The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-22

"H''n Ties norm OF % GPg. ~ Ul'n. OF norm
latitude. not included within the limits of tine
State OF Missouri, Sla-ery and Involuntary
serritude. Otherwise than in the punishment:
and crimes whereof the parties shall have
been dolly convicted, shall be and Is hereby
foyerer prohibited"
In each House Of Congress. majority Of
the members from the slavphoidne States
voted in favor OF This bill with this provision.
thus declaring and exercising bv their votes
the constitutional power o: Congress to pro-
hibit Slavery even in Territories where it
had been permitted by the Law Of France. at
the date OF their cession to the United States.
A new Slave State. Arkansas. formed out of
that portion Of this territory living south Of
Sc deg. 30 min. TO which the prohibition was
not extended, was admitted to the Union in
; 1886. Two slave States TINS came into the
Confederacy by virtue Of This arrangement,
while freedom gained nothing bv it but the
prohibition of Slavery from vast region.
which civilization bad made no ATTEMPT to
penetrate.
Thus ended the first great contest of Free
dom and Slavery for position and power in
the General Government The slaveho!ding
III v.
cured all the immediate results for which it
struggled; it had acquired the power of off
setting. in the Federal Senate. two of the Free
States OF the Conicderacv; and the time
could not be fOreSeen when in the fultiiment
Of ii. compact. it would Weld any positive and
practical advantage to the Interests of free
dom. Neither then. nor for many wears
thereafter, DID any statesman dream that.
when the period should arrive. The sIaveho'd-
ing interests would 'rample on its bond and
fling its faith to the winds
A quarter Of century elapsed before the
annexation Of Texas. Slavery had been ac-
tive. meantime. in fastening its hold upon
the Government. in binding political parties
to its chariot. ard in seeking in Congress to
stifie the right of petition. and to crush all
freedom otsPeech and OF the press In every
s!aveho!,iing State. nome hut shareholders, or
those whose Interests are identified with
Slavery. were admitted! {, e.. arv Office. o:
exercise any authority. civil or POLITICAL
Free wiiltcs..Hat Shareholders. ia their pres
encc, Or in the insist O. their society. were
redu"e'. 10 viss:';:ge !;ti- less degrading
than that OF l:t slaves Themselves.
| Even at ti,s aav although ,lie white pop
uation Of 'he siaveho'dng States is more
than TX millions. Of whom but 81 t2.5. or
less than one seventeenth, are 'i," owners Of
olav~s. none 5u: >!tvehoitlcr, Or ore VITO
will act with exrlusive r"t.,enre to Slavery,
is ever allowed 10 represent the State IN anv
National Convention IN either branch OF Con
gress. or in any high position Of civil trnst
and poiIr'cai power. The sIavcholding class
small AZ it is. is the governing class, and
shapes legislation and onidrs all public action
for the advancement Of its own interests an.
the promotion Of i.s own ..,ls
/ During Al. that time. and from that time O.
>c. 4 We p"">';it. Vi. sliyvho!ling Gc!.uA'"s
in III. National Conventions. upon whatever
else they Wav differ, always CON ur in impos
ING upon the Convention ssS.r. 70 their re-
qIAsitions in regard to Slavery. a, the in,lis-
pensah'e condition .: their support Hold
ing thus III their hands power TO decide the
result Of the election. and using hat power
undevianngly and ste-niv for the extor,ion
Of their demands. they have always been able
10 control the nominations OF both parties. and
thus. whatever NAV be the issue. TO secure a
President who is sure to he the instrument Of
: their hth"s's
Thus has i. come 10 pass that for twenty
years We have never had President who
would appoint TO The aumblest office within
his gift. in any section OF the Cnicn. any man
known to hold opinions hostile 10 Slavery or
( TO I've a. tive IN resi>'.nI rs agyre>SiOnS and
usurpations Of power Men. the mot upright
and the most respectable. in States where
slavery is only known by name, have been
Ineligible to tie smallest t,u>t-have been
held unfit 70 distribute letters from the Fed
eral post az; e 70 .!.ir nri.hbors or trim he
lamps o! a lighthouse u;on the rYno'cs:
point o! our >tcn'ie;i coast. Millions Of our
citizens have been ;hs di>tr.nchIs.1, for
their opinions conrernlrs Slavery, and the
vast patrons. - Of the General Government
has been systematically welded IN ns service,
and for the promotion q. rs .S'.re.
1t was bv surh dl>cr'in" ard Under a"ch
irtiueacey, that the government an &! the roun-
try w.r. prepared for ':,.. sccnoc. great stride
OF Slavery towards new dominion. and for
the avowai .; motives t.y With i: was at.en-
died.
! Texas was admitted into the Union or the
Goth Of December, lSi5-with Il constitution
:Orbiidiny the abolition Of Slavery, and a
stipulation that tour more States should be
come members OF the Confeieracv. whenever
they might By formed within her limits. and
with or without Slavery, as their inhabitants
might decide
| The Genera! Government thus made vir-
tual provision for the addition Of fce new
slave States t. the Union. practically secur-
ing to the sIavyhold'ng interest ten adj litm al
members in the Srna'P-rprresen'in States.
it might De. with less 'han million ;nhab;-
tanfs, and out voting five Of the old Ststes.
with an aggregate population of eleven mil,
lions. The corrupt and tvranniraI Kings Of
England. when votes were needed in the
House Of Lords 10 sustain them against the
people, created peers as the emergency re-
quired. Is there in this an, thing in more
fragrant contradiction TO the principles of re-
publican freedom. or more dangerous to the
public Liberties. than in the system prac,ised
by the slaveholding interest, represented in
the General Government
But third opportunity was close at hand,
and Slavery made third struggle for the
extension Gifts domain and the enlargement
Of ITS power.
The annexation OF Texas involved us in
war with Mexico. The war was waged on
our part with visor, skill anil success Itre-
suited in the cession 20 the Cnmed States OF
New Mexico. California and Deseret. vast
territories over which was extended BY Mex
lean Law prohibition Of slavery. The slave
holders demanded acres, to them all-resis-
ted the admission of California and New
Mexico. which the energy Of freemen. out !
stripping in i,s activity the government and /.
even the sIaveholdinc interest, had already
converted into free States. and PERSONALLY i