Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-03-03

oi'ci "pptdf, tHc non SlaVenOlulny
States have not practically enjoyed
any OF those guaranteed to them.
This is the question now before the
Senate of the United States OF Amer.
lea.
II is a question Of transcendeni
importance. The proviso of 1920
TO be abrogated in Nebraska, is the
Ordinance of the Continental Con-
gress Of 1881, extended over new
part of the national domain, acquired
under our present Constitution. |,
is rendered venerable by ts>antiqurty
a9d sacred by the memory Of that
Congress- which, in surrendering iis
trust, after establishing the Ordin-
ance, enjoined it upon posieriiy al.
ways TO reWember that the cause n
The United States was the cause o.
houan nature. The question in.
wolves an issue Of public faith, anc
niiional morality and honor. 1t viii
be sad day for this Republic when
such a question shall be deemed uu-
worthy of grave discussion and in
tense interest. Even if it were GER
tain that the inhibition of Slavery in
the region concerned was necessary,
and il The question was thus reduced
to mere abstraction, vet even that alb
straction would involve the testimony
Of the United States on the exped-
lency, wisdom, morality and Justice
Of tho system of human bondage with
which this and other portions pf the
world have been so long afflicted,
and 1t will be melancholy day fos
the Republic and for mankind. when
her decision on even such an absirac-
ton shall command no respect and
inspire no hope in the hearts of the
oppressed. But i, is no such abstrac-
ton. Ii was no unnecessary dispute,
no mere contest of blind passion,
that brought that Compromise into
being. Slavery und Freedom were
active antagonists, then seeking for
ascendency IN this Union. Both
Slavery and Freedom are more vigor-
Gus, active, and self-aggrandizing
now than they were then, or ever
were before or since that period. =
The contest between them has been
only proiracied, not decided. II is
great feature in our national Here
after So the question of adhering
TO or abrogating this Compromise is
20 unmeaning issue, and no contest
of mere blind passion now.
TO adhere, is 10 secure the occu-
patton by free men, with free labor,
of a region in The very center of the
continent, capable Of sustaining, and
in that event destined, though ii may
be after n far distant period, TO sus
Tain ten. a.ss.s, y, .l.;.s,l,. '',t,y -nitiivr,
of people, and their successors for
ever!
To abrogate, is to resign all that
vast region to chances which mortal
vision cannot fully forseee, perhaps to
the sovereignty of such siinted and
short lived communities as those oil
which Mexico and South America
and the West India Islands present
rs with examples; perhaps TO CONVEX,
tlIpt region into the scene of long
and dcsolating conflicts between not
merely races, but castles, 10 end, like
similar conflict in Egypt, in con-
yulsive exodus OF the oppressed peo-
pie, despoiling their superiors per
haps, like one not disslnilar in Spain,
n the forcible expulsion OF the infer
Tor race, exhausting the State by the
sudden and complete suppression Of
a great resource of national wealth
and labor (; perhaps in the disastrous
expulsion, even of the superior race
itself, by people too suddenly rails
ed from Slavery TO Liberty as in ST.
Domingo, To adhere, is TO secure
forever the presence here, after some
lapse Of time, of two, four, ten, TWEEN
ty, or more Senators, and of Repre-
sen,atives in larger proportions, to
uphold the policy and interests oil
the non-slaveholding States, and
balance that ever-lncreasing repre-
sen,ation of slaveholding States,
which past experience, and the decay
OF the Spanish American States, nd
monish US has only begun to save
what the non-slaveholding States
have in Mats, navy yards, the mill
lary academy and Notifications, te
balance against the capital and fed
eral institutions in the slaveholdlns
States; to save against any danger
from adverse or hostile policy, the
culture, the manufactures, and The
ss'-~ --@a, 90 s"@ii 80 the just iaA,-
ence and weight of the national prin,
ciples and sentiment of the non-savc
holding States. TO adhere, is t,
save to the non slayeholding States
as well us TO The slaveholding States
always, and in every event, RICH
of way and free communicative
across the continent, to and with ,h,
States OH The Pacific coasts, and witt
the rising States on the islands in tn,
South Sea, and with all The easter
nations on the vast continent of Asia
To abrogatc, on the contrary, is t,
commit all these precious interests I,
the chances and hazards of embafrass
ment and injury by legislation, unde
tie influence of social, political an,
commercial jealousy and rivalry
and, in the event of the secession O
the slaveholding States, which is S,
often threatened in their name-bu
| thank God without their authority
to give 10 a servile population a Lii