The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-03

the modesty Of their Jewish predeces'
sors, and relinquish this political feature
of the system they thus seek TO extend.
VIII they do that
Again. You claim that this policy Of
abnegation is based upon a Democratic
principle. A Democratic principle is
a principle opposed 10 some other that
is despotic or aristocratic. You claim
and exercise the power to institute and
maintain government in the Territories.
Is this comprehensive power a%risiocrat-
ic or despotic! You retain authority
TO appoint Governors, without whose
consent no laws can be made on any
subject, and Judges, without whose con
sideration no laws can he executed. and
you retain the power 10 change them Mt
pleasure. Are these powers, also, aris-
t%ocratic or despotic If they are not,
then the exercise of legislative power
by yourselves is not, If they are, then
why not reuunce them also? No. no.
This is "a iar-fetchcd excuse. Dcmoc-
racy is simple, uniform, logical system,
not a system of arbitrary, contradictory
and conflicting principles
But YOU must nevertheless %reuounco
all national authority over Slavery in
the Territories, while you retain all
other powers. What is this but a mere
evasion Of solemn responsibilities ? The
general authority of Congress over the
Territories is one wisely confdcd TO the
National Legislature, 10 save young
and growing communities from the dan
gers which beset them in their state of
pupilage, and TO prevent them from
adopting any policy that shall be at war
with their own lasting interests or with
the general welfare OF the whole Re
public. The authority over the sub
iect of Slavery is that which ought to
be renowned last of all, in favor Of
Territorial Legislatures, because, from
the very circumstances Of the Terri
tories, those Legislatures are likely to
Yield too readily to cphemeral inlluenc.
Is and interested offers of favor and
patronage. They see neither the great
future Of the territories, nor the com
prehensive and ultimate interests of the
whole Republic as clearly as You sec
them, or ought TO see them.
have heard sectional excuses given
for supporting this measure. | have
heard Senators from the s|laveholdiug
States say they ought not to be expect
ed to stand by the non slavcholdiug
States, when they refuse 10 stand by
themselves that they ought moi to be
expected to refuse the boon offered 10
the ~slaveholding States, since it is offer
ed 10y the non-sIaycholding States them
selves. not only confess the plausi-
bility Of these excuses, but | feel the
justice Of the reproach which they i'm
ply against the uon-slaycholding States.
as far as the assumption is true
Nevertheless, Senators from the slave
holding States must consider well
whether that assumption Is. in any con-
siderable degree, founded in fact. If
u or more Senators from the North
decline to stand by the non-slayeholding
States, or offer n boon in their name.
others from that region do, nevertheless.
stand firmly on their rights, and protest
against the giving or the acceptance Of
the boon. II has been said that thc
North does not speak out, so as to en-
able you to decide between the conflict
Ing voices Of her Representative. Are
you quite sure you have given her
timely notice; Have you moi. on the
contrary, hurried this measure forward
10 anticipate her awaking from The
slumber Of conscious security into which
she has been lullcd by your last Com
promise , Have you not already
heard the quick, sharp protest Of the
Legislature Of the smallest non-slayc-
holding States, Rhode Islaudy Have
you not already heard the decp-ioncd
and earnest protest Of the greatest Of
those States, New York Have YOU
not already heard circumstances from
the Metropolis, and from the rural dis
iricts DO you doubt that this is only