Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-10-26
F1rfhs Green Mountain Freeman.
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if possible. can take only a general view Of
the subject.
Our National Government was formed for
special National purposes-'' to form more
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and seca &c the bles-
sings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity "
These were the special ends, for which the
Federal Constitution Was formed by the people
of the several states. And they gave to Con-
gress power to make all laws, which were nee
essary and proper to secure these national OBJ
ects, while they reserved to themselves all other
heser.
Hence if there be anything in the nation,
which tends to prevent the attainment of these
ends it is a nuisance, which Congress is author
lied to abate, and they ought to do it. For
clearly thit must be unconstitutional, which
prevents the Government from clfecting the pur-
poses for which it was formed. If then tho
system Of Slavery, as it exists at the South, dis
gress may at any time declare tia nuisance, and
abato it. If slavery interfere with, or prevent
the impartial administration Of justice between
man and man, and the several States, Congress
may and ought, to remove this evil and admin
lister justice impartially. If Slavery deGturb
domestic tranquility, and promote discord and
aliesatiosernd discord in families. and between
the Statass Congress may and ought to remove
this root of bitterness. If slavery interfere with
the public safety, weaken the strength of tho
nation, diminish the number of troops and i'm
pede the common defense, Congress can interfere
and remove the evil, and in time of war they
would be very likely to do it. If slavery dis
turb the general welfare, and is bone of con-
slant strife, interrupting the business of Con-
gress and the general welfare of the nation,
then Congress ought to remove this disturbing
cause And if slavery endanger oar national
Liberty, prevent the people and their posterity
from enjoying the blessings of Liberty, then it
is sore evil, which Congress is bound to re-
move, root up and destroy. Pat all these evils
together, what then should Congress do! Why
contend about a shadow, and let the fire rage!
Put it out put it out
Congress may not interfere with the rights of
State, abolish slavery in Arkansas or Virgin
ia but Congress may for the strongest reasons
pass law extirpating the evil from the whole
land. Lay the ak at the foot Of the tree, and
they must do ii, before the great ends, for which
the Constitution was framed can be obtained
How can light and darkness reign together!
suppose no ono doubts the power of Con-
gress to exclude slavery from the District Of
Columbia and all places subject to the crclustre
jurisdiction Of the United Slates and the advo-
Gates of slavery are ready to admit that Con-
gross can extend slavery over all the Territories
of the United States. But clearly, if Congress
can extend slavery, they have power to curtail
and exterminate it, They can At one Session undo
what they did at a former Session. This is
clearly evnced in the late Nebraska act. Con-
gress has then, full power to abate and remove
slavery from the Territories and all places under
their exclusive jurisdiction. Here then stand
should be taken by all the real friends of Liber-
ty 1t is safe, it is strong ground. Why not
begin the tlttldhe Slavery is nuisance at
Washington, as in all other places, and from
thence it sends out its deadly streams, and so it
will do, 80 long as it there remains. What
good will it do to drive it from Nebraska and
leave it rampant at Washington You must
strike the serpent on the head, or he will sting
you to death.
take it, no one can doubt, that the Legis-
lators of the States have both natural and a
constitutional right to petition Congress in any
case, which they deem important. They have
then, right to petition Congress to pass a law
abolishing slavery at Washington, and in all
places subject to their exclusive jurisdiction
This would bring the parties fairly face to face,
and give Liberty and Slavery a chance to Crap
pie. Liberty might be roughly handled at first,
but she could try again, and make this the
grand test ques ton for the Presidential election
In this move the Legislature of Vermont may
take the FIRST step and have the honor of setting
the noble example to all the free States, if such
there be- Why then should they not do I
Arc they afraid to meet the enemy face to face !!
Let them say 80 then and call forquarters. Yer
mont on her morow-Jones before the s'dce-pow-
eri Shon,o ,,kara 10 thy hlpsh
Why not carry the war INTO Africa! If
the Slave power is aggressive, let the Liberty
power be aggressive also. If one resolve to ex-
tend slavery let the other resolve to kill the
monster whenever they can meet him. Strike
the death blow on his head at Washington, and
his tail will soon die at Nebraska. But cut of
his tail at Nebraska, and it would soon be head
ed at Washington There are doctors enough
there to furnish hundred tails and they laugh
at tho wisdom Of those men, who fight the tail,
and leave them to take care of the head.
Where is tho spirit of 7G, when in my boy
hood, the sound of the fife and the rattle of the
drum called forth the boys with their wooden
guns. that they might exercise their hands to
war and their fingers to fght9 Where is that
love of Liberty, which led our fathers to meet
the enemy at Remington and to capture the
Kings troops Words are bnt wind. The love
of Liberty deals out hard blows, Actions show
where the heart is. If our Legislators believe
that the Nebraska wickedness is a bold and dar-
ing attack upon our liberty why should they
not take bold stand against slavery, and petit
ton Congress to abate the nuisance, where ever
they have power, and resolve to push the bat
tie till victory is gained. Why make speeches
for the enemy to laugh at, and then refuse to
act Why not begin at the right place, and do
what they can constitutionally! Drive slavery