Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-08
There have bcen eleven great steps in which

First, When it was declared that slaves
should be representative slaves counting as
three freemen Second, When the capture of
tnsltaves was guaranteed: and Third, When
the legality of Slavery was recognized. This
was done when the Constitution guaranteed to
every State Republican form of Govern
ment, and then admitting States with Slavery;
thus recognizing the institution as Republic
can.
2. Out of old soil the South were allowed
to make four new slave States.
3. In 1898 Government adopted Slavery as
a national institution, in regulating the cap
ture of tugitives.
4. Louisiana was purchased.
5. Missouri was admitted as Slave State.
6. The prosecution of the Florida war.
7. Texas was annexed to the United States.
g. The Mexican war was prosecuted.
8. The fugitive Slave Law waspassed. !.
10. The Missouri Compromise was repealed.
II. The Mexican treaty was ratified, CIV
ing ten millions for worthless strip Of terri
tory, that a Railroad might be built from
Texas to California, without being built on
free SOIL
Our fathers thought that Freedom was mas
ter But the last triumph over slavery was
in 1908, when the slave trade was abolished.
In 1920 there was great battle between Free
dom and Slavery. Slavery conquered, and
has been master ever since. address you as
citizens of Syracu e, but should rather ad-
dress you as fellow subjects of Virginia,
Georgian and South Carolina masters
repeat that ever since the conflict of 1920,
slavery has been master and how has she ex-
ercised her mastery? All the territory acqir-
ed by the Government has been made slave
territory, or carved into slave States We
once talked loudly of" $40 !" but the South
were not anxious to secure territory in that
quarter, and Polk gave away five degrees and
forty minutes, because Slavery did not want
it. The Northeast boundary question was
settled in similar manner. When this ques-
ton was under discussion, Southern conven
ton declared that they would give up all the
Northeastern Territory, but would have Texas.
Slaves have made all our Presidents and
appointed all our Judges. A majority of
these have been Southern men, and those who
we're not, have been the sworn enemies of
Freedom. And that is not all. They have
been more and more the enemies of Freedom,
as we approached the present time, till we get
down to Franklin Pierce, who is worse than
all his predecessors. Martain Van Buren, of
your own State did much for Slavery but not
SO much as M. Pierce.
The South has appointed our ministers to
foreign courts. Of the 1877 ministers that
have been sent abroad, III have been South
erners, and 80 Northerners. But we must re-
member, too, that all the Northerners who
have received appointments were all the avow-
ed enemies Of Freedom. II minister should
dare breath an Anti-Slavery sentiment in Eu-
rope, the next steamer would carry his recall.
But this is not all. The South rules Con-
gress She has now twenty-one members as
the result Of slave representation. Seventy
one thousand freemen in the South elect rep
resentative--in the North it takes ninety-three
thousand OF the $40 ofice-holders now in
Washington, 630 are from the South--240
from the North! ''t'-.c-~"
The speaker here went into statistical ac-
q count of the executive departments, showing
y that they have been filed in a great majority
, of cases, by Southern men; and if not by
! Southern men, by the friends of Slavery
- And this is not ALL 1t is we'll known that
Massachusetts has long claims upon the Gov
=, eminent, for spoilations which she agreed to
- pay; but never red cent has she paid, and
y ). never will Numbers of merchants in New
= York and Massachusetts have claims upon the
= government for means furnished during the
last war, but government never has paid them,
;. and never will; yet if a Shareholder comes
IS and asks government to pay for slave which
was lost In the Revolution, or which had es-
y. capped to the Seminole Indians, the demand is
. promptly paid. The just demands of free
. men are unpaid while the unjust demands Of
shareholders are promptly paid.
i What has been the effect Of this mastery
- upon our legislation! The Fugitive Slave
y Law is the worst law that he knew to have
. passed any legislative body.
: 1t has corrupted our statesmen. President
Pierce in addressing the Soldiers of 1912, told
!, them that it was gratifying to know that the
= men who have fought our battles have not
y been the men to sow political heresies :"
v Think of little " Democratic" President
r. Pierce, talking of "political heresics!" A
is political heresy is an opinion opposed to the
!. Administration Queen Victoria would nc
" more dare to use such insulting language in
' addressing her subjects, than she would dare
" to stand before the cannons OF Sebastopol.-
t Such is the corruptng influence of slavery or
Il our statesmen.
1t has corrupted our leading manufactures
re- and mercantile men. There are some honora
If bic exceptions but they are generally on the
"a side of slavery.
1t has corrupted our government officers
> He seldom found man holding Office under
" the Government however mean, who was not 9
/. tprosiavery mau. Heknew of New Englan(
i. Post Master who refused to sign petition
ID against the Nebraska Bill, which everybod,
ID else was signing. The man who presented i
y asked the reason, when bystander remarked
" that it was no problem. IF he signed the pc
=. tition, the next mail wonld bring his removal
n The man replied that he would not hold al
ne office which deprived him of the right to &C
ce out his own convictions and that if he did h
would have large brass collar made, with hi
. masters name engraved on it, so that every
10 body might know whose dog he was
ID New York is the only State which has
IN Governor with anti.slavery principles; an,
IN how long he will "hold" his anti-slavery,
ID leave others to say.
a. 1t has corrupted the Press. Think of sucl
OF papers as the Journal Of Commerce, and tn
to New York Herald and say if the Press i
as not corrupted. There are some faithful t.
40 Freedom in the ranks of the Press but hun
in dreds are corrupted, and dare not speak GU
in against Slavery.