Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-18
GUBINATORIAL MESSAGES,

The Governors of Maine and Massachusetts,
have each delivered their inaugurals before their
respective legislatures the past week. and each
have taken stands which will be gratifying to
friends Of freedom and temperance, will be
seen by the following abstracts and quotations :
I" Gov. Morrill,, in his Message to the Maine
Legislature, makes no illusion to Know-No-
thing movements. In regard to the Liquor Law
he strongly recommends its stringent enforce
mont. Considerable space is devoted to the
Slavery question, in which he says it is evident
the time has arrived when the question must be
met and discussed in our National and State
councils, and in primary meetings of the peo-
pie, with the same freedom with which other
grave questions are wont to he considered
Gov. Morrill, condemns tho passage of the
Kansas Nebraska bill, and on its presumed ex-
tension OF Slavery says; % What renders this
aggressive movement the more alarming, is the
evident completely of the Chief Magistrate of
lhe country, in open disregard and direct viola
ton OF voluntary assurance given to tho peo-
| pie, who had elevated him to that high position,
that no movement of that character should
shock the reposc of tho country during his Off
cial term, if in his power to avert it.
Gov Morrills Message occupied half an hour
in its delivery, and embraced few topics other
than of local interest. The Message was strong
on those distinctive points to which the Govern
or owed his election namely temperance,
Froe-Sol and Naturalization. lie recommends
u short session. economy ia State expenditures,
and the passage Of new laws"
Gov. Gardner on the subject of Slavery, in
a message, which strikes us as a very frank
lucid and able document throughout, says
" In defiance of the principles asserted by the
dominant national party in their last Presiden-
tial Convention, in disregard too of the pledges
OF the President in his inaugural Address, sec
tlonal issues have been reopcned by the wanton
violation OF pightcd national fats on the part
OF the Congress and the Executive, in the repeal
OF the Missouri Compromise, which fixed a
northern limit to the extension of slavery The
first result Of this pernicious ton was to shock
the moral sentiment of the community. and to
excite fears that all constitu tional and legal
barriers against the diffusion of this acknowl-
edged evil would, from timo to time be swept
away. 1t has moved men minds at the North
to an extent no other political occurrence has
tion. Its ultimate effect win and should be, to
determine US, by the consideration of every ga
cred ana holy Duty to manfally demand the
restoration OF this broken compact, and to ieal-
, onsly guard each and every right that belongs
| to Massachusetts.
While we acknowledge orr fealty to the Con-
stltutlon and the Laws, the oft-repeated cry of
dlsunion herads no real danger to our ears
While honestly conceding the common duties
evoked by the articles of confederation, we will
preserve inviolate the State Rights retained for
each sovereign member of that confederacy.
With fraternal feelings to all her sister States.
and flial devotion to their common parent, vet
with acknowledged rights and determination
that Chey may be maintained, there stands
Massachusetts,. .,... ...-.r ....s..
OF those rights, the two cardinal ones are,
the Habeas Corpus and the Trial by Jury. 1t
is submitted to your deliberations, whether ad-
ditional Legislation is required to secure either
of these to our felow-citizens. Scrupulously
avoid such action as asserts or looks to the main
| tcnance OF any rights not clearly and constitu-
| tionally ours, and weave every safeguard you
justly may round those primal birthrights, older
than our national birthday, and dear as its con T.
tinued existence" ..-. -...... ....-. Ia lf,,
The following part of the Message is interest
ing as being the first official avowal of the po-
litical objects of the -Nothings or Native
American party, by which he was elected and
of which he is supposed, therefore, to be a true
exponent. .. 8. 81 tG77 ,F 5I va
ITO dispel from popular use every foreign