Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-04
Feedom in Slave States
From the Missouri Democrat.


From the Missouri Democrat
Among the signs of the times are expressions
recently uttered by Republican Members on the
floor of the Senate, which we do not feel at lib
erty to pass without notice Mr. Seward has
stated that he regards the great battle between
Freedom and Slavery as g over" inasmuch as,
before one year passes away, the Free States
will be to the Slave as nineteen to fifteen This
has been followed by remark from Mr.. Fessen-
den expressly dsavowing any intention or de-
sire to interfere with Slavery in the States
where it now exists, and others have asserted
the same thing in language equally as broad
1t is with deep regret we chronicle the use of
such terms by men in whose public conduct we
have seen much to admire heretofore, and must
deplore the tendency which betrays itself in cer-
tain quarters to give 80 great cause a purely
sectional aspect If Mr.. Seward wishes only
preponderance of Northern States in the con-
tederacy, he may well say the battle is over
and if Mr.. Fessonden desires to coniine the BEN
efts of free white labor to the section it now
holds, he may well say that he does not intend
to interfere with Slavery in the Slave States
but all must see that such positions, whether so
- intended on not, are sectional, selfish and re-
creant tor~human progress. Partisans and
they have won, but the people will not rest sat
isfed with the delights of any such Capus. To-
day. are struggling here in Missouri, a pres
ent Slave State, to give all its valleys to cult
vaien by free white citizens, relieved from
Slavery competition, and we are told that such
effort meets no indorsemsnt at the hands of men
who have heretofore held to a broad faith in the
progress Of free institutions. Very well, let it
hau VI III fhola md
may say with Nelson, when sighted by admiral
ity dispatches, " some day we shall have ga
ectte of our own" We are struggling now and
and here, not for theoretc preponderance Of
Free States in the Federal Government, not for
mere Territorial Liberties to guarantee free labor
expansion, but also to reclaim Missouri from
the disadvantages of slave system that is par
alyzng her energies and crippling her advance.
And we make bold to say, Furthermore, that our
sympathy and our service are not confined with
in the line that separates our State from ada
cent States; but that all efforts to confer like
benefits upon our commonwealths-to elevate
and encourage and protect the labor of the free
working citizens against the depression of SER
vile toll, will ever meet with our Jealous coop
Grafton. In Kentucky. in Tennessee, in Nlr-
gnia, in Maryland, the same movement in be-
half of free soil for the free labor of free yeo-
many is Transporting, and we hail it with en-
phatic congratulation. We know that it will
be said in vindication of the positions assumed
by Senator's, that Congress and the Federal Gov
eminent have no right to interfere in such work
and that the Republican party has no mission
to constrain the expansion of free principles IL
Slave States. This in part is true, but it does
not fully meet the case. Practically, Congress
is determining now the existence or non-exist
ence of Slavery in Kansas, under the shadow o
a dominant party, of an Administration and o
Supreme Court that do not recognize the pow
er of Congress over the question of Slavery ii
the Territories. 1t is the influence, the patron
age, the moral weight, the protection of thu
Federal Government that affects the subject even
in the absence Of direct intervention 1t ha
been 50 in Kansas; it is so in Missouri. Al
these are now thrown into the scale agains
free labor and for slave labor. Moreover, it i
the role of political organizations, national am
otherwise, to formulate distinct policies to Civ
momentum to great truths to achieve yictoric
everywhere in behalf of the right. To this en-
the extinction of Slavery in the central grain
growing Slave States is one of the first steps i
the path of progress step that is to be &C
complished through the instrumentality OF thci
own swelling populations doing the work, as
now being done in the territories and elsewhere
and sustaincdin so doing by an embodied pull
lie sentiment throughout the nation, call it pan
ty or whatever name suits, that will cheer an
uphold their selfadyancement.
1t is IDLE for leaders, in their isolation, to ie
more such manifest outgrowths. The shoot
show forth the vital sap in the trunk. Whether
therefore, present organizations may see fit
accept the appointed mission of chorishing fire
principles, extending protecting @gis over fire
emigration and vindicating the cause of fire
labor everywhere, as it moves from cline
cline, is matter of small consequence; for tn
masses of the people of the United States wi
not long want combination expressive of thes
great ends, whenever the same becomes needfu
1t is moreover thus, and thus only, that tru
nationality will take the place of mere section
alism, for it transfers the strife from a conhit
between States to contest for populations.
substitutes physical development, social elevi
ton, and home ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, for the issues
prejudice, repression and disunion which no.
obtain. 1t subordinates the Slavery quostio
to the popular will, and makes appeal to tina
will legitimate field of controversy.
The Free-Labor movement, as it has take
body and shape and form out of the late Teri
tory and incipient State struggles, as it ha
found its strength in colonization and its deve
opment in thickening settlement, us it hf
gathered in its hand the aspirations of the herr
ic, the hopes of the economic, the deyotions
the fanatical and the calculations of thespecul.
tive, as it has manipulated the tide of stream
ing thousands who pour forth from their hiv
and directed it here or there, so it will demon
nate the future of politics in despite of all opp
sition. Those who are with it may guide it
benefcent ends, and cheer the heart of patrio
ism with its miracles and its gospels those wi
are not with it will be crushed beneath its m
mcntum, and left upon the shore as bleachin
wrecks to mark a foolish anchorage.
Let us hope that the words we have comme
ted upon are hasty expressions which the spea
ers seeing the attitude they place themselves i
WILDE the first to retract or explain. lfnot '
ehall write with deep regret their withdraw
from the coming field of future victory, but
abandonment by parties or politicians shall
duce us to trail the banner that has been Il
furled in this State until Missouri shall be pc
sessed in fullness and entirely by free white abt
How is Emancipation Of the Blacks Pra
ticab1e 2--Mr, Blair's Speech.