The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-03-15
State Convention ON the Nebraska Bill.

State Convention on the Nebraska Bill.
Montpelier, March 9, 1854.
Pursuant to call Of the opponents.
irrespective of party distinction, of the
proposed abrogation of the Missouri act,
forever prohibiting slavery in the terri
tory acquired from France north Of sc
deg. so min, State Convention assem-.
bled this day at Montpelier, and was call.
cd to order by Hon. GEORGE w. BAILEY,
and temporarily organized by the APP
pointmcnt of Hon. WV H.FRENcn, Prcsi-
dent, and 7. WEIGH and Il p. WALTON
Jr, Secretaries.
On motion of Hon. d. p. Thompson,
a committee Of three was appointed by
the chair, to nominate officers of the
convention, consisting Of Hon d. p.
Thompson, +. +. Merrill and James
Green.
On motion Of Hon. VIM. j. Briggs. a
committee Of seven was appointed by
the chair to report resolutions. consist.
ing of Hon. W, p Briggs, +. T. Merrill.
j. S. Adams, S NJ. Biglow, L. p, Wal
ton. Jr., G. G. Sampson, and IL b Stacy.
The committee to nominate officers
reported tie following, which report was
accepted and adopted. to wit:
Hos. WM II. FRENCH, of Chittcnden
Co., President.
Hon. II. r. KEITH, of Washington. I =.
ii. B. STACY, of Chittcndcn, &
NJ. NJ. DAVIS, Of Windsor, -
S. NJ. Below, of Orange. :
a. W.CADwELL, of Lamoilc, e
JONI Mclean, Of Caledonia, {
WIN. TRAsK, Of Essex. 8
+. P. Walton, JR., CT Washington, } @
Z. WEIGH, of Rutland, 8.
On motion of Hon. VIM. p. Briggs,
on invitation by the President, the Rev,
Mr.. Hand led the convention in prayer.
On motion of Judge Briggs, a com.
mitteo Olive was appointed by the chair
to nominate standing State Commit.
tee, to devise means for obtaining the
most effective expression of the ssnti.
mcnt Of the people of Vermont, against
the extension of Slavery into territory
now frec--to wit j. S. Adams +. L.
Merrill. G. A. Barber, James Green, and
+. G. Biglow
Adjourned to Q o'clock ?. NJ.
AFTERNOON.
The convention met pursuant to ad-
iournment, when letters were presented
from e. d. Barber, Daniel Roberts. and
VIM. NJ. Pingrcy, Esqs, which were
read and ordered to be published
The committee on resolutions reported
the following, which we're read and adopt
cd unanimously, to wit:
Whereas, 1t is proposed TO aLrogato
the provisions made by Congress in 1870
Prohihting Slarery torercr in the ter
ritory acquired by France, lying north
Of SO deg. so min; therefore,
Rcsolred. That we, the freomen Of
Vermont in State Convention assembled
do most solomnly PROTEST against such
abrogation-in the name of Freedom, Of
Patriotism. and the sacred requirement.
of our holy Religion:
We protest against it, as treason tc
the cause Of human freedom as a clear
violation of the faith of the Govern
ment, which was pledged to tho people
"torcrer, by the very terms of the ACT
of 1920 and as intended to extend the
unrighteous and abominable system O.
American Slavery into vast territory
which has been sacredly dedicated tt
Freedom.
We protest against it, as an act which
will destroy tue confidence of the people
in the integrity to of their Government
and the stability of its law, and disturb
the peace and endanger the perpetuity o.
the Union.
We protest against it, as an act against
right-without excusc-without rightfu
authority-and therefore to be repudiat
cd and resisted by the people, to the
extremity.
Res0lred, That in the readiness Of tic
South to absolve themselves from al
obligation imposed upon them by the
Missouri Compromise, so called, n meas
use proposed by the South, unwiliingly
acceded to by the North. and by men O
all sections looked upon as an enactment
possessing a sanctty second only to The
Constitution itself and fcoursc of bind
ing force upon alive are admonshet
that too much reliance has been place.
upon the honor and chvalrous goo,
faith of the South, and hope the time i,
close at hand when the free North viii
be disposed to listen rather to the vote,
of Justice than of Slavery, ard give hcet
to the dictates of mercy, rather than i'm
plicitly obey the imporious commands o
Shareholders.
Rcsolrcd, That in the contest. tina
seems approaching, we will know Il,
party but our country and that if oul
Southern brethren are determined tc
drive us to that impossible line, beyon,
which is the security protection and OK
tension of human Slavery, they may
learn that Slavery, and not Freedom
will be " crushed out
The Convention was addressed b,
Messrs. Walton, Mann of New IIamp
shire, Adams, Sampson, Spalding, Mer
rill, Green, Skinner and Briggs.
The Committee appointed for tn,
purpose, reported the following list
which was adopted, as
State E1ccmire COMMITTEE.
CHARLES ADAMS, of Burlington,
JONI MCLEAN, of Cabot,
AzEL SPALDlNG, of Montpelier,
DANIEL RoBEGTs, of Manchester,