Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-09-01

4
The Repeal of the Missouri Comprom So I.
Does any body believe that, if the prupo-
sal to repeal the Missouri Compromise had
been submitted to n direct vote of the people,
that it would have commanded anywhere,
north of Mnson's and DiSon's line, single
majority in any district or township IN any
state Was there solitary petition for it
sent in from either North or South Was u
single member of Congress, who voted for it,
elected, with view to such question
Were not the tables of both Senate and
House laden with circumstances against it,
forwarded not by politicians, nor enthusiasts,
but by the most sober and conservative citi-
zcns Did its friends, when challenged to
do so, dare to postpone action upon it, for
another year, until the people should he
allowed to pass upon it, Was it suffered to
take its regular course in the progress. of
legislation No mo mo- And vet we
are told, that ours is representative govern
mcnt a number of men, delegated for par
ticular purposes to Washington, possessing
not particle of authority beyond that con
fcrred upon them by the people, neglect the
objects for which they were chosen, and pro-
coed to accomplish other objects, which are
but are an outrage upon their sincerest and
deepest convictions. Can we call them re-
representatives. or, are they not rather usur-
pcrs. recreants, oligarchs, dcspots' What
use is there in popular elections, when the
persons chosen fancy themselves Immediately
exempted from all responsibility, and go on
to act in the most independent and arbitrary
manner 1t is true, they may be dismissed
afterwards for their criminal breach of trust,
as the barn-door may be locked after the
horse is stolen, but then the mischief is al
ready done. We may discharge clerk who
robs the till, but will that restore us our
money! We may punish the scduccr when
he is caught, hut is that recompcnse to
our violated honor Not at all. What VIC
want in legislation, as in other trusts, are
honest 6duciaries men who will perform
their duties according to our wishes, and not
IN pursuance of their own selfish objects
men who do not require to he watched at
every step, and whose fidelity docs not depend
alone upon our Interior privilege of breaking
them when they have done wrong. A Con-
grcss of such men would be little better than
an asscmblagc of cheats, and, for our parts,
we should greatly prefer the rule of Nicholas
or Louis Napoleon, to their heterogeneous
frauds and expressions Now, there was
hardly man, who voted for the Nebraska
Bill, who did not know that he was bctray-
ing the will of his constituents, and who
should not be branded as utterly unworthy
of confidence and support. He has done his
share towards the conversion of our fair
fabric of free government into machine of
oftce-holding desrotism, and the only re-
course that is left us, to mark his trcachery,
is to discharge him forever from every parti-
cipation in its councils. lie has wantonv
provoked the reward, and let him have it.. to
his hearts content.
We begin to entertain the conviction, that
the propagandists of the South will not stop
even with the territories. 1t is imputed to
them, by authorities entitled to respect, that
they cherish policy which aims, not mere
" at its establishment within the limits of
all the new states, but at the consolidation
of it, by foreign conquests. We know that
II movement has long been on foot in Califor-
MIA for its lcgalization there we know that
Texas is considered MS the nucleus of three
or four slave-holding sovereigntes; we know
that schemes, open and secret, are prosecuted
for the acquisition of Cuba, before Cuba
shall have emancipatcd her blacks. as it is
alleged she intends to do; we know that
eager grasping eyes are set on Mexico we
know, that Senator has called for the with
drawal of our naval squadron from the coast
of Africa, that the slave-trade may be pur-
sued in greater safety; we know that another
Senator has hroachcd the recognition of the
its annexation and, we are told, that over
lures have been made to Brazil for co-opcra-
ton in the ultimate establishment of vast
slave-holding confcderacy to the South. OF
course, some of these designs are still in the
gristle they are not participated in by the
judicous men of any section; but the re-
mote conception of them should be monitory
and wakcn us to vigilance. 1t is one of the
dangers MS well as glorics, of this nation,
that its plans are executed with the rapidly
of magnetism. a thought is scarcely n
thought before it becomes deed. We scorn
delays; we strike and parley afterwards we
actualize the dreams of the old philosophers
and impart to our abstract ideas an instant
creative energy. The fact, then, that such
comprehensive schemes of pro-slavery expan-
sion, gain admittance into active minds, nay,
that they are said to burrow in those of men
of eminent station, should bcgct timely and
jealous watchfulness against their least be-
gnnings. The meanest political swindle,
which appeals to the avarice, the prejudice,
and the restlessncss of large numbers of men,
may bear in its belly as foul progeny of
evils as were harboured by the Dragon of
Wantlcy, and how dangerous then, how
pregnant and prolific may be even the germs
of plans which embrace immense and compli-
Gated interests, and look to the dismember-
ment and control of empires