The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-06-04
Sumner Meeting in Vergennes.

OAc Of the largest and the most en-
thusinastic public meetings ever held in
Vergcnncs took place at the Town Hall
on Wednesday evening las, pursuant to
a call for the purpose Of giving all who
felt disposed an opportunity to express
their feelings and sentiments on the
great outrage pcrpe;ratcd at Washington
on Senator Sumner, and the brutal ruff.
fianism metcd out BY government officials
to the free citizens Of Kansas 1t was
an assembly of the people irrespective
of party voluntary expression Of pop
ular feeling in favor of human rights as
opposed to human bondage.
Hon. Jouy PiEppolNT was called to
the chair, and G NJ. Lewis aud II. c.
johnson appointed Secretaries.
Hon Geo. w Grondey said he did
not feel able to speak, bat he believed
the outragcs committed were absolutel y
necessary to wake up the North to
sense of her own disgrace. So long as
slavery rules in the councils of the ma
ton no great civil or religious reform
can take place. He closed by moving
the appointment of committee to draft
resolutions
The Chair appointed a committee
who submitte d the following resolutions
R.solrcd, That we have heard with the
deepest shame and indignation of the rui-
fanlv assault committed in the United states
Senate Chamber upon the person ofthe Hon.
Charles SUMNER by Preston 5 Brooks, rep
rcseniativc in Congress from South Carolina.
i,at viz * AS
Illustration by Southern demagogues of their
determination to suppress by brute force all
constitutional effort on the part of the North
70 prevent Tree Territory from becoming Stare
Territory and that while we admire the NOR
al greatness of CHARLES SUMNER in thus fear
lesslv exposing the designs Of those who are
pledged to "subdue the North. and wholly
the hand of an assassin has been called 10
seal his principles with his blood, we detcst
ami abhor such men as Preston 5. Brooks and
all who uphold and encourage the loathSome
Institution whose existence has led 10 TINS
national disgrace.
Resolred, That Preston S Brooks for his
dastar,llv mcanncss in attacking with dan
scrOuS weapon an unarmed man, for words
in debate, deserves the eXccration of every
friend OF human rights, and that the House
of REPRESENTATIVES in justice to itself and out
of regard To the dignity of tine nation ought
at once to expel him from that body,
Rcsalrcd, That we regard the assumption
| Of power on the part of the Federal Govern
| mcnt for the suppression OF the freedom oil
| the ballot box in Kansas as dangerous,
| high handed and wholly ineNcuSable stretch
of Executive authority threatening the sta
| bjlity of our government aud calculated to
array in open hostllitles the North against
| the South, 80
| Rcsolped, That we deeply sympathiSe with
| tbe suffering friends of freedom in Kansas,
| and while we would denouce in unmeasured
terms the crucities and wrongs to which they
| are subjected under the specious preteNt OF
| enforcing law we are more firmly resolved
| than ever TO protest against the admission
| of another inch of Slave Territory, let the
| consequences be what they may.
| Rss1lred, That inaSmuch As the slave hol-
| ders have themselves made the issue be-
| tween the triumph Of slavery and the disco
| luton of the union, we acceptthc issue, and
| henccflrth rcpudiade all compromise be-
tween freedom and slavery ami say liberty
or death
Mr. Walker of FerriSburgh, although
he falt a difiilcnce in speaking was ready
to do all he could to maintain tho rights
of the citizens of Kansas he would like
to SEQ On extra session of the Legislature
called aud men and means provided by
them for the freedom of Kansas.
Rev. Mr. Hopkins from Western New
York spoke ably and cloquently. lli'
sympathies were with the oppressed
everywhere it is time for the North to
be up and Aoing. They srera awake and