Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-05-23


vision for the gradual abolition Of Slavery.
This was the action, this the sentiment then.
loud cheers
Just one third Of century passes away,
Just ole generation Of men IS Withdrawn
from the scene, and precisely the same ques-
ton is presented 10 the American people as
to the future fate Of It's new territory then
coming up for occupation by civilized men.
And then, gentlemen, in order to obtain one
half Of that territory for Freedom. there must
be paid out Of that half region large en-
ough for a kingdom as a ransom for the rest.
lCheers Mark how the American people
and American statesmen and American poh-
ticians have changed IN thirty-three years
But, Mr.. President, ihir,y-three years now
roll over again That generation of states
men has passed Off the stage In the year
1854 the question is again presented TO the
American people, the American statesmen,
and the American Congress--W hat shall we
do between Slavery aud Freedom Then
the ransom paid for the half Of the territory
Is forgotten, and then, by direct Federal le-
gslauou. It is determined that the half that
was given In the generation ago shall be
taken back by our generation and IN our
day. Cheers. This is the second step
Nov let me imagine that another third Of a
century has passed away-that our genera
ton is Withdrawn from the stage--and when
we come to the year 81 the death Of the or
dnance Of Freedom. and the year -, the
death of the first free republic Of modern
times how shall we show our progress, how
shall we mark our statesmanship, 1t the same
path be pursued, but by a solemn declaration
that henceforth, in all the Territories Of the
United States, Slavery and Involuntary ser
vtude shall be forever by law established p
lCheers.l There is nothing else for US to
do. We gave once all to Freedom. We
gave next half to Slavery. We take away
next the half given to Freedom, and there is
nothing left for rs. Wherever Freedom
dwells under our flag Slavery follows close
after her. Applause. There is this great
and solemn lesson taught by this review, and
that is that no succeeding generation has
corrected the error, or retraced the step Of
lis predecessors, and the solemn monlton is
put to us u.at we should follow quickly this
action by reaction. Ii is for you now who
have seen this thing done to undo IT.. 1t is
for you to protest Cheers. Now, we sup
pose that this subject Of the extension Of
Slavery to Territories, which if they have
any government are governed by the federal
power, is a Legitimate subject of federal pol
itcs, and we intend to act accordingly. We
suppose that il is a more important subject Of
federal politics than any others, and we in.
tend TO act accordingly. We have called
you together and you have responded to the
call in one of those echoes which are heard
from one quarter Of the land to the other
This is a practical question. II is question
Of making this sentiment felt in the way
that politicians understand. by votes, by in
6uence, BY condemnation Of the bad and by
the support Of the good. Cheers. We DO
not intend to be msled into any inquiry or
sympathy, however aggravaung the wrong
of the slave may be. We do not intend to
be drawn into any discussion Of mere ethics,
or of mere philanthropy for the inferior
race" as they are called by our southern
brethren We do not intend TO unsettle any
social relation, but we intend to exercise the
clear right of Freedom in determining that
new and large regions shall be devoted 20
free labor on the one hand and to the excu.
sion of Slavery upon the other. Loud
cheers In determining this principle, we
have no occasion to quarrel with any of the
dogmis that are assumed or argued by those
who have an interest in Slavery. 1t is said
by them that Slavery in this country has
/ been productive Of unmixed good to the ne
/ gro. So be IT, If they can prove it. But it
Is our opinion II has been productive of un-
/ uiNu" 0''i - tho white man. They say that
Slavery is the only relation which Is possi-
Bile IN a society which is composed of blacks
and whites aud mixed races. So be it, if
they can prove it. But that only adds to the
recutude of our opinion that no new terrlto-
ry should be occupied by mixed races
lCheers. Now there is another argument
by which the savehoding interest treats the
efforts of the freemen of the North TO get
posse ssion OF some part of these territories.
II Is said that they have been won by our
common blood and treasure. Well, now, #
this were an argument to show that the black
race ought to be allowed to 90 into Il new
rerrtory--lt It was pretended that they had
been won by the common blood and treasure
of the blacks Of the South and the white
men of the North, I could understand the
force Of the argument. Applause. 1t has
been won by the common blood and treasure
of the white men of the United States, and
If God assist the eifo.ts that we commence
tonight 1t shall be occupied by the white
men of the whole country. Cheers Well
1t is said that it IS the part OF brethren to oc-
cupy their common heritage in peace and
quiet, and that the white man of the South
and the white man of the North should 60
together and possess the land but there is
one difficulty about this business. 1t does
not depend upon the law Of Congress or the
law Of any State, but 1t is written in the
hearts Of free laborets of our country that
they will not work side by side with slaves.
Cheers. Labor, gentlemen, we acknowl-
edge to be the source and basis of all our
wealth, of all our progress, OF all our clgni-
ty and value, hut it Is the labor of the free
man. Cheers. Garry through this cam
palngn the principle that the land of the u
nlted States is MT inclosed within straight
lines belonging to the white citizens of the
United States. There is nothing revolution
airy take 1t in that. Slavery, as speca
interest, does not stand different from other
interests. In my Judgment the slave interest
is no more entitled to the control and protec-
ton Of this country than the financial or the
tariff interests. Applause. The people
should govern the country, or the people
should desert the country-one thing or the
other. Another thing IN our Republican or
ganzation Is, that we are comprehensive in
our politics, and not sectional. Now, white
men live oil over the country, but black men
are geographically situated. Laughter, -
The party of Slavery Is necessarily a geo.
| graphical party-it is a geographical party
| by The lines Of industry. which can make the
/ institution live only IN the chma'g Of tue
South. But tree labor can live everywhere.
! TApplause.l Ours, then, is the comprehen-
slve party theirs is the geographical party.
| lCaeers But there is, Gentlemen, much
more serious evil in our politics than this !
have alluded to i mean that controlling d.
vision called by the odous names Of North
and South. Why, our country has grownve ve-
~ much since these names originated. -
When the Constitution was formed, the
whole population Of the United States resld
ed on a strip Of territory along the Atlantic
coast and then the country was necessarily
divided into a North and South for il was all
East and no West But | should think that,
with the growth Of our institutions and pops
ulation until they now occupy the Continent
and look out upon the broad Pacific it might