Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-11-13

Nov. :.
AFTERNOON.
SryArE.-The bill laying n tax on the
county of Chittenden was taken up, and
on motion Of Mr.. Chittenden, the bill was
amended (making the tax one-half of one
per oent.) the amendment was adopted and
the bill passed.
HoUsE.-Mr. Deane OF Cavendish called
up bill relating to the capture OF slaves.
Mr. Little of Corinth presented minor
ity report--that the condition Of the slave
cannot be materially bettered by State le-
gislation, and that this bill would place
Vermont in false position, and in a col
lision with the Federal Government there
fore that the petitioner ought to have leave
to withdraw
Mr.. Prindle of Waitsfeld said Vermont
does not recognize slavery In any way. but
abides by the doctrine that personal liber-
ty is indefeasible. This is according to the
Constitution OF Vermont This doctrine
the people approve and a slave cannot be
tolerated in Vermont, except in violation of
the doctrine that liberty is an inalienahle
right The Constitution Of the United
States recognizes liberty one cannot be
deprived Of it without due process OF
law Slavery exists contrary to the Con
stitution. Therefore the friends ct the hill
do not assail the Federal Constitution, nor
that of Vermont. nor any constitutional act
OF Congress, The preamble to the Federal
Constitution recognizes liberty. Some linn
it that privilege to white people not so the
Constitution. There il no limitation to
to the right. But ~ tu the bill If Con-
gress chooses to send officers here to catch
slaves. IKE hill does not Interfere 1T slmp-
" provides that our people shall not engage
in this business. This is according to the
higher and divine laws of humanity and
Justice laws supreme, and admitted to be
by high legal authorities. We can lcSls-
late away neither our natural birth-right
nor the divine law. Admit, if you please
that the black man is unfit Tor freedom
even that he is better off as a slave than a:
freeman we derive no right on such
ground to convert the man into a chattel -
There is no power in the government, state
or national, so to override the laws OF Jeho
yah. lie had read in an old and interesting
book, of one who erected an IDOL and re
quired the people to bow down and worship
it. They refused and God approved that
refusal. In the days of the apostles, ty
rants imprisoned them ; but an angel iron
Heaven opened the prison-doors and broke
the bonds of those who were bound. ere
we placed in the condition of the slave, We
should not hesitate to adopt this bill bu
we look to it afar off.
Mr.. Deane of Cayendish said he woulC
do all within his power to aid the slave, hu
this bill he believed to be entirely unnccess
ary and uncalled for. If there was al
instance where any officer Of the State haC
engaged in slave catching, he would vott
to put a stop to it; but be would not vot'
for a law that can have no practical effect
nor be adopted as a rule Of action.
Dir. Needham said
This bill in no respect conflicts with the
fugitive slave law. 1t prohibits no mar
from acting as commissioner or marshal
but it does provide that no such man shal
thereafter be eligible to State office
| This is police regulation, not differing il
principle from regulations Of Southern
States apainst free colored men. VIII,
should we not protect our own e;.;---''
within our owns borders! We remembe
thata dignihed and honorable citizen 0
Massschusetts-yes a gentleman bearing al
the dignity of his Stats-wss driven from
the city Of Charleston for appearing t.
defend the rights Of the State and of fire.
citizens oe Massachusetts; and he woulc
now be the last man to deny to the State o
Vermont the right to protect her Owl
citizens within her own limlts.-lt no cas-
shall ever arise, most certainly this act vii
do no harm.
Mt. Little saw no necessity for this bill
and io Shi--.~,i .uaU ~ uUuid iuJurc rutur
| than benefit those for whom it is designed
| lie would not undertake to anticipate tn
Almighty, or to say whether slavery is a
once to be abolished, or whether by lon,
and natural process is it to lead to tn
elevation OF the black race here or in Africa
| He would not interfere either WITH tn
| Federal Government. 1t must exercise il
| own powers, and the State cannot cOnhic
with it. But it is said that this is a mcrt
police regulation nobody is prevented from
exercising federal Otiics-but he shall b
forever declared from State Office there
after. Why not contiscate his property
Suppose each State shall adopt tins notion
where is your Federal government Wher
the officers to exercise its laws Tbes
| questions show an attempt made to plac
Vermont in a false position towards tn
Federal government.
Mr.. Merrill suggested that the fret tw,
sections OF the bill lr.D.-'e acting IN th
arrest of fugitives from Justice.
Mr.. Needham said the bill ust be taker
asa whole.
Mr.. Marsh of Brandol could not agree
to the logic of the gentleman from COrinth
that we c.nnot leglelate in accordance with
the divine law. 1t is true that no case has
occurred to require this act ; but before
to-morrownight there may be half dozen
cases. 1t is wise to legisate in advance Of
such cases as have arisen in Massachusetts
and he was ready to fix a penalty upon any
citizen Of Vermont engaged in slave-catch-
ing.
Mr.. Bradley of Brattleboro said the
friends Of freedom have as much to fear
from their friends as from their enemies
We are not to put our feelings into the
statute book-that is the place for practi.
cal laws. But if we are to put our feelings
there, what is this bill Why, this bill
apple. to the case of apprentices escaped,
say from Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Needham protested that this is not
the intention of the bill.
Mr.. Bradley This is the legal effect OF
the bill. But take a black man Oar
laws give him the ri ht of counsel and Jury
trial on habeas corpus will you put penal
ty upon the counsel on the other side No,
one would be fair, honest he would have a
fair trial. A struggle is to come let us
not trust to save ourselves by crying Lord
Lord" Let US take course that we can
abide by on which we can stand firmly.
This bill is not leading us to such u course
it is not taking us to point where We can
stand firmly and defend our right success
fully.
On a motion to dismiss the bill the
previous question was Put
By ayes I49 to nays AZ, the main ues'ioh
as ordered.
The question was then put on the
dismissal ayes l2l, noes 66 SO the bill
was dismissed.
Nov. Q.
SENArH.-Re,o!uticn Mr.. Field
providing for a meeting of a joint assem-
bly, to elect Reporter of the Decisions of
the Supreme Court, on Tuesday morning
at 10 O'Clock. Adopted.
a large lumber OF bills, mostly of a pri-
vate chara ter were forwarded.
Resolution reported by Mr.. Wilson, from
select committee, relative to the work on
the state House, together with a pint re-
solution directing the. Commissioners to pre-
lpnt a plan fnr IA Hyura IN ha tlaraI p,r,