Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-12-01
Minority Report.

10 The House Of Representatives. no,c in
session :
The undersigned, minority of the select
committee of seven, to which was referred
80 much Of the Governors message az relates
to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
and sundry resolutions relating to the same
subject, have carefully considered the mat
tcrs committed to them, and respectfully re-
port the following resolutions, and recon-
mend their adoption;
Rcsoiued That slavery is wrong which cannot
legally exist except by pos'tr' lar that the very
idea of property repudiatcd by tho farm
c,s of the Federal Constitution, who actually cScud-
cd the words siouc and siar'ry from that instrument;
that it requires Congress to guaranty to every state
in the Union republican form of government, and
adopted in order to establish jSticc, and
the blessings NJ h5cty to the people therefore,
slavery is unauthorized by the Constitutions
Resoired, That the Act of Congress of May 3oth,
1854, entitled An act TO organize the Territories
Of Nebraska and Kansas" by which tho Missouri
Compromise, So called became void and imperative,
Is violation of a solemn national compact of per
pctual obligation, and that this violation of plight
81 faith the part of the South, fully ab>olvcs the
North from the constitutional force of all cumpro-
misses entered into in behalf of slavery.
R,,oirsd. That the Nebraska bill So called, j. in
dcrogation of the Constitution of the United States;
that it denies the privilege of the writ of HabtoN
CorpHo to those who may be claimed and unlawiully
that this bill, which denies the intention of cgi.a-
ting slavery into these territories national false
hood that 1t not only legsldtes slavery into these
territories, and provides for its protection, but de-
mics the foreign cmgrant the right of suffrage and
of holding Office unless he shall make oath to sup
port with all its unconstitutional provisions that
the rcquisiton Of this oath is daring invasion Of
the rights Of frccmcn.
Res5h,d, That the Fugitive Slave bill is rcIu.;-
n1ut t. tho constitution that it denies those act,
of q b ,ltr
Savior, and thus sets the fundamental principle, Of
Christianity at defiance that it i, founded in in
Justice and cupidity,-cnforccd by bribery and
northern scrviiity, and should be unconlitonally
repealed
Res,lrcd, That our delegation in Congress should
resist tho admission of any state into the Tn
ION, whose constitution does not prohibit slavery
and also, resist tho acquisition Of any territory
wherein slavery exists without its prohibition shall
have been provided for.
Rcsl'us3, That Congress has constitutional power
20 prohibit the interstate slave tradc,--to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia. and in all the
territory belonging to the Unied States. and should
exercise this power.
Rssoir,d, That the pursued by the present
national administration, in relation to slavery, is
suhvcrsyo OF the rights, and destructive To- tie in
tcrest, OF the free states, and endangcr, the stdb
ty and permancncy OF the American Union
Rroiu,G, Ihnt will hcnccforth oppose the cleo
ton of any and every man to important Office, who
shall not be opposed to the extension of slavery the
aggression of its power, and in favor of the uusuu
i,ional repeal ut the Fugitive Slave bill
H,snlroj. That the nUn-rc si-tancc and submission
To- the arbitrary dictation Of the slave power j. MT
article in our political creed; that there Norb,
that has political rights, and should maintain them
hy lawful and constitutional action that, unmovcd
10y Gattcry, unawed by threats, we will .ound
The trump Of freedom in tho dcspct', ear
Aud tell the bruted slave his manhood high,
Iii, brthri:ht Liberty, and in his hand
Put the writ Of manumis,ion, signed by