Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-07-18

mercan honors.
As the nsmo Of Liberty has been used to
hide unnumbcred tyrannles, so the name of
Democracy has often given currency TO
wrongs aud concealed its own assassins.-
Territorial popular sovereignty, consistent
with the Constitution of the United States
was invented To- conceal the sword Of the
Supreme Court supposed to be ready at any
time to strike down those who might dare to
legslatc against slavery. Under the popular
cry Of State rights, the attempt was once
made 10 deny tho United States the exercise
of all rights save such as might not be OBJ
iecied 10 by any one Of the States. At
last we have the watchwords, "cqudtty Of
States" intended to give shareholders the
right TO go with, to cell, or to send their
slaves into nny and all the Territories
How little would any one expect to find that
purpose in such fair words Objectionable
as this doctrine appears, there Is another 20
which ] am not less opposed, and that Is the
" equilibrium Of States" This means that
we are 70 keep up the balance OF power be-
tween the free aud slave States. In other
words, To give To a small minnnty--less than
one lmrd ol the Whine population Of the
Um0n-the control of the Government for
ever These doctrines are openly and ear
nestly ayuwed. Equality Of States and the
equilibrium OF the States are the potent lev
ers BY which the Democracy moves the en-
tire masses Of the South. Such grave con
sideratIons as these give us the right TO ex-
anime and discuss the policy by which the
conservation OF the institution Of slavery ls
sought TO be obtained.
The future Of slavery in this country has
engaged The earnest thoughts of statesmen
and Christian phiauthroplsts. How is 1t to
escape, or how are we to escape from 1t, Is a
problem yet unsoved. Mr.. Clay thought he
saw ~ the dim vista Of ages II possibility
that, after long course OF discipline, under
happier auspices, 1t might return and reoccu-
py Africa. Mr.. Buchanan was reconciled
10 the annexation Of Texas, because it was
the road thro Oh which Slavery might pass
TO It's final absorption in Mexico. But we
ind the demand for slaves in Texas has,
while nearly doubling their price, increased
the supply more rapidly than IN any period
of our history, so that, for the first time, the
census shows the slave population to have
increased In nearly the same ratio, with the
Waite populsuon. Already the slave States
occupy nearly a quarter more territory than
the free States, and about twice as much
10 proportion to their number of white in
habltanis. The density Of the whites, IN
the sleyeholdug States, is eleven and thirty
five hundredths to the square mile while that
of the non-slaveholdlng States Is twenty one
and nlnety-one hundredths. If new outlets
are opened, the supply keeps pace with the
demand. Its increase and density are inevl-
table, and diffusion accelerates the result
emancD patton without vxpatriation ia cousld-
cred ia many States an evil and therefore
prohibited. Colonization in Africa, or in the
valley of the Amizon, is dreamed of and
speculated upon but practically a journey
to the stars whose light has not yet reached
US, may be realized before the fulhllment OF
any such dreams. However sad and slow,
or lubilant and rapid, the travel OF slavery,
the end is ruia--iirst to the land, and next to
the peope-whIte or black.
The only remedy now proposed is dlsper-
sion, aud that has peen proved practically n
deusion. In all candor ask # this course
is Just or fair Shall we permit States to
saddle other and free Territories with an evil
they fine too potent 10 be grappled with even
now ; Shall we environ posterty with per-
lis we are too weak 10 confront? However
grave the question, justice requires that we
snail answer now with prntupt and decided
negative, and that we shall not extend 1t be-
yond lts present limits. Honor requires that
those who now enjoy its benefits shall take
care Of its future. With that desperation
which animates the crew of sinking ship.
we sec IT'S votarles at work pumping out the
dangerous element, but all blind to the fact
that, while they are submerging other terri~
tories, the flood Is not diminished in their own.
Slavery, like Alexander, weeps for new
worlds TO conquer, and when conquered they
drag along the necessity for evor-recurrng
and unending conquesis. When victims
outside OF It's borders grow rare, it turns
like Saturn to deyour It's own progeny but
let those who would ensaye Kansas temem-
Der that the mother of Jupiter saved her chlld
by giving the monster stone to swallow.
While slavery confines itself within its
own State ramparts, 1t Is safe from ali out
side assallants; but let 1t once make an
opening to pass out for aggression and con
quest, and the breach must remain open for.
ever and no sentinels can guard against O
surprise.
If II be asked if | would smother slavery
by coopng It up within narrow limits
answer that II already has broad limits -
vastly more than that of the free States
and At, instead of improving the soil the sys-
TEN shall wear It out, rendering il barren and
too poor to support bond or free, then It vii
be Gods time to smother It, and in His de-
crees / propose to acquesce. But If In,
boast made here few years ago, was based
on truth, and hope It was, that day may be
pushed far into the future. II was asserted
on this floor that the South had the raw ma.
terial water power in abundance, aud III,
cheapest labor at her doors so that sh,
could engage IN manufactures, and challenge
the competition Of the world. Into that en-
terprise would bid her God speed. There
she would find rivals, but no enemies
The free States are confined to the mos
rigorous Climate and the most rugged soil
and they feel aggrieyed that they cannot b,
allowed 10 retain even one strip of lairor ter
/ rltory with a more congenal climate. Nay
/ they feel indignant that even the Unio
should DO imperiled to snatch from thea
what was pledged by the fathers Of the Re
( public, TO be 70 them and their posterlty al
Inheritance forever. They demand 1t now
aud will never, never accept less.
Hy those WIN would fnrca slavery npnn n
unwilling people, who resist and would eX
cude il, the principles of the Kansas an
Nebraska bill are often said to be national
and that they remove an Odlous lnsqualit
by allowing slaves, as well as sheep and cat
tie. to be introduced into the Territories. =
There is nothing more evident than that ife
labor cannot be forced into harmony and alll
ance with slave labor. 1t will not stoop I
the degradation OF equality, nor thrive by It
side. Admit slavery, ana you drive OF
freedom. Such admission, however mil
/ and diluted 10 form, IS at once and toreye
mntamount 10 a restriction upon liberty
Tms new-ihngled nationality IN fact, there
fore, covers only this institution. It's honzo
IL limited To the boundaries Of slavery, an
shuts out all beyond. As If IN anticipation
of such nationality, well has the sculpto
in yonder grounds sacrificed good taste
severe irony, and portrayed tho Father Of HI
Country in sitting posture, II has bee
said OF the sitting Jupiter of Phidias,
Olympia, that # he should suddenly stand u
he would burst the ynulted roof Of the ten
I nile SO would Washinuton were ne no