The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-12-10
The Alleged Hostile Legislation 10 tn
south Considered.

The Alleged Hostile Legislation 10 tn,
Routh Considered.
The State Of Vermont has recently
adopted certain legislation analogous to thu
Personal Liberty Bill of this State, anc
intended furthermore, to prevent under
any circumstances, slayeholders from So
journing in that State with their slaves. =
Some of the bred Scott organs effect grc';
jollity over what they are pleased to con-
slider this rather ridiculous affair. These
journals, however, have most probably for.
gotten that the Washington Union, in an
article which we have republshed in these
columns, set up an express claim to the
right of the STAKEHOLDER to the transit with
his slaves through Vermont or any other
free State, and every one can see that this
is but the next step in advance of the
bred Scott decision, which asserts the
right of the STAKEHOLDER TO introduce his
slaves into all the +, deral Territories
Indeed, the ground upon which this
right" is affixed TO the Territories, will
equally apply to the States. 1t is claimed
rs a right under the Federal Constitution
which limits even the sovereignty of the
State
But suppose there was neither provoca-
ton nor necessity for such a law as prac-
teal measure, still rs an authoritative and
deliberate exposition of public sentiment,
upon an aggression already menacing state
rights, it could not fail TO be useful IF
the slavc-propagandists at the Sonth, and
their Democratic allies at the North desire
to take this advance step indicated by the
Presidents official paper, they will now
knew, 60 far as Vermont is concerned, Just
how it will be met, and from the action
in the case of this State, they may infer
the general public sentiment in the Free
States upon the same question. If the
STAKEHOLDER shall not attempt TO pass
through Vermont with his slaves, the leg
islation referred to will do him no harm.
IF he should attempt to pass through, it
would show that the law was we'll devised
and Of practical utility. We should infer
from the comments of our Democratic
contemporaries, that they arc quite pre-
pared to concede the right Of the slave-hol-
der to introduce and hold his slaves in q
Free State
But our Southern friends may object
to this legislation as an expression Ct hos
tile feeling. Disspassionately considered,
it is bu; reiteration of the provision,
with penalty for its violation attached,
Of the clause incorporated into almost, if
not quite every State Constitution at the
North, prohibiting slavery within the
States. They do not allow the citizens of
their own State to hold slaves within its
limits, and why should the people of an
other section of the Union expect to be
more favoredy This claim put forth on
behalf Of the shareholders is really asking
for their institution, which is local and
municipal i'll its character, special privel-
cges in the free States, such as the citi-
zons Of those States cannot themselves en-
JOY. So that the mere complaint by the
and their northern allies, that
this is gratuitously hostile legislation, in
tended as an exhibition Of inimical feel
isg, has no foundation in fact.
But the South might in this regard well
consider the example she has set. She
asks us to permit her to bring her slaves
North, but she does not allow us 10 take
our opinions South, unless they are favora-
Die to the peculiar institution, or are sup.
pressed by US There is no freedom for
press at tho South expressing anti-slavery
opinion. Women have been imprisoned /
for teaching slaves 70 read. Inofensive
men driven ou, for expressing sympathy |
with the Republican party. Booksellers
nave ben expelled for selling Uncle Toms
cabin, and clergyman imprisoned for
circulating it. Another minister who in
lie pulpit preached against an instance of
ltrocious brutality to slave, was compell-
d to rclinquish his pastoral connection
Jolorcd scamcn who may De residents of
Northern States, are imprisoned when
ouchinS at Southern ports, aud in one
instance Il distinguished representative Of