore the government
to the old Democratic policy Of limiting, dlscour-
aging aud l1callzng the institution Of slavery.
attachments to the Union, and that we will stand
by It, come veal or woe, 50 long as 1t tulhls the
objects for which il was established, and until II
Is converted into INTO an engine to overflow the
sovereignty OF the States and the liberties ofthe
people.
IL. That the present administration, through tn
message OF its President, and through the letters
and speeches OF Its chief Secretary, having pIedg-
sI lie Il A.
measures, without modification or alteration,
no person can directly uphold that adnnisIla
ton, without upholdIng the policy Of leaving the
Territories open to the introduction Ct slavery, of
admitting new slave States into the Union. and
of enforcing that gigantic outrage on civil lib
erty the Fugitive Slave Law.
10. That the law passed by our last Legisla-
ture in relation to the Habeas Corpus, Is prop.