Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-07
Abolitionism Explained---No. II.

We hear it asked how can the Federal Gov
ernment abolish slavery? My answer is, it can
abolish slavery by simply ignoring it. Slavery
is regarded as "a political institution. But if it is
political institution, it is only IL negative one,
or, at least, it depends on negation for its ex-
lstence. States do not usually enact it.. 1t
does nos exist by law, but desires the absence of
law. When it becomes established, Shareholders
find it necessary to have something which they
call law, not to make slaves property, for that
they do by force and without law, but to regu-
late their intercourse with each other in relation
to this property. Enact just laws and let them
be faithfully executed without any regard to
slavery and this property would cease be-
cause the laws would recognize the slaves only
as persons and protect them as such. Hence
the question should be not how can the General
Government abolish slavery? but how can it
Sare slavery? Under code of protecting laws
there would be but two ways to save it, One
would be to have the laws contain an express
proviso making them inapplicable to slaves
The other would be to have the Federal Courts
aud executive officers except the slaves from the
benefit Of the laws. Is there any authority for
saving slavery in either of these ways? Does the
Constitution warrant Legislative or judicial ex-
ceptions against any man Will you, Mr.. Ed
itor, and " R. L. P. - admit that they may be
made against you? No, neither of you, nor I.
Under our Federal system it takes two gov
ernments the Federal Government and a State
Government to protect man in all his rights
Of citizenship. 1t requires concurrence ofthe
same two governments to make man a slave.
IF either protects, the other cannot chattelze.
To make a slave does not require any positive
art of either government, but only an agree
ment to withhold protection from certain per-
sons If the Federal Government does not come
into the agreement, there will certainly BE- Fed
eral abolition, unless State abolition gets ahead
of it..
But If we admit the right of the Federal Gov
eminent to abolish slavery, it will become
" consolidated despotism Indeed Then
to avoid consolidated despotsm we must deny
the power of the Federal Government to make
protecting laws. Or if we admit the power
we must insist that those who most need the
protection, should be excluded from it We
must make sure of the cruelest kind of despo-
tsm to avoid its danger. With all due respect,
DR., Bailey, and in all fairness, this is essential
ly your position. and he will take a hard task
who undertakes to vindcate you against this
charge. |. SMITH.
LETTER FROM Hon. J, r. GIDpINGs.-We
kaow,of norway oeasyto comply with the re-
quest of our venerable friend Giddings, as to
publish the annexed letter. Waterman.
jefferson, Ohio, Aug u, 1858.
! My DEAR WALTON Thanks for your paper
containing some historical facts relating to our
friend Inland Hail. Few incidents of my life
are more distinctly marked upon my recollec-
ton His article in the National Intelligencer
was able and discreet. Its views of the const-
tutlonal right of the representative was power
| full | received and read it while at home, and
most heartily did | and my constituents thank
him for it.
| rejoice to see those curly friends of our
cause coming forward in public life, again to
labor for the reformation t, which have 30
long devoted my own energies. Everett and
Mattocks have passed to their reward. but Hall
and Slade survive. Remember me kindly to
them. Very truly,
j. R. CLIPPINGS.