Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-05-19
spec Oh Of Hon. u, =. Butter,

March last preparatory to the holding
of the great meeting at the Tabcr-
uaclc, to Protect agalnst the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise law of ls26, | ciieasrd
to appear at that meeting, and to address
you, my fellow citizens, upon that important
and monentous question. \ severe attack
OF infucn:t itcrghtc1 mr from being present
at the meeting, but in the letter OF apo;Jzy
which sent, made pledge that so soon Ms
strength and voice should be sufficiently res
torcd to me, would, on any proper occasion.
unite with my felow-citzcrs, in any remon-
STRANGE against what was then only nedi
tatcd iniquity, bit which Is now On ninuity
half effected. Applause. ati hetc to TO-
deem that pledge but, fellow citizens, !
have but lust recovered from the sickness
with which | was then visited. This is the
most serious trial to which have put either
voice or strength, and it is pretty severe or
deal to begin in the open air but, fellow
citizens, though fear may not be enabled
to offer to you all that may desire to spy
upon this most interesting and mdmontous
occasion, yet can do as the brate General
Miller did when he was asked at Lundv's
Lane, " Can you take that battery and spike
those guns - 81 can try said he vo-
ciferous cheers He succeeded. | may fail,
fellow citizens loud cries Of I" Go on -
L
soldiers-there are other brave spirits behind
me who will be able, with your hearty cheers
and voices, to spike the cannon of the enemies
of human freedom Loud cheera NIr. Pre-
sident and fellow-citizens, we have assembled
under circumstances Of peculiar interest and
solemnity. hen in the early part Of the
last Winter q proposal to repeal the 9Th sec
ton of the Missouri Compromise Of ls20-that
act which sec,ires TO Territory, broad and
extensive as the original l3 States. the bless
ings of freedom. and forever forbids the tread
Of the slave or the avehoder-when the
proposa 10 repeal this great ordinance of
| freedom was stealthily and covertly, and in a
most cowardly way, brought before the Senate
Of the United States, the people of this Union,
and especially the people of the Free States,
were incredulous. They could not be brought
to believe that 1t was possible that any num-
Der of the representatives of this nation, in
Congress assembled least of all that any
number of ths Representatives from the Free
States could be 80 possessed with the spirit Of
wickedness as seriously to enter upon that
work of shame. 1t was not until it was found
that the men who entered upon this work
we're really in earnest-that they were
banded together to repeal, or in come way to
| get rid Of that ordinance Of freedom--it was
not until it was discovered that there was n
design to force the bill with that infamous
provision in 1t through the Senate, befJre the
people could he made to understand to rally
| | say it was not until the disclosure Of the
wicked dcs GINS Of the authors of this measure
that the people of this country, in the North
ern States especially, became reused to the
Importance Of the crisis. They, however
were reused and the loud note Of remon
STRANGE and indignant reprobation proccede,
from every city, town and hamlet in the
Northern States, and from many places il
the other Free States, and there was one sucl
general - such sweeping tide of public indig
nation, that the authors of the measure
though they had in the mean time succeeded
in CARRYING the bill through the Senate
seemed to be palsicd. They saw the hand
writing upon the wall, but they obcyed tn
behest of their master [loud applause an
we all supposed that in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes the measure could not be carrie
that although Territorial Governments nigh
be given as they ought to be given in prope
form to the people of Nebraska and Kansas
if they are prepared for them, yet that tn
repeating clauses by which the ordinance {
freedom in the Missouri Compromise was dc
clared to be imperative and void, that thos
would be stricken out of the bill in the llous
of Representatives. and especially that ever
|
obey the wishes and expressed will Of hi
constituents. ! say expressed will, for tina
will was expressed in thousand forms SO az t
leave no mistake us to the will of that reopl
on that point that that bill would be sen
back to the other house stripped Of those rC
pcaling clauses, and the people engaged i
their various avocations and pursuits, tire
of the Slavery agitation, and wishing to |
relieved from it, and therefore condemnin
the revival of it by the men who were pledge
over and over again, not only not to revive i
but even to prevent its being revived i
others say the people were rejoicing
the belief that their representatives in Il
popular branch of Congress would conforl
2 to the expressed will Of their constituent
The people passed from the high state ofexcit
ment into which they had been aroused
the proceedings of the Senate, into state
hopeful repose. The conspirators and tho
who have led them on, and were furnishiI
them aid and aliment in this work Of infam
. and fraud, have mistaken this sentiment
the people, so lust in itself and so honorable
their intelligence and to their hearts. Tn,
:, have mistaken it. They suppose that Il
u people have sunk into state of apathy ar
J Indifference. They suppose that the poop
. will give no more heed to this matter, al
% straightway they have united with the CO.
\ spirators, many Of them from the northe
Z States, in violation of the wishes, and Il
! will PERFECTLY understood, of their cons,
J., tuents, in this new attempt TO force Il
- measure through the House of Represent
D. tives-[a voice, g Shame on them and
: do not hesitate to say, according to my oy
g deliberate Judgment, founded upon sor
l. knowledge of the people of this State, al
y some attentions to the proceedings of I'll
!, State upon this question since it came befo
~ the people. that there is not single CO
II gressional District in the State where. if Il
question of the repeal of the Missouri Co
II would not be voted down by a triumphn
,,e majority Loud cheers believe Y
Is know and believe it to be true too. II
lie newed cheers Furthermore, of the five hu
s. bred Thousand voters of the great State
Is New York, where is there man to be fou
'e who would dare to say that he believes Il
if this question were presented to the
voters distinctly and by itself, that one fl
of that great number could be found to
y aye to it [Cries of " no. "no," and ii
1i could not he found And | say no, no, t.
81 suppose for example Stephen 4. Douglas
re- loud hssc. suppose for example Sterh
l, 4. Dougla. nominated by the Democra
r., Baltimore Convention and suppose that
II. Benton or samuel I1OuStoli, Ut U bli
y were all right upon this point, and that
IN was n candidate OF the independent people
u New York, how would the vote stand
nj A NoIcE-Ilc would get all the Viii
er Laughter,
ep Suppose that in opposition to stephen
e Douglas, nominated in the way have m
to toned, William II Seward, loud cheers,
a John Bell, or Benjamin Hunt, ur any ot
-
Il. was the candidate of the opponents of I
fraud, what would he the result Why.
/. were obliged, though never before have s
We that | would vote, except until this very d
Il" Tor W II, Seward yet under the circ,
- stances, | would vote Tor him. Loud chez
''u Yes. would vote for him if il were the
Ut act had to do tremendous applause n
" this suhlunary sphere, Renewed cheers
~ Now, fellow citizens, we have assent