Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-01


ed to inculcale in his mind the digni-
ly and Importance which should ever
be attached to him who strove to cul-
livale and beamify the earth. APP
plause lie was taught IA infancy
to believe, that of all classes Of soci-
ETY., the industrious and peaceful por-
tion Of the community, which was far
removed from what was termed the
arlstocracy, was the most useful and
powerful. He was eaily instructed
iu The principles Of Jefferson, TO he
lieve that freedom was the right OF
every human being and one of the
FIRST prayers he was taught, was that
the time might come, when The sun,
in his glorious circuit, should moi rise
or SET upon a single master or slave.
[ Applause. In his boyhood he was
permitted to SIT at The table Of MadI-
son and he well remembered ~
what glowing terms that eloquent
man used to lament the bhghting
aud withering effect of slavery upon
the fair fields Of the Old DOMINION.
In his boyhood, animated Uy those
sentiments Of the rights nf man, The
dignity of labor and the glorious
mission of freedom, he made a pill
grmage 10 Monticello, and as he
stood under the grand oaks that
spread their branches 10 heaven over
the grave Of Jefferson, he recalled to
mnd the words Of Inc immortal
statesman when he proclaimed eter-
nal hostility To every sp cles of OPP
preston and slavery aud when he de-
clared tha, the Almighty had no allrl-
butte thai could take sides with the op-
prrssnf Applause. Il was IN that
early prupd of h,s life, too, that he
made a VISIT tp Mount Vernpn aud
as he Iooked upon the tomb en-
sh,ulug the ashes Of the Father OF
ms Country he thought of hls noble
Illc, devoted both 90 the camp aud
calumet To the cause ol liberty aud
his country aud he thought, too, ol
the glorious and immortal crown OF
that llle-at that solemn moment, The
madiug Of his last will and testament
when he gave freedom to every
slave upon his plantation. Ap-
plause.
He thought, too, Of the precious
legacy which Washington had leil
his couulrymen, winch seemed 10 him
even more precious than his Fare
well Address-moreprecIous because
81 was written wuh his own right
hand, and came iiesh and warm from
hs own great heart He alluded 10
The letter which he wrote to his most
intimate frleud-a freud dear TO his
heart, dearto the patriots OF the Rev
olullon, aud dear to the friends Of
liberty ihroughi the world--the Mar
gus De Lalayeue Applause In
lh4' Lotto, d~Plg',n5 the evils OF sla-
very, be prescribed a remedy Tor
them. " hat was the occasion for
writing that letter They all re-
mcmbered, doubtless that after La
myetle haI fought the battles OF free
dom, aud aided 50 gallanlly 10 secur-
ing their national independence, en-
thusmstically inspired by love OF
liberty, he visited one OF the French
We-l India Islands, bought Il planla-
ton, an not only emancipuIed the
slaves upon ID, but made present of
The plantation to them. He wrote to
Washington informing him what he
had done; who, in reply, SAID -
My dear Marquis, the act you have
done Is like yuu. Il does honor to
your head and heart Slavery is a
most bhgnung curse upon the Old
Donimon, and know Of but one
way Of getting rid Of it," What
was the way hc prescribed for get
ing rid of slavery 1t was nol the
prescription of Drs. Cass, Douglas
and Buchanan--lt was not squailer
sovereignty but II was, 10 use his
own language, by legislative au-
thuu,y ;" appIause and he added,
" so Tar rs my vote shall go for thai
purpose, IL shall never be wanting"
| Applause hcse were the senti-
meuIs ot Vrgluh Ia her earlier and
better days These were the senii-
menls IN which he One speaker) had
been instructed, aud which he had
entertained lhCs far; aud they we're
the sentiments which he intended to
impress upon his children, and which
he would carry 10 the grave with
him. lApplause.
They might ask why these senli-
menIs were no longer popular in
Virginia. He would IA few Words
give some of the reasons which had
produced tins wonderful change in
the Old Dominion. They all knew
that IN 1898 a law was re-enacted,
pTonounclng the foreign slave trade
10 he piracy punishable with death.
II was expected by Madlson aud the
great men of Virginia, that tins legal
feprobalion OF the slave trade would
have the moral effect Of exungulsh-
ing slavery throughout The Union IN
few years. Bot IN this view OF the
case they were mistaken. The re
suit showed that ii only cxtingulshed
The foreign slave trade, aud that it
built up domestic slave trade, at
tended with horrors fully as great as
any that ever attended The African
slave trade. Not being able to OBJ
tain slaves abroad, the extreme
Southern States TUNED TO purchas-
mo Them in the Nnrfhern sinVa