Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-11-21

I iI.
De none the less imperative on Tho no,, ~
the state to aid and protect its citilens u
PERI suffering every hardship and cruebv
privation and want. '-V''y,
But Mr.. Speaker, there il one feo,n,o =
the OIL which must commend itself 10 oo,
tIemen interposing these objections. fha
second section Of the bill provides tia, ~
Governor whenever in his judginen, Nv
citizens OF Vermont without this State wy
The suffering poor in Kansas need qssisto,e'
may furnish, or canse to be furnished ~
Now IT the Governor IL satisfied thero ~,
none needing this assistance, he of cone
VIII furnish none, and no money will be- az
pended. IT the Governor, in the exercise 81
a sound discretion, Is Of the opinion. tbs, I.
SUN much less than twenty thousand doll,,s
VIII answer ali purposes of relief and nro
tection-if he is satisfied that five thousand
or even live hundred, will answer this nm,
pose, then he IL to use no more than nsy ~,
necessary. lie can use any sum less Than
twenty thousand, but nothing beyond. mo
provisions OF the bill, It will be seen. ARC
well guarded IN both these respects.
Mr. Speaker,the great object to be attained
by the passage Of this bill has scarcely been
alluded to. II is an object, compared with
which all others sink into insignifcance. hs
very magnitude dwarfs all others, however
important IN themselves considered. II il
Sir, the concurrent testimony Of all who arc
thoroughly acquainted with Kansas-ofthose
who have been before the Committee; Of
those who have dwelt in the Territory. and
become acquainted with its people, that but
one thing is necessary to make it free State.
Sir, what Is this thing to be done which will
produce such important results Why, sir,
1t Is simply to keep the men now in Kansas.
provided with food, clothing, and shelter;
and thoy have the courage the forttude, and
the determination to stay there to maintain
and defend their rights against all opposition,
until Kansas becomes free territory and a
free State.
Thus, sir, with the assistance of those who
will naturally be likely TO 20 there, they will
secure this great object
Sir, It has been said that the people of
Kansas must look to the General Govern.
ment for redress and protection, and not lo
the States 'fhey have appealed TO that
Government in vain. The answer TO thar
appeal hiss been made. The language of
the President, Ia submit 10 the iatrs and IN.
peal 10 The Courts IN Knnsas for redress.L
Now, Sir il is well known that no law exists
IN kansas-no government exists no one
can acquire citizenship there. Even the or
ganic law Is itself VOID, because unconstun.
uonal. II repeats the Missouri Compronise
thus impairing The obligation and validity of
a solemn contract only 10 part executed. Il
recognizes and eniorces The Fugitive Slave
Law. For these reasons aud for othersany
Court, unless composed of Stakeholder
would adjudge It uncons. ulional Kansas
IS, therefore to-day as free, so far as law ls
concerned, 40 if the Con Promise were no,
repealed. Slavery being he creature Of the
local or municipal law nf The State where
II exists, cannot be extended into territory
except by positive enactment Congress has
no right by the Constitution, 90 create or exc
tend Slavery. ] defy any one 10 point ont
any such night or authority. Every slave
now m Kansas, by the act Of bis owner. is
by law free, and no man has a right 10 bis
services. Nay, more, SIR any man in
Kansas has right 70 ia'orm such slave of
his Freedom, and assist him % 90 out Of the
Territory, or wherever else be peases.
Now Sir, there is apretended law IN Kan
sas that Furnishes with death, this very act
which every man has a nigh, 10 do Here 1t
is | will read II.
" Il is hereby enacted by the Governor and
Legislative Assembly Of Kansas Territory,
SIC. /. If any person shall entice, decoy,
or carry away out OF this Territory, any
slave belonging to another with intent 70 de-
prlye the owner thereof Of the services Of
such slave, or with intent to procure or effect
the freedom Of such slave he shall be ad-
Judged guilty of grand larceny, and on con
yictlon thereof, shall suffer deathn
BY the % section Of no.. samo Act, to aid
or assist another IN doing 'he same thing, is
punished with death. Now If the owner Of
slave brings him into Vermont, any man
has the right to tell him be is free. and as
5ist HIM ON his way IN Car ada. Every man
has the same light M Kansas, and yet for
doing this act, perfectly iunoccnt, humane,
and Praiseworihy in itself these pretended
laws punish him with death.
Bot. Sir, these outrageous euactmenis do
not stop here. They punish the oppression
Of an opinion on the subject of Slavery with
Imprisonment at hard labor for term Of
years Here are the l2th and llth sections
Of An act to punish Of noes against Slave
property"
SIC. -. "lf any pcrsln by speaking or
writing, assert or mGiaiaiu That persons hire
not The night 10 h0d siares IN his T'erriiorg
or shall introduce into this Territory, PRINT,
publish, write, circulate or cause to be intro
duced into this Territory written, printed,
published or circulated m tins Territory any
book, paper, magazine, pluphIet or circular
containing any denldi Of The rig ~ of persons
To hold slaves in this Territory, such persons
shall be deemed guilty of felony and pun
lshed by Imprisonment at hard labor for a
term OF not less than two years"
SEC. IL. No person who is conscien-
tlousy opposed to holding Slaves or who
does not admit the right TO hold slaves IN this
Territory, shall SIT as juror on the trial of
any prosecution for any violation Of any of
the sections Of this act"
Sir, the President when appealed to for re-.
dress, coolly informs the people OF Kansas
that they must submit 10 and obey these
Territorial laws and for this purpose he
sends Federal army 10 aid the border ruff.
hans IN compelling submission at the point
of the bayonet. And if they de- not submit,
they are arrested by these utilns, aided by
Federal troops, and cast into prison on char
ges OF treason. And this, sir, is the kind of
remedy which gentlemen propose for our
people in Kansas. Subrt TO these laws
Appeal TO the Territorial Courts and sue for
redress at the hands Of Border Ruiian
President Sir, this is a shameful, an out
rageous mockery--a denial of all right and
protection. If the United States refuse to
protect our citizens there, we should see to
It that the State PROTECTS them. The Con-
sttutlon gives thus right, whenever the occa-
sion demands its exercise.
But, Mr., Speaker, we do not demand so
much as this by the passage of this bill
w only ask what Vermont has done before
what other States have done before-what
the United States have done before. And
that is TO keep the suffering poor in Kansas,
and on their way there, from porishing for
want Of food, clothing and shelter This,
Sir, It is true, is a mere act Of charity but
contend it will be sufficient. These men,
have, at all times, the right of self-delence-
the right to keep and bear arms and use
them too, IN defending themselves and prop.
erty. And venture TO say that they Will
sustain themselves in the exercise Of these
rights.
Mr. Speaker, there is another reason why
this bill should become law. The people