Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-02

AN'''''- 'e'Vuiu VI tdO polIllVdi OoaioS VI oiO
now prominently before the people of this State,
twenty years ago. 1t shows that he was right
then, and from what information we have gain
ed we learn that he has steadily progressed in
the right direction since. As a triumphant cleo
ton awaits him on the It'll, we shall anxiously
look for the appearance of his message, conf
IDENTIFY expecting to see the indication of those
advanced steps 50 eminently necessary for the
maintenance of that high position now demand
ed of Vermont upon the all-absorbing. questions
of the day
Inland Hall.
There has appeared, recently, highly com
plimentary notice of the Republican candidate
for Governor, from Ex-Governor BRIGGs, of
Massachusetts, communicated to the press, we
venture to say, by Gov Fletcher of Vermont
For those who remember the faithful services Of
Mr.. Hall in Congress, this was entirely umec-
essary For those who are too young to be ac-
quainted with them, this honorable testimony
is valuable. We have observed occasionally an
expression of suspicion that Mr.. Hall is too
conservative for the high-toned sentiments of
the Republicans of the present day-just as if
he Is not the true Vermonter that he is, dwell
ing beside the very altar Of patriotism, and
taught and honored by those who were priests
at the altar. The men who doubt Inland Hall
do not know him they have forgotten his
position in Congress, where he did take an ac-
tive part, and forgotten also that his more re-
cent public positions, on the bench of the Su-
preme Court, at his bureau in Washington, and
as Commissioner in California, properly and
necessarily prevented him from any active par
ticipati6H in the politics of the State
The publication of the voluntary testimony
of Governor Briggs, 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 in the dividing line be-
tween the contending political parties, and mem
bers of Congress, were not elected with special
reference to it. Hence, whenever any question
involving slavery did arise, it was met by MEM
bers Of Congress according to the spontaneous
suggestions, of their own sentiments, and their
convictions as to what would be the sentiment
Of their constituents therefore we may be sure
that their course, whatever it was, is far bet
ter test of their real principles and sentiments
than any professions made at this day, or any
present course, dictated by the Instructions, on
the creed of the party they serve. In short,
public men then acted upon their olcn principles,
and they were more the 0riginators Of public
sentiment than the servants Of it. Adams, Gid
dings, Briggs, Slade, Hall, and their associates,
IN promptly resisting the pro-slavery spirit
that first began to show itself IN their day
where more truly the founders of the Repub-
lican party and the apostles of its faith tl.an
any Of those who have since followed their les
sons and given to their principles and organized
party support. In their day, the slavery qucs'
ton for the most part arose only as an incident
not as the engrosslng topic Of the times : tap
peared in questions relating to the Districts Of
Columbia, the admissions of new states (Arkan
sas particularly the right of petition, and tho
freedom Of debate, and Of the press and or
every one of the questions Mr. Hall was founC
} side by side with those associates who became
illustrious as the leaders of the people in the
cause of freedom. His position was not sub
ordinate one but woTthy of the representative
of free people-worthy of genuine Greer
Mountnin Boy. In 1856, John G. Calhoun
presented and urged his famous project for sub
sidlzng the Post Office Department for the ex
elusive benefit Of slavery, by excluding +" incen
diary publications ~ from the mails-the gross
est assault that ever had been made upon tho
J freedom Of the press, not excepting even thu
alien. and sedltion laws. A majority of The
House COMMITTEE favored the principle Of thu
: bill, and failed to report it, only because o
a difference of opinion as to the details. Be-
fore this difference had been developed, anC
when it was supposed q majority report woulc
be made the minority prepared an able report
against the measure. That minority consisted
of Hiland Hall of Vermont and Geo. N. Briggs
of Massachusetts. Mr.. Hall drew the report
which was published in the National Intell
: genco of April 10th, 1886, and republshed ii
} our columns shortly afterwards. Thus it will
be seen that Mr.. Halls position was not only
J right, but he was a leader in the right.
At the same session arose the question Of the
admission of Arkansas, when John Quincy Ad
ans offered protest against an article in the
Constitution respecting slavery. Mr.. Hall vo
ted for that protest, aandRalso against the bill
There We're but few x|n0 dared thus to avov
\ themselves against slavery. As a specimen Of
tose times, we give the notice Of this question
tin Tile Senate from the Waterman Of April 10
1885
ARKANSAS.
:" The bill for the admission of Arkansas into
, the Union has been passed by the Senate, ayes
3l--noes, Messrs, Clay, Knight, Porter, Prem
tss Robinson, Swift, 6. One objection to re-
reiving Arkansas was that its constitution pro
vided for the papauity Of slarery.'
} As in the Senate both of Vrmont's Senators
were found among the faithful and fearless
few, 50 was Mr.. Hall found in the House.
I In March, 1912. in the House Of Represen
tatiyes, occurred the most violent outrage by
: the slavocracy Of those days, exceled but il
these last times by like outrages on a large
scale-depriving a whole people, as in Kansas
, of their most sacred and political rights
Joshua r. Giddings of Ohio had offered the fol
lowing resolution, to wit
Resolved, That prior to the adoption of oul
l Federal Constitution, each Of the seyera
: States composing this Union exercised full anc
exclusive jurisdiction over the subject of Slave
ry within its own territory, and possessed ful
power to continue or abolish 1t at pleasure.
Resolved, That by adopting the Constitution
5 no part of the aforesaid powers We're delegated
r to the Federal Government, but were reserved
by, and still pertain to, each of the severa
States.
Resolved, That by the 9th section of the Is
D article of the Constitution, each of the severa
States surrendered to the Federal Government
all jurisdiction over the subjects OF Commence
and Navigation upon the high seas
: Resolped,. That Slavery being an abridgmen
of the natural rights Of man, can exist onl,
by force of possible municipal law, and i
necessarily confined to the territorial jurisdic
ton Of the power creating H.
E ResOlued, That when ship belonging to tn
citizens Of State of this Union leaves TIN
!, waters and Territory of such State, and enter
/, upon the high seas, the persons on board ceas
, to be subject to the Slave laws of such State
and thenceforth are governed in their relations
with each other by, and are amenable to, tn,
laws of the United States
Resolued, That when the brig Creole, on he
+ late passage for New Orleans, left the Terrific
rial jurisdiction of Virginia, the slave laws o
that State ceased to have jurisdiction over tn
persons on board said brig, and such persona