Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-29

fable, spring up armed men, yet they will fructi-
fy IN civil strife and feud
From the depths of my soul as loyal citizen
and Senator, plead, remonstraie, protest
against the passage Of this bill. II struggle
against it, as againsi death but, as in death it.
selfcorrupton puts on incorruption and this NOR
tai body puts on Immortality SO from the sting Of
this hour | find ASSURANCES Of that triumph by
which Freedom will be restored to her immortal
birthright in the Republic.
Sir, the bill which you are now about to pass,
is at once the worst and the BEST on which Con.
gress ever acted.
1t is the worst bill, inasmuch as it is present
victory of Slavery In a hrislan land and in
an age of civilization, a time honored statute of
Freedom is struck down. opening the way to
bondage. Among the crimes of history new
one is 10 be recorded, viii h, in better days, will
be read with universal shame The Tea Tax
and the Stump Act. which aroused the patriot
rage of our fathers were virtues by the side of
this enormity; nor would it be easy to imagine
at this day, any measure which more openly de-
fled every sentiment of justice. humanity and
Christianity Am not right, then, in calling 1t
the worst bill on which Congress ever acted!
But there is another side to which | ably
turn Sir, it is the best bill on which Congress
ever acted for it prepares the way for that " All
Hail Hereafter" when slavery must disappear.
1t aunuls al past compromises with slavery, and
makes all future compromises impossible Thus
it puts Freedom and Slavery face to face. and
bids Their grappe Who can doubt the result
1t opens wide the dooi of the Future, when at
last there will really be North, and the slave
power will be broken when this wretched des
potsm will cease to dominate over our Govern
ment, no longer mpressing itself upon all that II
does, at home and abroad when the National
Government shall be divorced, in every way,
from slavery and, according to the true in
t4ntion of our fathers, freedom shall be estab-
lished by Congress everywhere, at least beyond
the local limits of the States.
Sla' cry wilithen be driven from its usurped
foothold, here in the District of Columbian
the national terrific ries, and elsewhere beneath
the national flag, the Fugitive Slave bill as obi
Gus as it is unconstitutional, will become dead
letter-and the domestic slave trade, so far as 1t
can be reached, but especially on the high seas.
will be blasted by Congressional prohibition.
Everywhere within the sphere of Cong ess, tie
great Northern Hammer will descend to smite
this wrong and the irresistible cry will break
forth No more slave states ="
Tnus sir, now standing on very grave OF tree
dom in Kansas and Nebraska, find assurances
of that happy resurrection, by which freedom
will be secured hereafter, not only in these terri
tories but everywhere under the National Gov
ernment. More clearly than evc before, now
see 6 the beginning of the end " of slavery. Am
not right then. in calling this measure the best
bill on which Congress ever actedl
Sorrowfully bend before the wrong you are
about to pe,petrate. Joyfuliy welcome all the
promises of the future