Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-11-06
THE FREE PRESS.
BURLINGTON
Mr. Chapmpn's Letter.
FRIDAY MORNING. oCTonrR so, Is,


and the eau Of slavery extension. From
Buchanan down to tho cheapest scribhler
for venal press it is constantly issuing
from their mouths or dribblng oT from
their their pens.
The exhibition of such miserable stuff in
its true character is admir- bly, done in the
following letter of r. A. Chapman, Esq
of Springfield, Mass. Taking OCCASION from
request to preside at public meeting of
th ose friendly to the election of Mr.. Banks
as Governor--for whom he expected to vote
he thus gives his views, on the great
issue OF the day. Mr.. Chapman belor ged
to the old Wing party, but it will be seen
is far enough from sympathizing with
those who still call themselves wings, but
carefully vote so as to help the side of pro-
slavery democracy.
" State elections, almost of necessity.
have an influence upon national polite (;
and there is one question somew'a at involv
cd in this election, on which wish to give
vote. though siugle vote counts but lit
tle will state. as briefly as | can, what
the question is, and my views in relation to
IT,.
10 the reply of President Buchanan to
several gentlemen of New Haven. with
whom he has had controversy, find the
following passage, referring to the time
when the Missouri compromise was re-
pealed, and the Kansas and Nebraska acts
were passed -
Slavery existed at that period, and still exists
IN Kansas. under the Constitution Of the United
stnte.. This point has at last been finally deci-
ded by the highest tribunal known to our laws.
How it could have been seriously doubted, is
mystery. If confederation of sovereign States
acquire a new territory at the expense of the COM
mon blood an treat ure, surely one set of the
partners nave no right to exclude the otho' rom
It's enjoyment by probihi.iug tnem from taxing
in,o IL -hpt-oever s recognised to be property by
the common Constitution. But when the peop e.
the b,ni f1s residents of such territory--procee
20 frame Sta'e Constitution, then 1t is their
right 10 decide the important question for them.
selves whether they will continue, modify, oI
abolish slavery"
But the same doctrine which holds tha
slavery xst.d in Kansas IN spite OF law
of Congress, must { course apply to nli
all our national territories. And | under
stand the doctrine, not only ct Mr.. Buclan-
an, hut of all the present leaders OF the
QPU1DcTHllC i srlN 10 y" 'i'dt wv ''0'''"'i''
of slavery rxist- in all our territories nnti
they are organized into States.
TIE doctrine is a new pue, and is contra
ry to the views of Il our state,men OF al
parties, until very recent period and
cannot help inquiring by what lAw SLAYER"
thus exists in ali our territories, and whaI
consequences. this new docrine leads TO.
Slavery Is not thing in the abstract
bat it Is, AS the logicins would say,
thing in the ncrete. The lnNltnupn tx
lists in tins country. by virtue ot local laws
Al its faculties are given, ana all lis lea
lures are moul died. by local laws
1ba master mas no power over MS saves
EXCEPT what the local Jaws give him.
Slavery does not, in any OF our 81 Vt
States, by any means, imply general, nn
Limited right Of property hat very linn
ed ard incomplete right. For example, ."
general right OF property III any
animal, implies the right to take
its life, But in none OF the slaves
States has the master right to butcher
his negro as if he were an OK. or sheep or
dog. In variou other respects MS power 1t
limit ID by law, and in some States 1t Is
much more limited, and the slave is entitled
to greater privileges, and greater degree OF
freedom than in other States. Hence slave
~ is very different thing in some OF the
States from what it is IN others, and the
legislature Of each State has power to make
the difference still greater. Property in II
dave consists of the aggregate of the powers
ehich the law OF the State giyss MS master
over HIM Such being lis nature, by what
laws does it exist in our territories
understand the Presidents answer to
this that by virtue Of the Constitution
al the United States, the laws of the several
States on this subject extend
over all our public domain. There Is in
daed no other answer left TO him His doc
trine can be made plain py stating plain
case. ...,
Suppose a STAKEHOLDER of South Carolina
take his slaves and removes into a territory.
He there VIII, ps woman, 10 the exercise OF
a y;oht of property given him by the laws
of his State, ard is prosecu ted for the as
sault and battery. Perhapsa Judge from
some Northern State is On the bench and
New England men are on the jury. TIE
yhipping with a slave whip is proved and
he makes his defence. He states no terri
torial Ia N nor law of Congress that author
lied the act hut refers the Court to the law
Of South Carolina BY the Presi lent's doe
trine that law is to prevail, ecause it IL one
ofthe constituent parts of his right Of pror
erty, ana lOllo"s nun lhto the tcGrltOrV' am
nuss be administered there. If he murder
a slave he may be punished for the murder
but the reason is that the law Of South Car
olina does not confer this power upon
master. -.....
lie may compel his female slave, thougl
she be church member, to live as his mis-
tress, or sell her to other men f r the sam
purpose, and the territorial laws canno
reach the lewdness HIS slaves may cohab
witAou.the institution ofChrsti n m rriag