Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-03-24

NIT me to observe, Mr.. President, that the
people of the free States derive a more pc
cullnr and immediate relation TO this ques-
ton of slavery from the Constitution ITSELF
On looking at its provisions, they find that
the slave power in this country-lf may so
call thus the benefit of the only inequall-
" that know of existing in that instrument.
1 alude to the principle upon which Repre-
sentstlves are appOrtoned. Gentlemen all
know-for every one is familiar with the
provision to which refer-tkat in this par
ticular very great advantage is given to
the slave States. Its effect is to represent
in the national councils that which in those
States is recognized as property. If, then,
this inequality exists, the free States are I'M
auestionably interested to limit the increase
and extenion of such power, so far as
they can constitutionaiy do so, whether IN
old territory or new. Sir, we feel the effects
of this inequality every day. We feel it in
the greater degree of power exercised by
the citizens Of one State than IS exercised by
the same number of citizens of another
We feel it in that unity Of purpose and con
cen,raiion Of action which are so much more
readily accomplished among smaller than
a'arger number Of persons, ana which we
never fail to experience when the interests
of slave labor and free labor are supposed
10 be in conflict. Sir, that Unity and con
centration which the. predominant nature
and character of this Institution afford, in ali
questions Of national Legislation affecting IT,
or affected by 1t, are quite enough Of them
selves without superaddng the weight OF
an unequal representation. In the free
States we have no such principle of union.
Our interests, whether fancied or real, are
as various as our pursuits. And thus It has
ever happened that the political power Of this
country has been welded, and the legisla
tionof this country moulded, BY that inter
est which, when the occasion calls Tor II,
can always be brought to bear with It's whole
force upona given point.
Sir. am aware that at the formation OF
the Constitution slavery existed IN most, It
not all, of the States Of this Union, and
hence the provision refer to might seem to
carry with It the appearance Of equality
But, as matter Of history, It Is known That
this rule of representation was much con-
tested and single glance Mt the condition
of the country at that time will readily eX-
plain why It was so. Senators are, I'M
doubtedy, much more familiar with this
matter than am, for they have considered
!, a0d ,.o,,,hcd II much mnre than have
Sir IN Leaking bnck 10 that early time we
800 ,ha, tho boundaries of the United States
,,o., e,od AMI determined In some of the
$780, sla,or, hod d,ed out and IN others.
eroo, ,yh.,o,,or carsc # was fast passinr a.
n.om ria limits ot slave territory and
c."3 ,o,.;,ar,, - do ola thirteen were then
LII ,;aars,,o5 md defined in mems
,,,;,Is a., ,ho, arc a, tho nresen, dav ON the
e'"lsr,l., ~ Trndcr,besc circpustances.
- - U.s. ,heso r,c,s wore ami with the
- ~ ,his corr,rv an specifically describ-
- a.d ,,,,i,-s,ooI !, was vise for the franz
Gu anu uhuv'a'"""' T" ""7
ers Of the constitution ana LOT tle peoP'e 10
understand ana u Is 10 DC presumed IVY
dld understand JUST now ia' uI's n'4u"l"y
III me CONSTITUTION q, '"e O"'eeu ','',es
Wouiu operate upon V''"t pu'1'oi VI VIC NO".
Try "hlch was uesuhen 10 DC 'iee 'ou'i"y
say was wei uIuers'pou ','en as a. -
nowi ana that II was So hAs oeoo.ue' a.
we may wen suppose "ia''eI VI "l9W'
Inc opJccuohs that were maui ~ 'u't P'o
VISION ID the CONSTITUTION a' 'he ''"S 1t was
formed, were dohe away o, iu'Su' anu
the NORTH or as l supposed u,eil 'iI'e "'1
no North the iree states OF u use ugs,'i N,
10 De rec cohsidereu themselves "nu az uie
time must nave Oeeh cohsius'uu, F" ns -,
reasoned as tney ulu reason u'a' ''ic enVo,
OF that institution upon '''e P''i''0ai Po"v' VI
the country must necessarily DC ii'i'i'cu "
the extent OF mat "illch remained anu "oui'
remain save country ne oI"lnanoe .
400 had oceh passeu' an1 was III ope'a''on
ana was reeoghlzeo' anu 'iii' emu" 70 en-
/ der sun more ana sun Oes'er ueliheu no"
tar tins provision III inc CONSTITUTION "ou''
operate against "pat was 70 oe tIe iree POI,
non OF ms country ana no" lui u'i's .nequai
/ ny in Tue ConstAu'iot was 70 anect 'l'
rights anu interests n-sieo 81 tlle t Moat.
49, rio Nor,b has boen accused here u
,,1o,v,r,n,, 10 onnrcss the Soutb. and q
,v;s,,;no ~ limit the mower Of the South nm
dar ,ba rors,,tn.ion ma the free State
go ,vr,t;. am, d,snosition IN su.i, ,ha, nov
~. -. 49,, 90 ,bo,r ac,ion was confined >,
,he or,g,a.l territorv of Tins countrv , WA
- a., ,'h;a,,ion 10 tho ad,uission If Kon
,ncty ne sinve STATE or to the admission n
tennessee "a a slave state? Mas Their
anu a,,t,,,on ,ber mon the snhiect2 WA
,hcre arv fans,icisns Wasthere any ob
;nct,o, ~ The admission of any one Smt
f,r,neJ ON, of ,b., which was ori,,innllv sl,v,
/ ,,rr;,or,. N;ss;ssinn, or Alabama Non,
AT nh sir They came IN as readily. an,
mo, with ~ Gt,ie ob;ect,on rrnn the fire.,
S,atos If the Inc, a. anv otber nc, Of m.
r,n,rrogs oe tho Tinted states This IL al
-. - b;s,or,, ,,s,,ar ~ co,o,,,,n -,o,yl
aJ,,o E,erybo5,, Lnovs !, ,ylo - nt all IA,
n,I,sr yitb tbe n story ofthis Union.
I'm, rho ,nrch,se az the I.onisiana terrific
70 created n nov state of th,nqs SLAYER
ay;s,od ,bsre n, tho limo If ,h. purchase :
Tha, a.onisi,,o, was re,er,lIv ndmittcd q,
bo,1 sidds ~ his Cbamber IN have been n
leas, of douh,f,l cons,i,ntonal nronrie,y :
M, Io,,e.ahlo es.na,or e., ,eo,,,,c,,,r,
fNr ToncyI was tbe firs, believe in IN
aaha,a NJ has ala hat no considered ,
,asc,c,i,, ;ns,;sabia un5ar ,he Cons,i,n,ior
/, was NJ; 90 considered a, the time /, I'm
rery ssiIa,n her 80 considcred since hv Nm
hos, au,hor,,ies mon Tho Cons,i,n,,on NJ N.
conn,rv 7, has been nra,,y generalE ad
,,,,,,ad ,ha, :, ,vas in non, ~ ,ac, heynn,
,h,, or;a;nsl ;n,ent,on r. The f,amsrs ~ nh