Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-06-29
nTempora Mutantur.v

o. The Albany Evening Journal hand
somely hits the know>Notbing but Slavery
ites--thus:
Old Independence Square;in Philadelphia,
is the spot where, not quite seventy-nine
years ago, Congress met to declare the Free
dom of the Thirteen Colonies. Adams, Han
cock Jefferson and Franklin sat together in
consultation over the paper within, Up and
down under the old tree paced sentres, wear
ing the cockcd-hat and The Continental blue
and buff" Over the doorway hung the new
ly devised Stars and Stripes. Down from
the belfry came the solmn but joyful chime
that announced that Independence was de-
olared, echoed by the sound of distant can
non from the Delaware.
Last Saturday night, Independence Square
was thronged again. If one of the old pat
riots could have looked down on the scene,
strange sights and sounds would have greet
cd him. In the seat of the eloquent Adams
ho would have beheld the sentcntous
Scroggs, Where once throbbed llancock's
heart Of iron, now smirked Ullman's face of
dough. The grave and earnest franklin is
succeeded by the obseqUieus Barker, and
stern, unconpromisng Josiah Bartlett, who
led the list of Signers--by Bartlett who,
because he iruckled to all the Compromises
that Slavery could devise, was selected to
lead the list of signers now.
On the spot where Thomas Jefferson pro-
nounced King George "a tyrant,n for OBJ
structing the naturalization OF foreigners and
refusing TO encourage their emigration nth
er"-cn the same spot stood horid orator
calling for return TO the Royal Policy of
His Majesty. At the table where Charles
-, Ill l. 4
Declaration, now piped small Marylandei
that Catholics are unfit for the rights of cit
zenship." Where Button Gwinett, Robert
Morris and Francis Lewis, Englishmen by
birth James Smith, George TAYLOR and
Matthew Thornton, exiles from ireland
James Wilson and John W itherspoon, natives
of Scotland, affixed their signatures IN broad
day light TO the Declaration of the Thirteen
States, they cry that "none but native born
ought to take par, in the government of A.
meriea." And where Philip Livingston. of
New York, pledged hi. life, his fortune and
his sacred honor for Liberty now stood
New Yorker who thought that the question
Of Liberty was dangerous" and, therefore,
ought not TO be agitatod ~
1--WE believe" said the old Convention.
that all men are born free and equaln
We believe" said the new one, "lhat
only those are born free who are born white.
and only those equal, who are born in Amer
ica."
Liberty and the pursuits Of happiness are
inallcnablo rights said Delegate from Nir-
GINA. 40 secure them, governments were
instituted, ard whenever any government is
destructive OF these ends, 1t is the right OF the
people to alter or abolish it.n
Slavery and the pursuit Of our nigrers,n
SAID the modern Virginia delegates, are our
inaiIenable rights. To secure them. tins
Union was instituted and whenever 1t be-
comes destructive Of these ends, we shall al
ter or abolish it," Nor must you inieiere."
adds Cunningham Of South Carolina, with
Slavery's necessary expansion y
And IN the meantime, up and down under
the old trees paced senunals wearing the
cooked hat and the Continental "buc and
buff" Over the doorway hung the old Stars
and Stripes. Down from the beliry came
the solemn chime Of the old bell, echoed, as
in '76, by the FOUND of distant cannon from
the Delaware; for this crew of merry an
drews, who had possession of the old Hall,
assumed to be even better Americans than
those of the Revolution, and while denying
the principles of their ioreiathers, gathered
there to ape their ceremonies, insult their
memories, and mock them IN their graves.