The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-11

Vermont Politics.
WING STATE CONVENTION.
The Wing Convention for the nomination Of State
officers in Vermont, met in Ruanad ON the 7th inst.
Hon. Alvah Sabin, member of Congress from the
Third district, was present. and delivered himself of
q flaming free soil antiNebraska speech. Hon. Jas.
Meacham, who represents the First, did not leave
his seat to attend but sent TO the convention the
following letter.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1854.
have delayed an answer to your letter in the
hope that should be able to announce that Senator
Foot, or Mr.. Tracy, or Mr.. Sabn, would attend the
State Convention. Previous engagements-I need
not name them-will deprive me OF that pleasure.
feel anxious that some of those men, ADLER than
myself to describe the scenes OF the Nebraska strug
gle, should be in your convention; and yet know
that il is impossible for even eye witness
to give an exact impression Of the contest. The
alienation of hopes and fears OF the phaanx that
SO long resisted the needless and unauthorized aud
infamous violation of phghted faith, can never be
given
The Missouri compromise is repealed! Do you
ask how it was done? will tell you.
l. without the request, and against the wish, OF
every man who petitoned Congress on the subject.
2. BY crowding out of place all the mostimportant
business OF the session, and cr0wding in measure
to which an overwhelming majority Of the people
were opposed.
g. BIZ bringing-I do not say bribing-to its sup
men who acted against their own declared Judy-
ments, and the known will of their constituents.
4. By trampling under foot the rules Of the House
of Representatives, made in accordance with the
constitution, and thus violently depriving the mi
nority of their legal rights and just privileges.
5. By refusing TO allow the people to express their
decision on the question, lest-as Senator Petit, VI
Indiana, declared-the people should refuse it now,
or for years to come, and perhaps for ever.
If the will of the people had been obcyed, the act
could not have passed. If it had taken its legal
place in the order Of business it could not have passe
II the executive power had not, unrighte0usy, in
the rules of the House and the rights OF the mi
nority had not been crushed, 1t could not have
pa,sed.
ed, not only without authority and without law, but
in known and acknowledged violation of both.
The Missouri compromise being repealed, the
question Of slavery is reopened in all the Territories
Of the Union.
The Baltimore platform being violated by all par
ties except Northern wings, It will not be expected
that that body OF men will any longer be held by the
fragments of a broken and abandoned truce.
In this posture of affairs, trust that the wings OF
the passage Of the Nebraska bill, will take ground
wisely and firmly.
i. There shall be no more territory acquired by
the funds Of freemen, unless on the express con-
2. That on no condition shall another slave State
ever be added TO this Union.
8. That slavery shall be wiped out Of every part
of the republic, except where shielded by positive
municipal law.
hope the wings Of Vermont will take that po-
sition not only for themselves but for their children
after them; and when they have taken it, that they
will nail their colors to the mast.
Very truly yours, j. MEAcHAH.
After the reading Of Mr.. Meacham's letter, aud,
also one from Erastus Fairbanks, the following
resolutions were offered and passed -
Resolved, That while we retain our attachment
to the general principles and policy which have
presented by the repeal of the eighth section OF the
Missouri compromise as matters OF SURPRISING inn
portance, which demand the instant aud earnest
attention Of every lover of freedom.
Resolved, That the virtual repeal of the eighth
section of the Missouri compromise demands and
receives our utter condemnation as palpabe perfdy
TO solemn pledge of freedom, designed to be sa-
cred and irrepealabe-a pledge made by the govern
ment to the people and by the South to the North,
the violation of which foreits the claim of the South
to the faith of the North in their power OF fidelity
and impars the confidence of the people in the sta
biity OF all compromises, of all laws, and of the
constitution and Union itself.
Resolved, That we have regarded the Missouri
compromise as perpetually binding in law ana con-
science and the violation of it, in the passage of the
Nebraska bill, We look upon as mpairng the obliga-
tions of solemn contract, and therefore fagrantly
unjust in tself; treacherous to the interests Of
freedom Ior the country at large; as cruel in its
bearing upon the Indian tribes; as hostile to the
Ieace, charity, and unity Of the country; as emf
nently ungenIlemanly and dshonorable IN the spirit
In which it conceived; in the pledges by which
personal responsibility was sought to be, and was
broken down, through sectional prejudices; and in
tie hot haste" which would neither calmly listen
to the voice of the country through petitions, noi
dare to await for an appeal to the people through
the elections, and WILL in all ways, testify and
struggle as we may be able against a transaction so
inquitous in its character, and so injurious in its
effects.
Resolved That regarding this act as violation OF
the plighted faith of the government, that govern
ment must be reformed, and we pledge ourselves to
the work of REFORM regarding 1t as measure of
the national administration, enforced by the power
and patronage of the President in violation alike of
his pledges and his duty, the administration must
be changed, and executive power be rebuked and
restrained regarding it as reputation and annu-
ment by the South of the compromises OF 1850, and
the Baltimore platform Of 1852 far they reatet
slavery act for the recovery Of fugitive slave
labor lncluded-we pledge ourselves for the repeal
of that act, and to resist the admission of Utah and
New Mexico as States, without constitutions ex-
GLIDING slavery and, finally, regarding it as viola
tim Of the pghted faith OF the South for the pur
pose of extending slavery against our will, our con-
science, and rights, we hereby pledge ourselves
to the defence Of freedom by the restriction of
slavery to the States in which it exists-by the ex
cluson Of slavery at the earliest practical moment
and by all constitutional MEANS from all federal
territory Nebraska, Kansas, and the District of CO.
lumbia inclasvc--by opposing the admission to the
Union of any new State toerating slavery whether
it be formed from territory belonging to Texas or
elsewher-and by resisting the requirement Of any
territory wherein slavery exists unless its pro-
hbition shall first have been provided for.
Resolved, That as means Of removing and ex-
Guiding slavery from federal territory, we recon-
mend the formation of associations either voluntary
or chartered by the State, to secure emigration Of
reliable and intelligent freemen, pledged irrevocably
to the cause Of freedom.
Resolved, That as the earnest of deliberate, de-
termned and rrcvocabe purpose to carry int prac
teal effect the above propositions we further declare
that we will not support for the Office Of President
Vice President, for Senator for Representa-
tive in Congress, or as a member of State Lcgsla-
tme, any man, of whatever party, vino is not known
TO be in favor OF the purposes expressed in the fore
going resolutions, and in this also.
Resolved, That We hereby invite the cooperation
Of all free men OF Vermont, who agree with in the
principles and purposes herein set forth, Offering on
our pant. most cordially to give our confidence to
those who conlde in us.
Resolved, That we do also invite the cooperation
of the penrle OF al other States who are disposed to