Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-01-20
Crying, More! More!

About year ago, we were conversing with a
very reasonable leading Old Line Democrat,
who argued in favor of acquiescng in the CON-
PROMISE on the ground that it was to be final
settlement of the Slavery question, and the
South would ask no more; when we asked him
what he and his party would do, if the South
should ask more, and, instead of settling down
satisfied with the Fugitive Slave Law, which he
admitted to be odous and aggressive should
demand Of the North still other measures equally
Objectionable. He promptly replied that neither
he nor his party would stand it, or make anv
more concessions. And both he and his party.
at that time, probably so felt and SO believed.
But they had committed great error in making
tnese Illuminating concessions at all. They
should have known that one humliatins conces
sion always leads to another and greater one
and that when party, like nation, once con-
sent to bow, they soon bow lower, and so keep
on till they yield all claim to the character Of
ffeemen. 1t was thus with the National Demo-
cratic party when they decided to submit to the
Fugitive Slave Law. They then thought it
would DO complying with the last demand Of
the South, or if demand was made, it would not
be submitted to. But at the Baltimore Conyen.
ton, another and still more important concession
that of yielding the Democratic doctrine of
free discussion, was haughtiy demanded, and
meekly made. And on the heels OF that now
comes another, growing out of the rightful de-
cision of Judge Paine, in the case of the Lem
mon slaves. This is a no less demand than that
the Northern Legislatures in the teeth of their
Constitutions and Bills of Rights should enact
laws to protect shareholders in the possession of
their slaves, when they see fit to land with them
in our Northern ports-the result of which would
be the present partial and eventual entire estab-
llshment Of Slavery in the Free States for the
benefit of all who shall choose 10 hold slaves.
And as monstrous as this demand is we already
see signs In various quarters, warrantng the fear
that the attempt is about to be made in earnest
to force that party to make this concession also
Bill was last week introduced into the New
York Legislature, now in session at Albany, to
effect that nefarious object of the shareholders
IN that great and leading State. And, as an
evidence of concerted movement among the
leaders of the party in the North, we find that
during The same week, another and similar bill
10 allow citizens of other States passing thro
Pennsylvania to hold slaves during their transit, -
was introduced uo the Senate of the Legisla-
ture of that State, now also in session at Harris.
burgh. These bills, 1t is tue, do not admit
Shareholders to permanent residence with their
slaves in those States. But every one knows
how easily these enactmep,s, when the principle
they involve is once yielded can be modified
and extended till they cover the whole ground of
established Slavery.
Now, who cannot see whittier these things are
tending Who so blind. that they cannot see
thut If the North do not intend to become
the direct supporters Of Slavery, and even slave
holders themselves, they must stop here, ant
resoutely say to the South, thus far, but nc
farther and here be thy proud waves stayed"
The South have lately found the old parties
such spanies that they doubtless think they car
whip them into any thing. But it remains to be
seen whether they are yet 80 hopelessly lost as
to make the fearful leap which this infamous
movement presupposes.