Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-17

the extravagant nature Of its demands On the
contrary, by the recent decision Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, in The case of DRED
Scorr il lhc opinions of the majority Of the
Judges as expressed by them are to he received
as law, there is little hope left that the spread of
Slavery will ever be stopped under our present
| form Of government.
BY that decision Slavery is no longer section
al il is made national, and declared to be rec
ogGizcd hy the Federal Constitution. The Con.
stilution is said by its own force to carry Sa-
very into every Territory of the country, and
any act of Congress ~ Territory, prohibiting
property in slaves, is pronounced unconsiituon-
al and void. This decision conflicts with the
| legislation Of Congress from the foundation of
the government down to the year 1854, when
the fruitful source If all our woes, the Kansas
and Nebraska Bill, by mort ern trcachcry and
the insatiate demands Of the South for an en-
largcd slave market, and an increased political
power, was sprung upon our unsuspccting peo-
pie II declares unconstitutional the numerous
organic acts Of Congress- establishing the terri
toriaI governments Of the NORTHWEST Terrific.
~, Of the Territories of Indiana, Illinois, Mich
igan Wisconsin, Iowa and Oregon, the Com
promise Of 1920 and the act for the admission
Of Texas 1t contradicis the opinions Of our
most eminent statesmen and jurists, expressed
for long series of Yeas, both in Congress and
from the bench Of the Supreme Court, by CLAY,
by MARSHALL, aud all the leading m N of the
country both from the North and the South, with
the single exception of Mr CALHOUN, deemed
in his life time, even by his fellow Shareholders,
as extreme and fanatica in his support of Sla.
very. In that portion Of the decision touching
the citizenship OF the African race, it perverts
ami misrcpeSenis the plain and obvious truths
of history. Under the ruling of the majority of
the Court the acquisition Of new territory will
result in the certain extension of Slavery. Not
even the people OF the Territories themselves are
allowed to exclude Slavery from their midst
they are doomed to its whitening curse, and not.
withstan1ing the sounding promise in the Kan
sas and Nebraska Bill, that they should he left
perfectly free to form and regulate their do
nestle institutions in their own wav,'' they can
not. while in the Territorial condition, shake il
, oil The great improbability that, when Sla-
very has once planted its foot upon Territory.
it will ever be abolished, is proved by the imro
tent crts OF the best citizens of ric older slave
, STATES. to rid themselves of the system Of sla-
very, which is degrading and running them
{ The logical results of this decision are alarm.
, ing IN the extreme, and may well arouse the
Free States from their dangerous apathy. If,
as declared by the majority of the Court, the
: Constitution guarantees property m Slaves, and
, prohibits any law interfering with the right of
the master to his slave, it is fair inference, il
no. necessary conclusion, that the stakeholder
may for purposes of pleasure or profit take his
+ slaves with him III his journeys through the Free
States, and hold them there, notwithstanding
the absolute prohibition of slavery BY their laws.
But fortunately, most of the abhorrent doctrines
{ enumerated by the majority of the Judges were
unnecessary 10 he determination of the case be.
fore them and are therefore not clothed with
he authority Of law They have been well and
. boldly characterized by one of the dissenting
= Judges, the oldest member of the Court and the
D only surviving associate of the venerated MAR
SHALL, as extra judicial and of no binding force
r as authority. | am sure, when one of the judges
e themselves use this indignant and unqualified
: language, that the people of Vermont will no,
quietly acquiesce in an unnecessary and unau-
Z thorized declaration Of doctrines they have al.
!, ways loa'hcd and which they consider hostile 10
c the genius and spirit Of the Republic to which
they belong.
J. When, If the alarming prostitution Of every
department of the general government to the
neiarious behesls Of slavery shall continue, the
e Supr me Court shall declare authoritaiivev
/ what they have already foreshsdowed, thar the
r STAKEHOLDER may bring into the Free States his
p tram OF slaves, and hold them there as his prop
n erty, notwithstanding the absolute prohibition
: at slavery by their Constitutions and laws, it will
@ then, in that day of the doom of the Republic
., br time for Vermont and her sister Free States
b to consider what course they shall lake to main
: tain aud enforce righr she has never welded
j. and will never surrender, the absolute and total
4 prohibition of slavery within her borders.
v My grateful acknowledgements are due to the
t. people OF Vermont for the honor conferred by
: my reelection. The best return | can make
i for the generous confidence reposcd in me. i.
n the SOLEMN pledge here upon the threshold OF
Y my duties, that my every effort shall be To pro.
Z mote the highest interests of our cherished Com
4 munwealth.
b RYLAND FLETCHER.
4 MONTPELIER, Oct, 9th 1857.
u SATURDAY, Oct 10.
o In the SENATE, but little business wa. trans
J acted. Mr. Plcrpoint from the Judiciary Com.
nittee, reported bill repeating certain acts re-
+ lating to Railroad Commissioner, with amend
= ments
y Mr. Pierpoint said that the object of this bill
= was simply to repeal all acts reitng To the of.
= 1ce, duties and reports Of the Railroad Commits
: sIoner all other sections in the acts relating Ia
: other matters should be retained, and the com.
ml'tee In their proposed amendments had report.
u ed accordingly; the amendments were agreed
l. to, and the bill was ordered to third reading.
u by MIR Chittenden introduced bill amending
an act authorizing the business of banking, (giv.
"H power 10 the chancellor to nix upon some
time for the presentation of bills to the Treasu.
: rchor Receiver Of insovent banks, for redemp.
tion and payment referred to the committee
: on Printing
: The Governor informed the House that h..
had appointed WIN. G. Shaw of Burlington, as
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, and the
: Secretary presented a copy of the Message,
/, which was ordered to be printed.
MONDAY, O.tI2
In The SENATE, the several portions of the
Governors message were referred 10 appropriate
committees. II. c. Benton, Jr, resigned the Of
hce OF Assistant Secretary, on account of the
sickness of his father in Wisconsin. VIM. II,
Walker was elected in his stead
: In the House., the Speaker announced the
Standing Committees, which are in part as fol-
lows:-
: Ways and Means. - Messrs Pierpoint of Rut-
} land, Root of Bennington, Weber of Rochester.
: Little of Corinth, Riddle of johnson
Military Affairs. -Messrs l. wis of Norwich,
Allen of Granville, Burdett of Arlington, Waite
of Swanton, Kellam of Irasburgh.
: Judciary-Nlessrs Merrill of Montpelier.
bradley OF Bratleboro, Pierpoint of Rullan l.,
} Woodbridge of Vergennes, Deane of Cavendsh'
EducdtiOn-M essrs Woodbridge of Verocnnes,
Chamberlain of Cratisbury. Stevens of St Al,