Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-08

ton of the General Government. Within the
limits of yeur own States, act upon your own
Conscientious judgments. We shall rejoice if
those judgments lead you in the direction of
emancipation Should it be otherwise, we shall
claim no right, through the agency of our COM
mon Government, to dictate or control your
action. Doing this, you can have peace. Let
ing us alone, you will yourselves be let alone.
l see no other road, Mr.. President, to peace,
than this. The religious convictions, the social
sentiments, the economical opinions, of most of
the Shareholders, and Of the great mass of the
non-slaveholders, are widely and irreconcilably
at variance in respect to slavery. 1t is impossi-
BILE, SO long as the action Of the Government
shall be in any way or in any degree invoked in
aid of slavery, to withdraw the question from
these halls So long as slavery continues here
at the seat of the National Government, sane
toned and regulated by acts Of Congress so
long rs slavery is permitted in the National Ter
ritories 50 long as the slave trade is allowed by
law in licensed and enrolled vessels OF the Uni
ted States 50 long as men, women and children
are sold at an auction under process OF the Fed
eral courts SO long as fugitive slave acts re-
main ON the statute books OF national legsla-
ton; SO long as the powers Of this Government
shall be exerted for the acquisition of additional
slaveholding territory, just so long will this ag-
itation continue, just SO long will there be no
peace.
But, sir, if the principle of denationalizng
slavery did not constrain us to oppose this bill {,
the principle of decentralizing power would
compel us, as independent Democrats. to with
hold our support from it. The patronage Of the
Esssst ;s 81 Large NV We T,sh to a
from the President the appointment of ofHcerss
so far as it can be constitutionally done, and
confding their election to the people. We OPP
Dose this bill, because it enlarges the patronage
of the Executive, and because it denies TO the
people of the territories the power to elect their
own officers
Now, Mr.. President, whatever Others may do,
the independent Democrats will 60 forward
without laltering or wavering in the path of
political duty which their honest convictions
prescribe II men of other parties, seeing, at
length, the utter incompatibility between the
pretensons of the slave power and the just
claims of freedom, and recognizing the absolute
necessity which requies the non shareholders Of
the country to demand inAcxby the complete
divorce of the General Government from slavery,
and the exertion Of its legitimate influence on
the side of freedom, shall manifest u disposition
to unite their efforts for these objects, the indie
pendent Democrats will not hesitate to make
common cause with them. If no such union of
the friends of freedom shall take place, the In
dependent Democrats will, | trust, be found
ready to cooperate earnestly and honoraby with
any other party which is willing to act with
them for the maintenance of freedom. In all
events, and under all circumstances, they will
be true to the great principles of justice, libcr-
ty, and progress, which they have avowed.
shall rejoice, sir, if the friends Of freedom,
disregarding the differences which have hitherto
been suffered to divide them, shall be found
willing to unite for the maintenance and defence
of Liberty, in a living, earnest and energetic
democracy of the people, against the NATIONAL
izers of slavery, under whatever name arraycd.
listened to the declaration Of my friend and
colleague (Mr. Wade) with great interest. He
announced distinctly and with emphasis the final
separation of Southern from the Northern wing
of the Wing party. If that separation has, in
decd, taken place, million OF voters IN the free
States are cnlancpated from the influence of the
slave power And it must be remembered that
what has most largely contributed to prevent
the formation Of u triumphant political organi-
cation for the defence Of freedom, is the fact
that each Of the old parties has had powerful
pro-slayery wing, composed of shareholders and
nOll-bltNellOlueTS rcuuy W CVHCeuo I'LL uHcll uc-
mands. The liberal members Of each party, on
the other hand, though opposed to slavery in
principle, and willing personally to act against
It, have been disposed to eoncvde u.aut, &c
the demands and wishes of the pro-slayery wing
that their own influence for freedom has beer
E nullifed. Let separation be effected between
the anti-slavery and pro-slavery wings OF botf
Or either of the old parties and it is not dilhcul
, to perceive that the opponents OF slavery in ell
ther will be ready to go as far, ut least, ii MOI
, farther, than we who have so long opposes
slavery on the grounds which have indicated
Clearly, then, Mr.. President, the slavery ques
ton is not to be excluded from Congress by thu
passage of this bill. That object, which its ad
vocates profess to have so much at heart, can
, not in this way be attained.
Will slavery find its way into the Territories
Some gentlemen from the slave States think /
will. The greater number express the contrar
opinion. think myself there is danger. l
slavery shall not be established in the Terrific
: ries, it will not be the fault of this bill. |
breaks down the barrier 1t offers "a free en-
= trance have strong hope, however, tina
h slavery will be excluded by the action Of tn
Q people of the Territories themselves. If slave
holders choose to 60 there with their slaves
: non-slaveholding immigrants from the Old Worl
). and laboring men from our own States, will
0 exposed to great disadvantages in the strug
gle-disadvantages FROM which it was the dut
0 Of the Government to paotect them. Notwitf
8 standing these disadvantages, trust the caus
d OF freedom will prevail in the Territories.
. will prevail, if the Observation-Disclosures of the c0ur
9 try awake to q just sense of their rights, an
: their duties, and while they extend ready an
is abundant aid to free immigration into the Tel
e ritories, sternly demand from the Legislature {
l. the Nation the exclusion of slavery from a
d Territories by law. trust the people Of tt
v Territories will pay small regard to the doctrine
!; OF those Senators who insist that they have L
). right to legslate for the prohibition of SLAYER,
lie until they form Constitution with view
n admission into the Union. Most earnestly do
; hope that they will act, and act promptly, fl
N the protection of themselves and their chidrt
l. against this great evil.
G. IF, thcn the slavery question is not to be e
er cluded from Congress, and slavery is not to fir
rs admittance into the Territories, what other a
Y, vantage do Senators from slave States see in tn
Or bill, which induces them so vehemently to d
IF mAnd its PASSAGE 1t is given out in the new
re popers that the principle Of this bill to srI
r some great purpose of the slave power, in r
n spect to future territorial acq sitions. 1t
U suggested that CUBA, the territory to be a
a. quired from Mexico under the Gadsden treat
at the Sandwich Islands, Perhaps Hayti and d
is minica, are to be the theatres upon which th
ne principle is to achieve it greatest triumphs.
u u shall not go into this subject here, and no,
~ These questions must be met when they arts
u This bill doubtless paves the way for the a
" proach of new, alarming and perhaps fatal da
o, gers to our country. 1t is the part of freem,
at and lovers of freedom, to stand on their guar
10 and prepare for the worst events. 1t is becau
n this bill puts in peril great and precious int
70 tesests reyerses the ancient and settled policy
the Government, and breaks down great sal
A. ruard of liberty that have felt myself IN