Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-05-09

the green bpcCbhClcS, ucCiubc tuo NlChT
ever liked the bargain.
In this case, there was n reliance and con-
dcnco in the high integrity Of southern gen
lcmen-thcir c~hivalry if you please to call
t so. At the North, one would say to
mother, ''nevcr will this compromise be re-
it will never be suffered to he repeal
ID by those gentlemen. We know them.
hey may have points of character arising
RON their social condition with which we are
rot altogether pleased, but they are highly
gentlemen we have confidence in
hem ; it will not be repealed" When
It last this reliance misglve them-whcn
hey found that they had leaned upon a reed
which pierced them; it went down like cold
ron to the hearts of our people.
Southern gentlemen may consider it n mat
ter of very little consequence how they are
estimated in the free States probably they
10 but | can ASSURE them that this nation
attaches something more of importance to it.
Mutual confidence in public men is one of
the great safeguards for the continuance of
our Union. A moral revolution always pre-
one Of another kind and the giving up
of that confidence with many of our coun-
trymen and many Of our fellow-men is like
the giving up of the ghost. Gentlemen may
have possibly noticed the letter of ex-Govcr-
nor Hunt, Of New York, in which he said
that the South would by a returning sense of
Justice. correct this matter. Will you cor
rect it May it be expected ! 1t may be
done but | am sorry to say that | have
very little hope that it will be.
There Is another thing on which | will
make a remark. 1t seems that both in Sc
saon, and out of season., pains are taken to
insist that all Of us who desire that there
should not be a spread of slavery into a coun-
try alre ady free, who do not desire a prop
a%gation of it, and an enlargement of its Dor
ders, arc, or ought to be, Abolitionists 1t is
said that we are Abolitionists as far as we
90. and that, in point of fact, it is all one
thing-we are all Abolitionists and Black
Republicans. Mr.. President, | do not speak
of this point because it moves anything like
Indignation In me. 1t does not exile the
least feeling in the world but | would ask
those gentlemen what they expected to gain,
if they succeeded in causing that belief
What is Abolitionism How do we under
stand it : There are two classes OF Abolition
lists, as they exist. with us, and probably
elsewhere. One class holds that the United
States Constitution gives a guarantee and
countenancc to slavery. and that, therefore,
as their saying is. it is a ''league with in
fanny and should be broker up, and the
Union under it DESTROYED. What is the
OlltT DTtICl u llTh Hc btlCl u
hold that, as the constitution does not men
ton slavery anywhere, it is a charter of
freedom. and, therefore, should he preserved,
and used for the purpose Of overcoming slav-
very everywhere. These are the two branch
es that is Abolitionism.
Now, sir, those with whom | act hold that
slavery is Il local institution existing by the
law of the country where it is, that it cam
not 20 anywhere unless the laws 90 with it
that by the terms of the constitution it is
left to the action of the States where it existe.
We have no disposition, either direct or in
direct, in any way, to use the power of Con-
gress under the Constitution in order, in any
manner, to affect it where it exists. This is
our position. Because we do not desire to
extend it we are called .Abolitionists. Sup
pose wc were made to believe it. Suppose
that all Of us who are now called by different
mcs-nam Of reproach, too, such as
Black Republicans, and some sort of Ameri.
cans-wcre made to believe, and the world
was made to believe, that we are Abolition.
ists-who would be the gamer by it WhC
would be benefited by it
cannot hut call to mind a lesson from oui
political history on this subject. When tn,
pass their first stamp act, which was after
wards repealed and another one passed, DR.
Franklin was agent for two colonies, Massa
chusetts and Pennsylvania, then residing in
London. Our colonies kept agents in Lon
don, who were something like the Delegate
Of our Territories here. Though they did no
have seats in Parliament they were consulted
in regard to the matters of the colonies. DIR
Franklin was called before a committee, and
examined in relation to that law and he wa
asked his opinion AS to whether the people o
this country would submit to it checrlully
or whether they would oppose it, DR.
Franklin told them that he thought the
would not submit chcerfully, and he did no
This was, think, in l764, the year after tn
treaty with France. They asked him wha
the difficulty was' lie replied - The pee
pie of the colonies acknowledge allegiance t
+ the British Crown, and not only do they aC
knowledge that allegiance, but they are
very loyal people to that Crown. They hol
their charters from 1t they are attached t
it as q Protestant Crown they are attache
to it in every way but the people of tn
:, colonies do not hold that same obligation t
t the British Parliament. We consider tina
you have no right, in any form. to tax u
where We are not represented They sal
, to DR.. Franklin "There is nothing in tina
t distinction the laws we pass are the King
5 laws oppos ition to the Parliament is oppC
' sition to the Crown infdelity to the Parlia
, ment Is intdelity to the Crown. The acts
l the Parliament as approved are the acts
; the Crown "Well," said DR.. Franklin
| 81 have no desire to argue that q%uestio
with the committee our people think Other
G wise but all | can say is, perhaps you ca
: convince them that there is no difference
4 and, if you do, | think they will oppose tn
law altogether, and the Crown too Sill
S they persisted. Within three or four veal
+, afterwards they passed that law they put
to the people of America they insisted tina
opposition to their laws was opposition an
rebellion to the Crown. How did they SUI
coed in making them believe it Read you
4 Declaration of Independence, and what Cot
5 it say 1t charges, over and over, the.
very acts of the British Parliament as Il
acts of the Throne-the acts of the Kin!
and says that they are the acts which dctir
t a tyrant. They had got to believe it ther
They asserted 1t, and we know the cons,
c quenceS.
b Now. sir, | do not know but that it ma
be made to be believed by us all, that we al
all AbOlitiunists in the sense, if You pleas,
which | have defined, and as understoo
everywhere but suppose it should be b.
lIcNed, what would be the consequence !
= is not necessary for me to answer. do NJ
e sec how any gain would come to the cause
l the Shareholders, or the slavcholdinS part
} the United Statcs-and when | use this teri
t | do not mean it in any reproachtul sense.
do not see how an advantage could come
/ them. 1t may be u matter of taste.
a seems that they have succeeded in making til
e people of Europe understand that We have
V Republican black presiding in our House
i Rep.esentatiyes-a Black Republican.
may be, that it would elevate the po,itio
. and estimation of this nation to have it III
e derstood in Europe, that blacks become pr
I siding officers, Perhaps it will be best
t pursue it until we have a President that
black but that is u matter of taste. Still
4 sir, it is part and parcel of the same procee,
t lngs, and gentlemen must pursue their ow
r course about it but it seems to mo all tn
will not do any good. Something should
lnnn tn rrStnrn nnint and II Won cnnll II