Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-07-20
BURLINGTON, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1855
The 90 American Address and Platform

form and an Address to the party in this
State. The Platform will be found in another
column.
platform, is but i m6qtb to accompany the
presentation of the topics in the resolu-
tions. Save in its more loose wording, it is
very like the Massachusetts, address of the
2Sth of June so much SO that a careless
reader might take it for a reprint of that doc
ument. 1t is too long for our columns but its
chief points are as follows
|, 1t condemns generally the pro-slavcry
character of the platform which the majority
of the national council laid down at Phila-
delehia and in particular
. 1t den'es the position there taken that
the American party is to have no RESPONSE
bility about any wrongs done by the Wing
or Democratic parties. So far az any who
are now members Of the order participated
in, or upheld those wrongs, they We're guilty,
and the new party is bound to do all it can
to undo the unconstitutional and iniquitous
works Of those parties.
3 1t admits the slavery question to 'be
disturber of the peace" but says peace is to
come by its being settled in the right ray,
not by allowing it to have permanent de-
cision in the r'ong way, as the National
council demands. We must 90 back to the first
principles of liberty as laid down in the De-
claration of independence and in the Consttu
ton.
4. Vermont utterly repudiates . the
lii &c bo hot
Congress has no power to refuse the admis-
sion of new State because it allows slavery
For satisfactory reasons anu state may
he refused admittance into the Union. Con
gross has the power Of deciding on that point.
and not the STATE proposed. Slavery is not
PcuuihcaniSm, but Desp0fisw,-does not
,i-cn gftrn. but ,reabcus the bonds Of union,
and Congress ought therefore not to let addi-
tional slavery into the Union, but to keep it
out
5, Itdissents from the doctrine of the Nation
al council that congress cannot legislate on the
subject of slavery in the territories. Con
gress must legislate for the territories. and
ought to keep slavery out of them The
doctrine of the National council, that the pro-
hbitory law of the Missouri Compromise act
ought not to be restored to its original force,
sprotested against, and its talk about "tcnder
and sacred regard for compacts, &c, while
it holds on to the grossest violation of that
very sentiment, is blown upon as dishonest
and insincere. As for the fugitive slave law,
II came not in the list of such compacts as
were spoken of. 1t was an ordinary act of
legislation with extraordinary and unconsti-
tutional provisions and it ought to be repeated
Internationally.
= The address asserts too, that with the
majority in the national council 1.-THE great
absorbing question was, how shall we best
,oncoct and force upon the north that policy
which will 80 farthest to render slavery
more powerful in its influence more sacred in
lite tenure and more extended in its domain. -
Against such a policy the Vermont delegates
in that convention threw their whole influence
and with other northern delegates urged
the majority to adopt and re-afirm the Mis-
souri, compromise"-b this proposition
was Indignantly rejected
2. As one effect of the violation of faith and
honor in repeating the Missouri compromise
prohibition, and Of the lawless violence of
those engaged in forcing slavery into Kansas,
II is said, at has we hope permanently ended
all compromises between freedom and oppres-
sion This last outrage, this destruction of
good faith and honor, has aroused the great
heart of freedom, and told the nation and
world that q system of slavery susceptible of
generating such fraud and dshonor ,dcscrreS,
as it should receive, the execration Of honest
men and the rengodnce Of HedreH.'
2. 1t endorses the action of the Vermont
delegates to the Philadelphia Convention and
in the language Of the Massachusetts, State
Council says owe accept the platform
promulgated by those delegates and their
associates, on the l4th Of June, as expressive
Of our sentiments and, declaring our unabat
ed attachment to American principles, anC
our determination to do all in our power tC
extend the time of residence requisite fol
naturalization, to prevent the deportation by
foreign authorities of criminals and paupert
10 our shores, and to extend the constitutions
limitation of birth now existing as To tn,
President of the United States to other higl
officers, especially those entrusted with yer,
grave powers of diplomatic positions, thi
Council hereby declares itself independent 0
that or any organization which places thes
principles subordinate to their pro-Slaver,
objects and determinations.
On the Platform and the Address we nee,
say little to enable the regular readers Of tn
Free Press to know our opinions thereon
The general tone Of sentiment in them agree
with what the Free Press has steadily IN
held, and of course We cannot do otherwis,
than commend them. We welcome soun
doctrine wherever We can find it, We strik
hands with all who strike out boldly am
truly for preserving the Union for uphold
ing the ConstitutioD-ior using all Lawful
means to undo, as far as it can be undonC
the stupendous breach of national lait
which was committed in breaking down tn
Missouri Compromise prohibitions for T,
sisting to the last the admission of any NOR
Slaves States and allowing FREQ territory t
be made Slave territory-and for the repea
of that disgrace to the National Statute book
the atrocious and unconstitutional fugitiy
slave law Of 1880 We say Amen to ever
one who denounces the Missourian outrage
in Kansas, and we condemn in language a
pointed as we can make it, the completely an
supineness Of the national executive whic
have been made subseryient to all those in
quitous proceedings.