Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-11-21

deserve. The power to legislato on this
subject is then conceded.
What then are the great objections to this
bill ? The question Of cxpedIcncy is raised
II ] understand the gentlemen from Braiilc-
boro' and Fauhayen. aud others on this d ur
one objection is that If we do right, others
may, In consequence, do wrong. In other
words, If we rass tins bill Southern States
will retallate. Now, Sir, this is IN argu-
ment addressed to our fears. If we have a
duly-if the performance Of that duty is
right, then let us 60 forward and discharge
that duty, and leave the consequences to the
Almighty. Let the responsibility Of doing
wrong rest on the perpetrators Of that wrong.
But, Sir when slaveholdiny States attempt
a great wrong, they do not stop 10 enquire
what the North think Of it, they raise no
constitutional scruplcs, and no obstacle i'm.
pedes their progress. They are unit-they
will and the thing is done. Every thing to
extend slavery and restrain freedom Is with
them the great moving cause of action. and
every authority, law, or constitution, which
stands IN the way Of this will be violated and
tramped on. II the North. sir had met the
South IN the outset aud had been M firm,
united and decided in doing right as they
have IN doinp wrong we should not be called
on 10 deplOre our present caantes We
should not deplore the spread Of slavery by
the power Of armed rufians, sustained by
the military arm of the nation, in defiance Of
all law, constitution and natural right
Sir the South take no counsel Of the North
as TO what they shall do They know we
have always submitted and suppose we
always shall trust that in the discharge
Of plain duty we shall hereafter take no
counsel Of them.
Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Fair
haven seems to think that Vermonters going
10 Kansas arc no more citizens Of this State
than are those who have emigrated 10 Iowa,
Wisconsin or Illinois. attach but little
consequence to this objection, because if
we extend the relief asScd for as an act Of
charity Il need not be confined to citizons OF
this State. 90 this point there can be no
doubt. IL has been the practice Of this
State--0i other States, and Of the General
Government 10 extend this aid and relieve
suffering. Indeed the gentleman admits that
we send, as State, money TO sustain our cit
zcns 10 Massachusetts, IN Connecticut and
other places. But the cases 20 clearly stat
ed by the gentleman from Burlington, Mr.
Stacy, are conclusive on this point. With
that clearness and energy for which he is
peculiat he demolished all objections to the
bill on this ground 1t appears that the q
States ia 1912 appropriated fifty thousand
dollars for the sufferers 10 Caracas men
who were never citizens ofthe United States
Vermont IN 1872 purchased farm and gave
Il as present 10 McOouough. If this then
could be done, where Is the objection to
appropriate something to relieve the sufferers
in-kansasY
Bot the cases put by the gentlemen are
not IA the least parallel. Our citizens cmi-
grating TO Iowa. Wisconsin, or Illinois, 90
10 states where law and government exist
where protection is extended and allegiance
Is due. In Kansas there ia no law or gov
eminent; no protection is afforded and M
right enforced or maintained. A man can
no more become q citizen there IN the pre-
sent condition Of things, than he could In
the Indian Territory South Of Kansas, or in
the cags Of the Rocky Mountains The
genlemn from Farhayon admits that be s
rather conservative 90 bis views for which
arm disposed TO give hm foil credit. lie
says the statements from Kansas are not re-
liable. OF this ] have only TO say that no
statements are reliable then. when sworn 20
by mulutudes Of uulmpeachable witnesses.
The gentleman from Middlebury. Mr..
Stewart, bus various objections TO this bill
One is that il Is made political question:
We'll sir. what il O. is? Who is responsi.
bles Who first dragged this question into
politics Did not they who repealed the
Missouri Compromise, who drive Slavery
into Kansas and drive free Slate men out;
who strip men Of all their possessions, rob
and murder them for expressing an opinion,
drag this question into politics or have we
been guilty Of this thing, who supply the
iamIshing with bread and clothing But
says the gentleman. we must clam protec-
ton Of the General Goyernment--no other
government is empowered or authorized 10
extend it--that the doctune Of the Sove-
rctn~sg ~ sL- ~. 90 o. '
Carolina and not Of Vermont, aud that 1t we .
claim or attempt to extend the sovereignty I
Of State, Vermont for instance, over Unl- T
ted States Territory, there will be collision
between tins State and the United States
Now these objections are all very wei, ~
their place, but they have been SO often
discussed. so often explained and so often
reiuted, that they need occupy but little time
here.
| took occasion this forenoon TO show the
the manner m which applications for re-
government which the gentleman says Is
under legal and constitutional obligations
10 protect the people ofthe Territories. To
repeated aud urgent applications to the
President for protection and redress against
the highway robbers and armed hordes who
have invaded Kansas he replies with con-
tumelv, insult and contempt. He tells them
to obey and submit TO laws which defy and
tra,nple upon the constitution, upon public
and private right, winch punish an innocent
act with death, and the expression Of an
opinion with imprisonment. An answer Ike
this to an abused an lnsulted and down
trodden people struggling for the rights of
human nature for the right to form and
regulate their domestic institutions IN then
own way; for the right 10 be secure IN their
perscns houses. papers and eiiects-ior the
night which Gpd has given all his creatures
to prefer Freedom to Slavery liberty to des-
potlsm-l say an answer like this to such a
people, on such an occasion, is disgrace
TO the vilest tyrant on earth who has ever
hvad in any age or nation. You may search
the records of antiquity or of modern times
you may call up your heroes, your thr-
ty tyrantsn your bloody Mays" your
Autocrais, your SultunA history can
scarcely furnish a parallel either in iniamy
or tyranny to thls. And yet this is the man,
and this the Government to whom these NO.
BILE martyrs to liberty are directed TO appeal
and clam redress Of all grievances As
well might the lamb appeal 10 the hungry
wolf, to the blood thirsty tiger or savage bye
"a for aid aud protection, as .or these people
to appeal to President and government
like this Instead OF protection he sends
his troops to aid all the ruhans, scoundrels
and hordes Of lawless invaders from slave
states TO burn their dwellings, destroy their
property, drive them from the Territory,
cast them into dungeons upon false charges
of treason, and finally rob and murder them
And this is the entertainment to which they
are invited for four years to come. man
who has no identity; who only speaks
through iilibustering and border rufhan
platform; who cannot be even James Blu