Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-06-06

transparent ueVlCe TO cover a transCondent
wrong. Suffice it TO say that Slavery is in
itself an arrogant denial Of Human Rights,
and by no human reason can the power to
establish such a wrong be placed among the
attributes OF any just sovereignty. In reiu-
sing II such place, | do not deny popular
rights, but extend them. Aud. AIR, to this
conclusion you must yet come, unless deaf,
not only 10 the admonluons of political JUS
tee, but also 10 the genus of our own Con
sl'uuon' under which, when properly inter-
pretedi no valid claim for Slavery can be set
up anywhere 10 the National territory. The
Senator from Michigan Mr.. Cas- may say,
no response To The Senator from Mississippi,
/ Mr.. Brown that Slavery cannot 20 into the
/ Territory under the Constitution. without
Legislative Introduction; aud permit me to
odd' IN response 10 both, that Slavery cannUt
/ 60 there at all. .Noihing can come out Of
nothing and there is absolutely nothing IN
/ the Constitution out Of which Slavery can be
derived while there are provisions which,
when properly interpreted, make its existence
anywhere within the exclusive National iu-
rsilcton impossible.
The offensive provision in the bill was 10
is form legislative anomaly, utterly want
ing the natural directness and simplicity of
openly to repeal the old Prohibition of Sa-
very but seemed TO mince the matter, az If
conscious OF the swndle. II II said that
this Prohibition, being inconsistent with
the principle of non-intervention by Con-
gress with Slavery IN the States aud Terri
tories, as recognized by the legislation Of
1850, commonly called the Compromise
Measures, j. hereby declared imperative
and void" Thus, with insidious osteutatlon,
was 1t pretended that an act violating the
greatest compromise Of our legislative his
tory, and setting loose the foundations of all
compromise, was derived out Of a compro-
mise. lhen followed IN the bill the further
declaration, which is entirely without prece-
deni aud which has been aptly called
STUMP speech IN It's belly" namely " it be-
ing the true intent and meaning Of this act,
not 10 legislate Slavery into any Territory or
State, nor TO exclude 1t therefrom, hut to
leave the people thereof perfectly tree to
form aud reguate their domestic institutions
ln their own way, subject only to the Consti-
tuition Of the Unred Staies.n Here were
smooth words, such as belong To a cunning
tongue enlisted IN bad cause. But what
ever may have been their various hidden
meanings, this at least was evident, that by
their effect, the Congressional Prohibition Of
slavery, which had always been regarded as
seven-tolG shield, covering the whole
Louisiana Territory 9th Of 36 , 30, was
now removed, while a principle was declared,
which would render the supplementary Pro.
hbition Of Slavery IN Minnesota, Oregon,
and Washington, "inOperatve and void"
and taus open to Slavery all these vast re-
gions, now the rude cradles Of mighty
states Here you see the magnitude Of the
mischief contemplated Bot my purpose
now Is the Cnme against Kansas, and | shall
not stop to expose the conspiracy beyond
Mr.. President, men are wisely presumed
20 intend the natural consequences of their
conduct, aud tn seek what their acts seem
10 promote. Now, tne Nebraska Bill. on It's
very face, openly cleared the way for Sla-
very, aud It Is not wrong to presume that ils
Ouglnators intended the natural consequen.
ces OF such an act, and sought in this way
to extend Slavery OF course, they did. -
Aud this is The first stage IN the Crime
against Kansas.
But this was speedily followed by other
utVrifn0~"-''r 1'h@ ,ra farad scheme was
soon whispered, that Kansas must be a Slave
stale. In conformity with this idea was the
Government Of thus unhappy Territory Or
ganlzed-In all It's departments and thus did
the President, by whose completely the Pro-
hibltlon OF Slavery htd been overIhrown,
lend hlnself TO a new compcity-gvIngt to
the consplfators lease of connyance, a.
mounting even to copatnership. The Gov
eruor, secretary, Chef Justice, Associate
Justice, Attorney and Marshal, with whole
caucus OF other stpendarles, nominated by
the President and confirmed by the Senate,
were all commended as friendly 10 Slavery.
No man, with the sentiments of Washington,
or jefferson, or Franklin, found any favor
nor Is It too much 10 say, that had these
great patriots once more cone among Us,
not one OF them, with his recorded uuretract-
ed opinions on Slavery, could have been
nominated by the President, or confirmed by
the Senate for any post IN that rerutov.-
With such auspices the conspiracy proceed
ed. Even IN advance of the Nebraska LII,
secret societies were organized in Missouri,
ostenslby TO protect her Institutions, and al-
terwards und r the name of Self Deiens-
i've Associations" aud of " Blue Lodges, -
these were multiplied throughout the west
ern counties Of that State, before any coun-
Ter mopemeni from The North. 1t was CONT
dently anticipated, that, by the activity Of
these societies, and the interest of slavehold-
ers everywhere with the advantage derived
from the neighborhoed of NJ .ssouri, and the
influence of the Territorial Government,
Slavery might be introduced into Kansas,
quietly but surely, without arousng con-
1ict-ihat the crocodile egg might be
sIealthlly dropped IN the sun-burnt soil, there
TO be hatched unobseryed until 1t sent forth
It's reptile monster
But the conspiracy was Unexpectedly
baked. The debate, which coLyulsed Con
gress, had stirred tho whole country. At
tentlun from all sides was directed upon
Kansas, which at once became the fayorlte
goal OF emigration. The Bill had loudly de-
clared that It's object was to leave the peo-
Pile perfectly free to form aud regulate their
domestic institutions In their own way
aud ts supporters everywhere challenged the
determination of the q ieston between Free
dom aud Slavery by a competition Of emil
grafton Thus, while opening the Territory
to Slavery the bill also opened It to emf
grants from every quarter, who might by
their votes redress the wrong. The pOpu-
ous North, stung by sharp sense OF out
rage, and inspired by noble cause, poured
into the debatable land, aud promised soon
to establish supremacy of numbers there
Involving, Of course, just supremacy Of
Freedom.
Then was conceived the consummation o
the Crime against Kansas. What could not
be accomplished peaceably, WAS Ia BE- ac-
complshed forcibly. The reptile monster
that conld not be quietly aud securey
hltched there, was to be pushed tuIl-grow1
into the Territory. Al efflrs were now CIV
en- to the dismal work of forcing Slavery OF
Free Soil. Ia fragrant derogatiou Of tn,
very Popular Sovereignty, whcse name
helped to impose this Bill upon the country
the alrocious object was now distinctly
avowed And the avowal has been followed
by the act. Slavery has been torclbly IN
troduced into Kansas, and placed under the
io;ma safeguards OF pretended law, How
this was done, belongs to the argumeot
ln depicting this consunmatlon, the simp
lesl outline, without one word OF color, vii
. be hest. Whether regarded IN its mass OF