Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-02-15

hOrdee ut hired emgrants, ana " IL an cun-
sldered legitimate and right; but when the
people of Missouri, just on the border OF the
scene Of action, having the most vital inter-
esl in the subject. Indicate solicitude to pro-
tect the bona fide settlers Of Kansas against
these Eastern intruders, and to vindicOte, as
matter of self preservation, the great prln-
clple Of the Kansas Nebraska act, they are
gravey charged by solemn legislative re-
solves, with unlawful Invasion, aud illegal
and iorcible violation Of the elective fran
chise' ! will not trust myself TO use the
language which would appropriately charac-
tefze such unjust aud oficlous informed
ding.
If we look at the geographical position Of
Missouri we not only find n justification OF
the sulciludc of her citizens relative to this
vital controversy, hut that its final settle
ment INST affect oil the slavoh, ldiug States
The institution of slavery exists in Mis-
souri, but she is now 6iuked on two sides
by non-saveholdIug States Iowa on the
north aud Illinois on the east. What Will
be her condition If Kansas, which lies on
her west shall also become nun.sluvehold-
ing State Warred upon by Abolitlonists
ON the one hand, and practically denied the
NIiiNlNlhho OF Nllt + u4lllNt save Inv hN Nlt
other. her slaves will be vaucesa, and the
institution 6e crushed out within her borders.
II will require but few years for this con-
summatun by which the disparity between
the relative strength Of the two grent Sec
tons IN the Federal Government will be per-
minenty increased the south made weaker
and the North stronger. Hence the imports
ancc not only TO the South but to the en-
tire Union, that the legitinlte operations Of
the Kansas act should not be thwarted by
external Influences from any quarter. II
opens tbe Territory to all the citizens Of the
United States, secures to them therein the
right of sell-goyernment, and to adopt or
reject Slavery IN the formation of their
State Constitution. While therefore, the
outh VIII not interfere improperly, and is
prepared 10 acqulesce M the hml decision OF
the bDna fde settlers OF Kansas on the sub
lec, of Slavery, they will not tolerate ianau-
cal efforts 10 mould its Institutions and wall
and ought To rally 10 the support of the peo-
pie of Missouri 10 protecting them m the
tree and unres raned exercise Of their rights
under the law of their Territorial orgamzl-
ton. It You think proper to make any re-
Spouse to the resolution Of Vermont this
should be distinctly announced without the
fcrvor Of passion. hut with the frnness and
dignity OF unlharhble purpose
The doctrines of political principle invol-
we'd in the preamble and resolutions under
consi ieraton are as erroneous as Their ale
cations Of fact are untrue They take it tor
granite that Congress may rlgh1uy take
jurisdiction of the question Of slavery in the
Territories of the United Stptes, and ls
bound So 10 exercise ~ as ~ exclude there
from cltlzens ofthe sIavehndug States with
their property. No such authority IS found
10 the Constitution; 10 is totally at war with
the theory of our system Of q Wernment; 10
ignores The sovereignty aud equ dity of the
States To these duct1ne4 Geurgia can
never subscribe. Their practical enforce
meut VIII lead to dissolution # resisted and
NJ submitted 10, 10 the degradation Of one
half of the members OF the Federal Union.
IL were easy, ii necessary, to demonstrate
the fi.Iacy Of these doctrines but 1t Is IDLE
TO reason with tanaticlsm, aud sound consttu-
tlonal men everywhere are already convlu-
ced. Let US await the future IN diguted
patience, but resolved 10 meet aggression rs
beconrs lreemen. | should not have lndul-
ged in such elaborate comment upon the pre-
amble aud resolutions OF Vermont, but for
the fact that existing circumst noes give
them point and significance who it is I'M
possible to disregard. 1t is obvious that the
late of Kansas is the paramount question OF
the day ana that upon It's satisfactory adj
justment is probably suspended the safety of
the siaveholding States, and the continuance
of The Federal Union.
Here follow some remarks on the failure
of the House Of Representatives at Wash.
lng'on TO choose Speaker
For all practical purposes, the Govern.
ment is at an end, and must contnne during
the existence of thus sectional strife III the
/ roProoo"tat'so hail Of Congress. What WILL
be the result no prescience can predict; but
hat It is disastrous to the brotherhood be-
tween the States. that It weakcns the con
stltutlonai bonds Of our Union aud aug
ments the tendency TO array section against
section, cannot he denied. In this STATE Of
thing 1t behooves the State of Georgia. as
an integral portion of the South. to do what
ever she can to arrest the tide of aggres-
sion or failing Ia do that, 10 place herself
IN The safest attitude of selt-presrryafon II
may be-, and trust that such will be the re-
suit that the union Of the sound consuu-
toual men Of all sections, of which there are
gratifying Indications may owe strong
enough, ultimately, 10 arrest the machine
tons OF lanauclsm, and save the Union from
the storm which now darkens our political
horizon.
But It il vain 10 expect that our assaianis
wall voluntarily relent their purpose or relax
their efforts tor our destruction They will
either conquer the friends Of the Consiitu.
tion aud the linton, or they must be con-
quered In the latter result the rights of
the South will be maintained but IN the
event Of the former the South must take care
Of herself. Such is the awful issue which
Is now distinctly presented to the country. -
Wnlle you should studlously avoid ali rash
ness, either IN expression or action, yeu will
be dl,loyal to the great tirsl law OF selfpr
lection # you should fail 10 adopt such
measures of Legislation as may be best cal
culated to avert Impending calamiles, If
not, TO protect the State against their rum
Gus consequences.
Georgia took her position upon this m ,
mentoIs issue IN her Convention of $780,
la the fourth resolutions of that body she
soennly announced that she would "resst
even las last resorl) to the disruption of
every he that binds her to the UniOn.n the
acts of aggression therein enumerated
But the Convention did not designate the
time ond mode Of resistance, but lett it for
Il future Conyeutlun to determine. BIT such
a Convention cannot be assembled without
legislative authority. therefore respect
lully renew the recommendation contained
IN my Message to the General Assembly at
the commencement of your session. that
you pass an act authorizing the Governor,
upon the happening Of any of the coming
encles specified IN the fourth resolution Of
the Convention Of 1850, to call Conyen
ton 10 consider and determine the time aud
mode OF reslstauce thereby contemplated
should such contingency never arse, the
Legislature can do no harm if 1t should 1t
It will be nolce in advance to our assail
ants will throw upon them the responsible
llty of consequences, and Justify the State
IN estimation Of mankind. The signs of the
times are portentous it rests with you
calmly aud firmly To place the State in the
best attitude TO breast the swelling storm.
HERSCHEL V. JOHNSON,