Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-20
Inland HALL.

intie mas appeared, recently niRniN com
pNmcntary notice Of the Republican candidat
for Governor, from Ex-Governor BaIoos. O
Massachusetts,, communicated to the press
we venture to say, by Gov FLErcHrR o
Vermont l'or those who remember thu
faithful services Of Nh HAIL in Congress
This was entirely unnecessary for those wit
who are too young to be acquainted witt
them, this honorable testimony is valuable
We have observed occasionally an expression
/ Of a suspicion that Mr.. HALL is too consorv
ativo for the heightened sentiments of thu
Republicans Of the present day-iust as if h,
/ is not the true Vormontcr that he is, dwell
( ling beside the very altar of patriotism, anC
taught and honored by those who were priest,
at the altar The men who doubt HuANI
/ HAN do not know him; they have forgotten
| his position in Congress, whore he did tax,
/ an active part. and forgotten also that hi.
more recent public positions, on the bench O
/ the Supreme Court, at his bureau in Wash
/ ington, and as Commissioner in California
properly and necessarily prevented him from
any active participation in the politics Of tn,
State.
The publication Of the voluntary testimony
Of Governor BRrocs, in honor Of his old
friend and associate, has reminded us Of the
position and course of Mr.. HALL in Congress.
At that time, slavery was not the dividing
line between the contending political parties,
and members OF Congress were not elected
with special reference to it. Hence. when
ever any question involving slavery did
arise, IL was met by members of Congress
according TO the spontaneous suggestions OF
their own sentiments, and their convictions as
to what would be the sentiments of their
constituents therefore we may be sure that
their course. whatever it was, is far better
test Of their real principles and sentiments,
than any professions made at this day, or any
present course, dictated by tho instructions
or the creed Of the party they serve. In
short, public men then acted upon their oirn
principles, and they were more the origuoiou
Of public sentiment than the SERVANTS of it.
Adams, Giddings, Briggs, Sladc, Hall, and
their associates, in promptly resisting the
pro-slaycry spirit that first hogan TO show it,
self in their day were more truly the foun-
dcrs of The Republican party and the apostles
of its faith, than any of those who have since
followed their lessons and given to their
principles an organized party support. In
their day, the slavery question for the most
part arose only as AN incident, not as the en-
crossing topic Of the times: it appeared in
questions relating TO the District of Column
bia, the admission Of now states ARKANSAS
particularly,) the right Of petition, and the
freedom of debate and Of the press and on
every one Of these questions Mr. HALL was
found Side by side with those associates who
became llustrious as the leaders of the peo-
pie in the cause of freedom. His position
was not a subordinate one, but worthy of the
representative of a free people--worthy Of a
genuine Green Mountain Boy In 1886,
JoHN G. CALHOUN presented and urged
his famous project for substituting the Post
Office Department for the exclusive benefit of
slavery, by excluding "incendiary publica-
tons from the mals-the grossest assault
that ever had been made upon the freedom
of the press, not excepting even the alien and
sedition laws. A majority of the House
Committee favored the principle Of the bill,
and failed to report it, only because of diff
ference Of opinion to the details. Before
this difference had been developed, and when
it was supposed majority report would be
made, the minority prepared an able report
against the measure That minority consist
ed Of HILAND HALL of Vermont and Gro
n. BHIGGs Of Massachusetts Mr.. Hall
drew the report, which was published in the
National Intclligencer 81 April TO, 1896, and
republshod in our columns shortly thereafter
Thus it will be seen that Mr.. HALE posi-
ton was not only right, but he was leade,
in the right.
At the same session arose the question o.
the admission of Arkansas, when JOIN QUGN
cY ADAMS offered protest against an orticl,
in the Constitution respecting slavery, Mr.
HALL voted for that protest, and also agans
the bill There were but few who dared
thus to avow themselves against slavery AS
a specimen of those times. we give the notice
Of this question in the Senate, hom the Watch
man of April 10, 1886;
ARKANSAS
" The I'LL for the admission Of Arkan sas into the I'm
ion has been passed by the Senate, ayes 3l--nors
Mcssrs Clay, Knight Porter, Preuts., Robbins swift
O. One objection 10 receiving Arkansas thar ii
constitution provided for the poprimty Of siaccrg'
As in the Senate both Of Nermont's Sena.
tors were found among the faithful and fear
/ less few, was Mr.. HALL found in Tn,
House.
In March, 1912, in the House Of Reproscn
tatives, occurred the most violent outrage b.
/ the slayocrocy Of those days, excelled but il
/ these last times by like outrages on large
scale-dopriyins whole people, as in Kan
sas, OF their most sacred political rights
JOSHUA h. GlDDINGs OF Ohio had offered th,
following resolutions, to wit:
Resoired That prior to the adoption Of our Fedora
Constitution each Of the several States COMPOSING hi
Union exercised full and exclusive Jurisdiction over IA
SUBJECT 81 slavery within its territory, and pOsscss
fan power 10 contnne or abolish It at pleasure.
hsofttd, That by adopting the Constitution, mo- plJ
OF the Aforesaid powers tolerated the Fedora
Government but were reserved By, and still pertain t.
/ each 81 the several States.
hesoiref That by the Sth section Of the ls article
NE Constitution, each of the several States sureudero
no