Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-07-06
Interesting Political Meeting
in Concord, N. ii.
Srsrcurs OF SENATOR'S BELL AND Hale

ing, to hear addresses from Hon. James
Bell and Hon. John P. Hale, the newly elect
ed United States Senators from that State.
Mr. Eastman, on taking the chair made
some brief and well chosen remarks upon
the interest Of the occasion, and offered his
hearty congratulations upon the election Of
Senators whose sentiments he believed we're
so nearly in accordance with those of the
people of New Hampshire. He remarked
that old issues had passed away and become
obsolete and the great question was now,
freedom or slavery. Instead of subordiu-
ale, that issue now held the most prominent
position IN the politics of the county. After
a long struggle we have now raised the flag
Of freedom. Shall we rally around it and
keep il floating in the breeze, or shall we let
the black flag ofslavery wave in It's place ??
The answer will depend much upon the POI
siiion which we take. If we plant ourselves
upon the constitution, and insist upon the
Interpretation which was given 10 II by the
founders of our government Il it we insist
that no State shall be admitted into the u
mon with the right to hold slaves until the
Missouri Compromise Is restorative shall
triumph. Taking this FOR our platform, if it
brings about geographical division Of par
ties, the responsibility is not on our heads.
Hon. James Bel was then introduced to
the audience, and was received with hearty
applause. 10 commencing his remarks, Mr..
Bell disclalmed any intention to give dlrec
ton TO public opinion, aud said that in any
thing he had 10 say he should express his
individual opinion for which he alone was
responsible, though he hoped 1t may be found
to accord with that Of the great mass Of the
people of the State. he announced as the
topics rpon which he should speak, the at
tempis which had been repeatedly made to
extend the frontiers Of the country IN order
TO introduce slavery, the protection OF, or
rather the removal Of, the disabilities from
free labor, aud the injury which had been
done To free labor by the squundering Of
tue public domain. Upon ell these matters
gross injustice and wrong had been perpe-
traied, and there bad been a wide departure
from principles and policy OF the fathers of
our government. The policy Of Our govern
meat now looks outward and not inward
i is not to develop our own resources, but
to NEEDLE with the affairs and encroach up
on The territories of other nations. 1t was
the policy Of the founders Of our government
and was by them announced as a prime pie,
10 have peace with oil nations and entaDg-
Ing alliances with none. Least Of all did they
contemplate the further extension of slavery,
which thy looked upon as great evil, by
territorial acquisition or foreign conquest
Dwelling upon the existing policy Of our
government IN relation to territorial acquisi-
ton and the extension Of slavery, he said
that if this policy was continued it would
bring about civil revolution, subvering our
government 10 lts Scry essence and chang
a. l.la tNNt fol
point by citing the attempts to acquire Cuba
"A scheme only postponed not abandoned.
lie denounced these attempts as mere ex-
ccutye moiion-a usurpation Of power
They are conducted with secrcsv and as
though the people have norighl 10 be heard.
How, be asked, do you Distinguish The ac-
ton of our government III this respect from
that Of any despoiic nation in Europe?
In continuation Of this subject Mr. Bell
asked, can these millions Of people, who arc
annexed 10 Tins nation with the their foreign
symplihics and attachments, be converted
into free and intelligent American citizens z
lie denounced these territorial acquisitions
as contrary to the Constitution, which no.
where gives the power to purchase Cu5a or
any other country. Ii was a CLEAR usurpaton
of power.
Passing from this topic 10 the Kansas bill,
he said that upon this the people did not re-
qure Of their representatives, argument, but
action lie denounced the bill IN strong
terms, exposed the popular sovereignty doc
trine, and argued that the people Of tie u
nited States were the only true sovereigns,
and could legislate as they see fit for the ter
ritorles. lie examined some OF the 7rov-
sions Of the Nebraska bill, and said 1t gave
the Snitia-s ~ ito tar-.s@-s-- -'=he - cd
init or exclude slavery until they come in es
a State, They cannot exclude slavery with
out direct exercise Of physical power 49,
Those individuals who Introduced md sup
ported these oils never meant TO confer upon
the people of the territories the power to ex-
clude slavery. They did not open for field
for the people Of the free States, and must
have contemplated that they would be over
borne by marauders from neighborng slave
/ State.
/ In continuation Mr. Bell demanded what
government had done 10 protect these set
tiers what means government has found
10 quiet the disturbances ia Kansas? Has
It cxeried the military power Of the govern
men to protect tie rights Of the people oil
The Territories, as it was boun to do, or has
II lell Them 10 be oyerhorne by the millions
Of the slave power? Abiding to the iourn-
ney Of Governor Reeder to Washington to
procure assistance to protect the settlers, he
asked significantly, what means had been
found TO quiet Inn He alluded TO the
people Of the United States as the irne soy
ereign, and asked if il was no, unfit that they
should abdicuied aud leave the institutions
Of the Territories to chance and the few
settlers who first 20 there. What could ex.
coed The folly Of leaving those settlers 10
fight 1t ont? Is it not true wisdom to re-
turn TO the policy of the fathers of the gov
eminent, leaving nothing TO be settled by
chance or by civil war?
The question arose whether all these sg-
gressons Of the slave power were TO be sub
United toY Never, said Mr Bell, with em-
phasls submission was the very way to in,
vte further aggression. II we submit nov
the shareholders viii demand Southern Cali
fornia, Utah, and every territory where slav-
cry can exist I he true policy is to demand
indemnity and iustlce-reparaiion for the
past aud security for the future. We should
resist 10 the last moment the acquisition by
the slavery eNtensionists of any advantages
and benefits which lheysbsd promised them
should resist the admissl5&jm any State
with slavery into the Union from territory
which was protected by the Missouri COM
promise. Il Is our ight and our duly to seek
the restoration of that compromise, and we
should be satisfied with nothing short Of
that.
hlI. Bell referred to the cry that agitation
for the Missouri compromise would endaHger
the Urion, and argued that the Union must
be maintained by each part Of the country
rendering equal and exacts Justice. lie re-
marked that the Ndstli had already made
many sacrifices for the tEs vatlon of the
Union. The compromises of 1850 we're of
this character, aud II was then promised that
these were 10 be the last that were to be re-
CURED Of us that the destiny Of all the ter
rltories for slavery or freedom would then be
irrevocably fixed. But the South has betray-
ed us, and shown that It's promises are of no
value. Every freeman must now feel that he
is bound to give slavery no more than It's