Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-03-10
State Convention on the Me-
braska Bill.
We take the following report of the State
Mass Meeting from the Waterman.


Mass Meeting from the Watchnan.
MONTPELIER, March 2, 1854.
Pursuant to u call to the opponents, ire
spective of party distinction, Of the proposed
abrogation of the Missouri act, forever pro-
hibiting slavery in the territory acquired from
France north of So 80, State Convention
assembled this day at Montpelier, and was
called to order by Hon GEORGE w. BAILEY,
and temporarily organized by the appointment
of Hon. WV. FRENCH, President, and p.
WEIGH and Z. p. WALTON. JR., Secretaries.
On motion of Hon. d. p. Thompson, COM
mittee of three was appointed by the chair,
to nominate officers of the convention, consis-
ting of Hon D. p. Thompson, F. F. Merrill
and James Green.
On motion of VIM p. Briggs, a committee
of seven was appointed by the chair to report
! resolutions, consisting of Hon. ". p. Briggs,
+, F. Merrill, j, 5. Adams, s. NJ. Bigelow
+. p. Walton, Jr,, Il. Z. Sampson and II. b
Stacy.
The committee to nominate officers reported
the following, which report was accepted AMI
adopted, to-wit
Hon. WV. FRENCH, of Chittenden Co,
President.
Hon. r. X, KEITH, of Washington,
H. b. STACY, Of Chittenden,
Nj. NJ. DAVIS, of Windsor, Vice
). NJ. BIGEIow, Of Orange, , Presi
A. W. CApwELL, of Lamoille, dents.
JoHN MCLEAN, of Caledonia,
WIN. TRAsE, of Essex
f. WALTON, JR., of Washington, So
=. WEIGH, of Rutland. "e' rs
On motion of Hon. VIM. p. Briggs, on in
vitation by the President, the Rev. Mr. Hand
led the convention in prayer.
On motion of Judge Briggs Il committee of
] ~. .
a standing State Committee to devise means
for obtaining the most effective expression of
the sentiment of the people of Vermont
against the extension of Slavery to territory
now free-to-wit; j. 5. Adams, f. F. Mer-
! rill q. A. BARRIER, James Green, and F. C..
/ Bigelow.
Adjourned to o clock p. NJ.
AFTERNOON.
The convention met pursuant to ad iourn
ment, when letters were presented from +. d.
Barber, Daniel Roberts, and VIM. VI. Pin
grey, Esqrs., which were read and ordered
to lie published.
The committee ON resolutions reported the
following, which were read and adopted unan-
imously, to-wit:
Whereas it is proposed to abrogate the provision
made by Congress in 1870, pJohibnmg Siapuy tor-
'pa in the territory ACQUIRED from France, lying
north of 3G7 30 therefore
htsoipsd, That we, freemen of Vermont in State
Convention assembled, do most solennly PRorrsr
against such ahrogatun-in the name of Freedom OF
Patriotism, and of the sacred requirements oi our
holy Religion
We Protest against it Trea ION to the cau,c OF
human Freedom as clear violation of the faith OF
the Government, which was pledged to the people
"t'rtr5, by the very term- of the act of ls29 and
a. intended to extend the umrightrous and abonna-
Bile system of American Slavery into a vast territory
which has been sacredly dedicated to Freedom.
We protest against it as act which will destroy
the confidence of the People in the integrity of the
Government and the stability Of it, Laws and dis
turb the peace and endanger the perpetuity of the
Union
We Protest against it, act against right
without excuse-without rightiul authority,-and
therefore to be repudiated and rc-iscd by the p.u-
pie, to the last extremity.
RtroipSd, That in the readiness of the South to
absolye themselves from all obligation imposed upon
them by the Missouri Compromise, 50 called-u
measure proposed by the South unwillingly acceded
by the North, and by men Of all sections looked
upon as an enactment possessing sanctity second
only TO that OF the Constitution itself and of course
OF binding force upon ALIVE are admonished that
too much reliance has been placed upon the honor
and chyalrous" good faith OF the Southland
hope the time is close at hand when the free North
will be disposed to listen rather the voice of Jusc.
than OF Slavery-and give heed to the dictates OF
Mercy, rather than implicitly obey the ilnperious
commands N Shareholders.
Rtsopisd, Than in the contest. that seems approach
ing, we will know no party but country and
that II our Southern brethren determined to drive
US to that impa sable line beyond which the securi
ty protection and nsion OF human Slavery they
may learn that slavery, and not Freedom, will be
" crushed out"
The convention was addressed by Mcssrs
Walton, Mann (of y. ii. y Adams, Sampson.
\. Spal'ling, Merrill, j. Green, skinner and
Briggs.
The Committee appointed for the purpose
reported the following list, which was adop-
ted, AS
State Erecutire Committee.
Charles Adams, of Burlington,
John VI Lame, OF Cabot,
Azel Srauldiug, of Montpelier,
Daniel Roberts, Of Manchester,
f. i. Walton Jr., of Montpelier.
On motion of Judge Thompson, the follow
ing resolutions were adopted
Rssol,,d That the Secretaries Of this Convention
forward To each of our delegation in Congress copy
Of the foregoing resolutions aud that they be requos
ted to present the to their respective Houses
ResoIr'd That all the Journals in this state be re-
que 'ted 10 publish the proceedings al this ConIen-
ton.
The convention dissolved.
VA II. fRFNcH, President.
: + VIVA y; MACS d. ,Socretarie..
Wr'oan only say OF the Convention that the
speeches were fully up to the spirit of tn"
resolutions, and that the number in attend
anr' WAS much larger than. from the uncer-
tamty of railroad travelling, WA expected 49,