Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-10-17

1920, 10y opening to the curse Of Slavery 70
vast and beautiful region, which had been
s%ol'mnly and forever dcdicatcd to Freedom
years before, aud by the natural conso-
uponccs Ul that pcrhIious robbery mani
is-ted in tho high-hlnded outrages which
have recently dcsecratcd the soil of Kan.
sls by an armed and marauding invasion,
by the prostitution of the ballot box, by %
code Of worse than Draconian laws. imposed
upon Il people who had no agency in making
them, and by a long and terrible series of
murders. conlllgrations, rapincs. groundlcss
Prosecutions. cruel mp~rispnments and other
crimes which the Il l|vocutcs of slavery have
not hcsitatcd to pcrpetratc to secure their
wrongful aud ruluous control over territory
which desired and was entitled to the bless
ings Of Liberty and all this accomplished
either through the direct action or the per.
missivc and en- 'Ouraging non interference of
the General Government.
The change in the relation Of Slavery to the
National Government has been total and com.
rlotc. At first it was merely Il local i%nstItu-
ton. admitted to be an evil. its existence
deeply dcplorcd, aud only tolerated on ac-
count Of the supposed difficulty and danger
Of its sudden abolition, while on the other
hand its extension was universally deprecated
and positively prohibited. Now, it has be.
come an aggressive and powerful principle.
which has tHkou possession of every depart
ucnt Of tho Federal Government, except the
popular branch Of the LEGISLATURE it opens
the avenues to public AMI official position only
t. those who bow before its mOnstrouS
claims it demands the revival Of the horrors
OF the African Slave Trade it insists upon
the right of passing through the free States
with its Slaves it breaks down the long
established securities ol Freedom it block
AIDES the national highways it closes the
common territory Of the country to the free
citizens of the North and by the strong arm
of power, with the hlyon't and the sword, it
brushes 20 people, whose only offence is that
they claim the right to regulate their domes-
tic institutions in their own way, and will
not submit to its i~usolont and oppressive de-
mtuls.
I'll. rapid extension Of Slavery and the agrees
-iEc nature of its demands, excite the most anxious
slIictutc iu our mind. for the success. and pcrpCt-
ufy ut the Union; aud the imminent danger to our
free Institutions has stimulated all lovers Ut Libcr-
tY TO c]ui'ayur o. restore the action OF our Govern
mont totlc principles .i its patriotic founder from
which 10 has .u widely Ie"IltcI The pcorl" uf
Vermont hHsr eyer. and with moro. ing iutac and
u"uau.mi'v, -puEcn in uumi.HEIhlu terms iu oprn-
,.'i'n o. the extension oI Slavery, and ] doubt not
your action IN regard 90 this subject will be iu rYu-
"..t" a"eorloucc with the earnest scutimcut-ot
..ig constituents.
va. country li" IH' NN|f I'Nl~l'l N'L hlf'l ANA
treasure t., secure hor own liberty, hut Whom ti,-
t1rt nation, have sought e. be- free, her sympathy
and hHr contributions have rolled IN tides of mighty
impulse To- their assistance. The iuuris1nmcut Of
C1raisuor,who had simply declared his intention of
becoming O. citizen Of the uitod states, was recent.
lv considered. by our Governments, an insult 90 the
majesty oi the nation, and On a remote sea our ships
of war opened tucir irn'yuiug port holes and ,toruIy
demanded the immediate release Of the prisoner
HIt citizens Of TINS aud other states of our con
loicrdey, who have cmigrated to katsds, a portion
Of our own country under the direct authority of
the Federal governments, with tho intention of
ma inc that Territory their home, relying on the
assurances of that Government that they should
ho " left in perfect freedom TO form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way
have, by la~less and repeated inyasions of the
people Of another state, been deprived Of the dear
est rights of ircenen; their lives and property have
been threatened and destroyed, and they have been
subjected by these invader, to the most cruel and
tyranuical cnactincnts which have characterized
modern legislation and yet, notwithstanding
their frequent appcaiS to the President for relief.
none has been afforded them their robbers and
m|uricrcrs remain UNPUBLISHED, some even in official
positions unier the Federal Government and ohc.
diencc TO the pretended laws Of the Territory is en-
forced by the armed ~soldicry Of the United States.
The recollection Of our own early history as n
Commonwealth should awaken in our breasts the
~lveliest sympNthies for our brethren who are strug-
Cling for Freedom in Kansas. Vermont wa once
tho scene of similar deprcdation., harlshlps and
%cruolties. Her carly settlers were elected from
their possessions, and were denied all law and Jus
{ ce, by the cmissiries Of a Government which
vrougtully claimed dominion over tn en-.
earnestly suggest to your careful delibcratiou
the question whether, in view Of the great wrongs
TO which our citizens in Kansas are subjected, and
the utter neglect Of the General Government to Z
protect them some action is not required Of YOU,
equal to the importance and emergency of their
cause.
! trust tho legislature will prove itself a generous
patron To- the nsblc charities that distingui "a this
ago, and its acts bear the Impress OF humanity
iteiyinE witG confidence on The wisdom Of You.
delibcra'ion, and action, | tender you, Gentlemen,
my hearty cooperation in all your iaudablc efforts
for the public welfare.
RlLiND FLETCHER.
N.vrrrLIrH, Oct. 10, 1856.