Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-03-09


There Is not thought that ! would wish to
10 sd9 there is not a word that ! um wiing
- take away. Time is full surely and quito
rapidly enough resolving the question
whether those were right who pronounced
the Fugitive Slave law igst, and necessary,
and constitutional act, fall Of healing to
wounded country, or whether the humble
individual who now stands before YOU was
right when he admonishcd you that tina, law
was unnecessary, unwrsc, inhunau. and
derogatory from the Constitution, and that II
would never be executcd without new and
continued usurpations. The Transaction Of
this night takes place, in order that the words
Of that prophecy NAV be fulfilled.
am not allowed, SIR, to reach the merits
Of this question, without alludirg to q body
OF men who sport IN the public gaze under
a name which hardly know how to repeat
ia the presence of so grave and reverend gu
assemblage as this-the Know Nothiugs
They are said to have coutrved their dis
guise with so much ingenuity that one who /
is not a novitiate cannot deny n knowledge /
Of their ceremonies and principles, with |
out implying his communion ami men,
bcrship with them Nevertheless, | must |
reply to the Senator from Illinois Mr. Dou. I
glass; who charges m. among others, with I
such an utilization, that have no knowledge /
OF that body Of men, other than Whit is nf- |
iorded me BY the publications OF tie day.
/ Thus informed, / understand the Know
Nothings 10 be secret society or order, /
consisting of two or three grades, collsagued
and mutually sworn to elect individuals of
( their own order or at least persons maintain.
I ing tho principles which that order enter
tains, to all Offices Of trust and profit in the
United States These principles | under
stand 10 be- in general the same which, be
fore the organization Of the Know Nothings,
passed under the maine Of Native American
ism !, sir. have no connection with that
order an under m responsibility for It's
doines. and ! have not the least sympathy
with rs principles or sentiments. bcluug
TO ono voluntary association Of men which
has to do with spiritual af'urs 1t is the
Christian Church-that branch of It, all i'm
perfect though think It ~. which, according
10 my notions, most nearly retains IN their
purity the Instructions Of the Gospel That
association IS an open one, when performs
all ITS rites and gives allits instructions with
publicity, and invites every man, IN the Ian
guage of its Div,ne Founder, 10 come in
and partake Of the privileges with which
! He invested it, and of the blessings which
tie promises. | belong 10 ore temporal so.
cie,y of men, and hat IS the political party,
which, according to my notions. einbodies
most fully aud most truly, although, con.
fess, as IN the other case, VERY nadcquitelv.
the principles of the Declaration Of lndc
pendence and Of the Constitution Of the t.
nlted States This Association also. Of
which have spoken, Is an open one. All
its transactions are conducted IN the broad
daylight. and It invites all citizens, and all
men who become subjects Of the power ot
this government, of whatever cline Or race
OF color they may be, to enter into Us ranks,
to participate in It's labors, aud TO Cooperate
in maintaining good Government and in adj.
vanclng the cause of Human Nature. These
two Associations, the one spiritual and the
other temporal, are the only voluntary hsso-
clstons 10 which now belong, or hive ever
belonged since became a man and unless
am bereil of reason, they are the only As
sociations Of men to which shall ever suf-
fer myself to belong. Secret societies, sir
Before would place 10Y right hand between
the hands Of other men, in a secret Lodge,
Order, Class OF Council, and. bending on
my knee before them, enter into combna.
ton with them for any object, personal or
political, good or bad, would pray to God,
that hand and that knee might be- paralyzed.
and that | might become an object Of the
pity and even of the mockery OF nv fellow
men. Swear, sir |, man, an American
citizen, Christian. swear to submit myself
to the guidance and direction Of other men.
sufrendenng my own judgment to their
judgments, and my own conscience to their
keeping No, no, sir. know quite well
the ialbiiity of my own judgment, and my
own liability to fall into error aud temptation.
But my life has been spent 10 breaking the
bonds of the slavery Of other men. | there
fore know too well the danger Of eonddlng
power to Irresponsible hands to make my
seif a willing slave. Prescribe a man, sir,
because he was not born in the same town,
or county, or State, OF country in which |
was born Why, sir, do most earnestly
and most uifectIonately advise all persons
hereafter to be born, that they be born IN the
, United States and, if they can without in
convenience. TO be born in The State of New
York, and thus avoid great deal Of trouble
for themselves and for Others Laughter
Moreover, | do most affeciionately erioln
upon all such persons as are hereafter to be
born, that they be born of fa,hers and Of
mothers, Of grandfaihers and granGmoihers
of pure American blood. sun more, sir,
do aiiecuonatey enion upon all who shall
thus have the wisdom 90 come into existence
on this side Of the Atlantic, and Of such pure
and untaInled ancestry, to BE- either born IN
the Protestant faith. or TO be converted as
speedily ms possible 10 that good and true
Protestant Church, within whose pale nv.
self AIN accustomed to worship.
More than that, sir. Speaking from a full
knowledge and conviction OF the Sc ious in
convenlences which absolute and eternal
slavery entails upon man and upon races of
men, do earnestly, s,renuously and alice
tionatey conIure all people every where,
who are hereafter TO be born 10 be born
white. Laughlerl
Thus, being born in this free and happy
country and being born white, they will be
born free. But, Mr.. President, Tins IS the
length, and this IS the breadth of my con
nectlon with the new and mysterious Order
Of Patriots. And, If there shall hereafter
come among Us persons who, because from
ignorance they may not be able 10 profit by
my advice and counsel, shall be born IN Tor
eign lands or, even Il there shall be any
who. in despite Of 10Y counsel, shall persist
in being Roman Catholics, or Jews, or
Turks, or Chinese; or II there shall be 9TH
eTs, who, dlsregarding my persuasion, shall
insist upon coming into the world with black
ened faces and twisted hair, all | can say IN
regard to them is, that have done my duty.
and ] shall not add a feathers weight to the
disabilities which they will incur By their
presumpiious perverseneSs laughter
Sir my honorable friend from Connect
cut, Nr. Gillette, has thought this was
good Occasion to invite us to consider the /
question Of abolIshing Slavery IN the DIS
trlct Of Columbia, and has thereby incurred
some censure. lie certainly had warrant
in the latitude which the debate had already
J assumed, although the subject was not very
germane to the question before us. have
no hesitation to disclose my lanaticism IN
that direction Five years ago, proposed,
, in the Congress of the United States,
e the emancipation Of all the slaves IN the
District Of Columbia, with the consent of lls
! citizens, to be expressed through the custom.
lnrnls nf nnn..lar nlnclln.. 81 ...-.I. c.ll