Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-04-13

been there, through the exercise of
usmped po,1er, nowhere given un-
der the Constitution, for | am glad
to believe that the Constitution of
my country contains no words out
of which slavery can be derived
and this conclusion, | doubt not,
will yet be affirmed by the Courts.
And yet the honorable Senator asks:
Did we ever bring this subject in.
to Congress Z" The answer shall
be PLAIN and explicit. Sir, you
brought slavery into Congress,
when, shortly, after the adoption of
the Constitution, you sanctioned it
in the District of Columbia. within
the National jurisdiction, and adopt
ed that barbarous slave code, still
extant on your statute book, which
the Senator from Connecticut Mr.
Gillette has so eloquently exposed
tonight. You brought slavery into
Congress, when at the same period
you accepted the cession Of terrific
ries from North Carolina and Geor-
gia, now constituting States OF the
Union, with conditions in favor of
slavery, and thus began to sanction
slavery in Territories within the
exclusive jurisdiction of Congress.
You brought slavery into Congress,
when, at different times, you usurp-
ed power not given by the ConsIi-
tuition, over the fugitive slaves, and
by most offensive legislation thrust
your arms into distant Northern
homes. You brought slavery into
Congress, when, by express legisla-
ton, you regulated the coastwise
slave trade, and thus threw the Ma
tional shield over traffic on the
coast of the United States, which
on the coast of Congo you justly
brand as "piracy." You brought
slavery into Congress, when, from
time to time, you sought to intro
duce new States with Slaveholding
Constitutions into the National I'M
ion. And, permit me to say, sir,
you brought slavery into Congress
when you called upon it, as you
have done even at this very session,
to pay for slaves-aUd thus, in de-
fiance of a cardinal principle of the
Constitution, made the National
Government recognize property in
men. Aud yet the Senator from
Louisiana, with strange simplicity,
says the South only asks to be let
alone. Sir, the honorable Senator
only borrows the language of the
North, which, at each of these us
urpations, exclaims, Let us alone"
And let me say, frankly, that peace
can never prevail until you do ict
us alone-until this subject of sla-
very is banished from Congress by
the triumph Of freedom-until slav-
ry is driven from It's usurped foot
hold, and freedom is made national
instead of sectional-and until the
National Government is brought
back to the precise position it occu-
pied on the day that Washington
took his oath as President of the
United States, when there was no
Fugitive Act, and the national flag,
as it iloated over the national terri
tory, within the jurisdiction of Con-
gress, no where covered a single
slave.
And, now, sir, as an effort in the
true direction Of the Constitution
in the hope of beginning the divorce
of the National Government from
Slavery, and to remove all occasion
for the proposed measure under con-
sideration, | shall close what have
to say with motion to repeal the
Fugitive Slave Act. Twice alrea-
dy, since have had the honor of a
seat on this floor, | have pressed
that question to vote, and mean
to press it again tonight. After the
protracted discussion, involving the
character of this enactment, such a
motion seems logically to belong to
this occasion, and may fifty close It's
proceedings.
AT a former session, on introduce
ing this proposition, | discussed it
at length, in an argument, and
now, in the debate, | have already
touched upon various objections
There are yet other things which
might be urged. | might exhibit
the abuses wnich have occurred I'M
der the Fugitive Act the number
of free persons it has doomed 10
slavery the riots it has provoked;
the brutal conduct of its officers
the distress it has carried the de-
ragement of business it has caused,
interfering even with the admins
tration of justice, changing court
houses into barracks and barra-
coons, and filling streets with armed
men, amidst which law is silent
All these things ! might expose
But in these hurried moments for
bear. Suffice it to say that the pro-
position to repeal the existing Fugi-
tive Act stands on adamantlne
grounds, which no debate or opposi-
ton can shake.
There are considerations belong
ing to the present period which give
new strength to this proposition.-
Public Opinion, which under a pop
ular Government, makes and un-
makes laws, and which, for time,
was passive and acquiescent, now
lifts itself everywhere in the States
where the act is sought TO be enforc-
IL 81 Jo.,,nIo a cbapua Alraa