Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-07-11
state Convention July ID


following. which vera ador,ed :, ,,i,
-,
'H' IN N''ii'N VIZ pH NIPPLE MD RE-
The constitution of the United States was
ordained to form more perfect Union. es-
tdblish justice, insure domestic Tranquility.
provide for the common defence, promote the
general wali,,rc, and secure the blessings Of
liberty to ourselves and our postertv' By
this rule, cyory power conferred by the Con-
stitution, and every power denied, II tU I've
construed, Iy this rule. every act of the
Government is to be judged. We accent it
US the primary rule of our political faith.
~ more perfect Union was the first object
to be achieved we 60 for the Union in It's
ancient integrity
A Paternal Government, just to every
iorelgn nation, and to every state and citizen
and careful to secure domestic tranquil
ty, the common defence and the general veal, =,
was the purpose of the Constitutions we ure
tor restoring the Government to its prmi-
i've purity
But Liberty was the climax OF the Consti-
tution' We 60 Tor liberty, for bcneticent and
lust laws. ana Tor the Uniou-''une and inse-
parable--npw and Tor ever
Ndt'ry IS nat Constitutional for accord
ing to the declaration Of him who was, and
]
OF the Constitution James Madison-u
rdS H"rDr 5Hi,nded 10 reC0gHi-c Nc idea N
property IN nun, 1t is claimed, indeed, by
the defenders Of slavery, that the Constitu-
ton does indirectly recognize it as Il pre-ex-
lstng element III the states, but so it re-
cognizcs the existence OF various crimes No
statesman will tell US that high crimes are
constitutional. No defender Of the Constitu-
ton will dare assert that it sanctions, or
even tolerates, Treason, Felony, or other
crime But there is q recognition Of slavery
which implies clear condemnation If II.
and gres conclusive proof of a deliberate pur-
pose 10 limit II to the states in which it ori-
ginally existed, and even there to restrain it,
We point to the clause which gives to Con-
gress the power to suppress the importation
of slaves. And for clear constitutional pow
er Ia proh'5it sidrery in all federal territory,
we advert to the full and exclusive power Of
the Government by virtue OF its sovereignty.
and to the express grants Of power to admit
new states, and to make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the Territory and
other property belonging to the United
| States The lessons of history fully con.
| firm these conclusions. Coordinate with the
| founding of the Constitution was the Ordi-
nance of 1857, that sacred and irrcpealahle
compact between the states and the people,
which forever dedicated TO Freedom every
inch Of territory then held as the rroporty Of
/ the United States That instrument was re-
/ cognizcd by the Sth act Of the first Congress.
/ and has been sacredly observed since. and the
power or Congress 10 proh,bt siarcrp y, Fcd.
eyal Te,ruorV has been admitted. either by
the approval of acts involving tho power or
| by explicit declarations, by c,'crv Pr,ident,
from Washington to Fillnore-the present
incumbent being the sole and sad exception to
the universal rule We do therefore adopt
this great urinciple Of the Constitution and
Of our patriotic fathers, as a cardinal point
Freedom the National rule. Slavery the sec
tional exception and We confirm our earn
est faith and ardent hope by those me-
morable words, uttered by Geo Washington
in his first and most solemn act a. President
Of the nited states
1T would be peculiarly improper to omit in
/ this first official act my terycut supp.icatiuu.
/ to that Almighty Being who rules over the
Unycrse-who pre,idcs in the Council,
Of nations-and whose proyidential aids car
supply every defect, that HIS be,.edaol1on may
consccrate to the Liberties and Happiness Of
the People OF the United States, Govern
ment instituted by themselves, TOR these essen
tial purposes and may enable every ms
trument employed in its administration Il
execute with success the function allotted tC
But the Government OF the nited State;
has abandoned these essential purposes
Tor winch 1t was designed. W are wtncs
ses to keyolution-lrom Freedom to Slave
ry-iTom Hepubhcamsm to lyranny-tron
Responsible Government to an OhEarchy.
me thl'R IS tHddHSfrfd II Is endangereC
ny the S!lFe fowcr-by the extension o
slavery, by aggresslons upon Freedom, by
violated tompacts, and BY violations OF the
constitution Itself We cannot tolerate
them.
me bofTHmsHf 'S P'r"tea Slavery de-
mands all and controls all 1t controls tht
executive tine niPlomatc' the Judlclal, th'
Legislative ana Mi!ltary powers oi the "oy
eminent IL dictates our domestic policy
our business our expenses ana our income
In spite OF cxtravagant expenses, alread,
treble the ayowed democratic rule proclaimed
by President Polk-running up from twenty
tive millions to seventy five millions per an
num-the treasury is still iull yet when thu
great agricultural, manufacturing and com
mercAl interests OF the country demand {
necessary appropriation, they are rcpulseC
with constitutional scrupe and veto
and the labor OF the tree, sturdy and intel
hgent American citizen is left alone TO com
Dat with the beggared hordes OF Europe anC
the unpaid.aborot slaves. Slavery.dictates ouI
IoIcl-h polcN, our wars anu our treaties o
peace. Canada, longing for the Union, ha
been repulscd by concession reciprocity a
the expense of our own interests, and an EN-
pre- of free territory in Oregon has beer
surrendered but the slayocratc valley o
the Mississippi was bought at the expense o
common treasury, and slayOcratic IeNa
seized by hl!Ious,erinS and war-CahtOTnla
tab and New Mexico were won by the com
mon blood and treasure, clearly for the c2
tension Of slayery-but thanks to the patri
otlc counscls of a Taylor and the fidelity of
Fremont, California crowns the column o
Freedom, and New Mexico and tab are still
within the bounds Of hope.-While the slay
power--wlth the completely Of its Northern
allies-a Gushing. a Pierce Il Douglas and
Buchanan-otfer millions of the common
; treasure for slaveholding Cuba, and terribl
war with the great powers of Europe as tn