Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-03-17

We might Gil our paper from day to day
with accounts Of new mcctngs. new snts Of
resolutions, and new memorials to exert an
influence against the iniqutons attempt in
Congress to innct the great wrong on the free
States, and on humanity itself, which is in
volvcd in the Nebraska bill The tide Of srnti-
ment against it is steadily Increasing Most of
these meetings are held by men of all existing
political parties, and from no presses arc more
powerful denunciations uttered against the
measure, than from many long known as
democratic oncs. \ select few are found,
it would seem, being to great extent those
enjoying government patronage, who occupy
themselves with shunling aside all the essen
tial points Of the question: and with raising
the cry tliat the opposition is II Wing oppo-
sition-an 1bohhon opposition, and that the
Democrats must not heed any thing said by
their political opponents. Is it really como
to this in our country, that II question, which,
as every one admits, bears directly on the
future condition of a country half as large as
all the old thirteen States, and the territory
/ which they owned when the Constitution was
adopted, which must affect its veal or woe
| for all coming time - which is of such
immense weight in its influence on all the
interests of the free States and on free insti-
tutions, cannot be considered by "A few Office
holders and the journals which are their
mouth pieces, in any other light than as bear
ing on the party relations, to which they
owe their brief authority and present profit
Were AN attempt made to subvcrt the Con
stitution wholly, and to declare President
Pierce our sole and unrestricted ruler, we be-
licyc the Washington Union would say it was
ii genuine Democratic rroposition-and that
all who oppose II are to be scofcd ut as
Wigs and Abolitionists, and it would have
IA corps of followers to throw up their caps
and shout in unison. The force of names is
very great on men minds, and untold evils
come from thoughtlcss pursuit of them by
the multitude, who find out when too late
that under name which they had been won't
to honor, they had sanctioned a thing which
deserved their exccration.
1t is well known that the clcrgymcn of our
country are very slow to take an active part
in any question which is agitdtng the coun
ty politically, and that violent abuse has
been hcapcd upon them by some for their tar
1incss 10 take the field against this or that
enactment in State or Congress. \ memorial
signed by $50 clcrgymcn of the various de-
nominations of Eriscopaian, Presbyterian
Reformed Dutch, Congregationalist Baptist.
Methodist, Lutheran and Unitarian CLERGY
men of the congregations in and about New
York city, uniting with common consent
against the hall-Gnished crime at Washing
ton, deserves attention. We quote it below
MEMORIAL.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives. of
the Un'ted States, m Congress dSsemjied
The undersigned. clergynen of various de-
nominations in the City of New York and Vi
entity, desire respectfully and earnestly to
demonstrate against the bill for the organiza-
ton of new territories, now before Congress,
allowing the introduction Of Slavery into II
region consecratcd to freedom by the plightcd
faith of the nation in long standing and ''irrc-
pcalable = cnactncnts, and by the diNiue and
natural claims OF religion and of liberty.
We demonstrate on the ground that the
parties whose rights and interests are. and
are to be affected cannot be restored to tn,
position Of equality occupied by them res
pcctivelv, before the enactments solcmnv es-
tablished in lS2O. The security for freedom
then given to the one party, cannot be taken
away without the grossest violation of justice
= good faith and law.
We demonstrate. because the deliberate and
r unnecessary extension of the evils of SLAYER,
, would be positive guilt, and as committed by
Congress. the guilt of the whole country. and