Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-21

then granted, and should ask for no
more slave States north of said
line. 1t was then substantially, so
far as changes were concerned, a
compact in favor of slavery. The
established line was not any part of
the principles on which the measure
was based. 1t was merely line
with which the South agreed to be
satisfied. The principle on which
the compromise was based, was the
preservation of the Union and har-
mony of the States, by settling the
vexed question of slavery, and with
drawing its discussions from the
halls of Congress. The North pro-
tested against the measure as wrong
and unconstitutional, but yielded at
last, on the principle of choosing
what they believed to be the least
of two great evils, yielding or con-
tinued strife.
NEBRASKA BILL.
When the Nebraska bill is brought
TO the test of the Constitution, the
established policy of the country,
the principles of justice and morale
~, it is found to contain the follow
ing wrongs:
|. 1t proposes so to break sol
emn and time-honored compact, as
to leave the unconstitutional part
favoring slavery in full force, and
to annihilate the constitutional part
favoring freedom. This is viola
tion of a solemn national contract
it is unconstitutional injustice, and is
contrary to the common sense and
common honesty of mankind in all
business matters. 1t takes from
freedom what belonged to it origin
ally, and what was re-dedicated to
it forever, as compensation for
yielding up territory for two States
to slavery.
2. The bill is directly opposed to
the principle on which the ordin-
ance Of the Northwestern territory
was founded. That principle was
to erclude slavery from all territory
under national control. The prin-
ciple on which the Nebraska bill Is
founded, and which is said by its
friends to be the great thing aimed
at, admits slavery into all territory
under the national control. The
two things are exactly and perfectly
opposite. If the principle OF the
bill prevails, the prin iple on which
the ordinance was formed, and
which has made five of the free and
most fourishing States of the Uni
on, must fall they cannot stand to-
gether. If the bill is right, the ord
nance was wrong. Every man who
understands the matter knows this
Hence it will be found that the
friends of the bill, when they speak
} out, will denounce the ordinance.
3. The Nebraska bill is unconsti-
tulional. The Constitution declares
that no person shall be deprived of
liberty or property without due pro-
cess of law" The bill proposes to
establish a principle which shall
make the whole national domain
territory, where persons may be de-
prired Of liberty and property " it'll
out any process of law; in other
words, to make the clause of the
Constitutios which guarantees per
sonal liberty null and poid and to
take slavery under the guardian
care of the nation, and uphold it
wherever that authority reaches. If
the nation are ready to repudiate
the Constitution, to abandon the es-
tablished policy of the country, and
TO pass over as a nation from free
dom to slavery, then the friends of
the bill calculate right; ifnot, they
calculate wrong, and the measure
instead Of producing union and
peace, will produce lasting disunion
and strife.
3. The Nebraska bill is a moral
wrong. NV attention was called 10
this point by the remarks OF am Hon.
Senator on the long petition. His
words are, 81 would not do an i'm
morality" Moral science, like all
: others, has its arioms or primary
truths, which, though admitted by
l all men, can neither be proved nor
l disproved, because no arguments
= can be framed to establish or sub
}, vert them, so plain and certain as
Y the truths themselves. The follow
5 ing are moral axioms -
T 1t is moral to promote the happi-
! ness and prosperity ofa community
it is immoral to subvert them.
1t is moral to render men a Just
a compensation for their labor; it is
S immoral to withhold it, except as a
Y penalty for crime.
o Since the family state is appoint
!, ed of Heaven, and made the great
4 mode of human existence and COM
e fort, it is moral to promote the hap
: piness of families it is immoral to
: destroy it for any cause but crime.
a Ii is moral to encourage and assist
: parents to train up their children to
= be good citizens it is immoral to
i impede or hinder it when no crime
}, is chargeable.
! 1t is right to promote the knowl.
6 edge, the personal elevation, the
: moral purity, and the conjugal fidel-
IS ity of individuals it is wrong to OBJ
i struct or hinder them.