Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-10-26
fFrom Senator Sevsrd's Speech. 1

The change that has become at last so
necessary is as easy to be made as it is neces-
sary The whole number of shareholders is
only $50 900, one hundrehth part of the entire
population OF the country. Ii you add their
parents. children. immediate relatives and
dependents, they are two milllons--one-
fifteenth part Of the American people. Slavery
is not and never can be perpetual. 1t will be
overthrown either peacefully under this cons
titution, or it will work the subyersion of
the constitution together with its own over
throw. Then the Shareholders would perish
in the struggle. The change can now be
made without violence, and hy the agency Of
the ballot box. The temper OF the nation is
lust, liberal iorhearing. 1t will contribute
any money and enquire any sacrifice to effect
this great and important c'ange-indced. it
is half made already The House Of Repre-
sentatives is already yours, as it always
must be when you choose to have 1t. The
Senate of the United states is equally within
your power il you only will persistcntly for
two years, to have it. Notwithstanding all
| the wrong that has been done, not another
slave state can now come into the mon
Make only one year constant, decisive enort
and YOU can determine what states shall he
admitted
The will exists because the evil has become
| intolerahle. and the necessity oi remedy Is
universally acknowledged. What then, is
wuntedt Organization organization n"ti!'
! ing but organizations.
Shall We organize Why not' Can W
maintain the revolution 50 nuspiclousiy y
begun without organization' Certainly not
Are YOU apprehensive of failure because til,
revolution Is not everywhere aud at all times
equally successful Was there evera revolu
ton that was equally successful ut all time'
and everywhere, Certainly not. Do vot
say that YOU cannot abolish slauery in til,
privileged states' We have no need, n,
purpose, no constitutional power. no duty to
do 50. Providence has devolyed that duty on
others and the organic law leaves 1t wisely
to them. We have power to prevent the ex
tension of slavery in the territories of tn,
Union, and that is enough DO yon doub
that power Did not the statesmen of l1Si
know the bounds of constitutional power
Somebody has municipal power on tie unor
ganized territories in the Union. Who is it
1t is not any foreign state, it is not any of tn,
American states, 1t is not the Ieoplc in thu
territories it is the Congress uf the who'll
United States; and their power there i
supreme.
Are you afraid that the privileged elias
will not submit The privileged class ar
human and they are wise. They know JUS
AS well how to submit to just authority
firmly and constitutionally exercised, as the.
do how to extort unequal concession, b,
terror from timid men. Can the privil
edged class live without Union any bette
than you can They would not remain ant
wrangle with you an hour if they could d
so. Can they ever hope to obtain anothe
Union so favorable to them as this one,
this should be overthrown! Will they des
troy themselves that they may simply d
harm to you Did ever any privileged elias
commit such absurd suicide as this ! Ar
you alone the keepers Of the Union IIav
not the privileged class interests US great t
, maintain in the Union, and are their obliga
tions to maintain it different from your OWL