Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-11
Slavery in Vermont,

The continual agitation of the Slavery ques-
ton, and the exhortation of the people to guard
we'll our own State from Slaverys cncroach-
ments, is considered by many to be without rea-
son or foundation. The subject has up to the
last session of our State Legislature, been treat
cd with indifference, and at that session was
kicked out of the House without a hearing.
Well, up to that time, the State was not ripe
for action The nelarous declaration Of the
President that Slavery existed by virtue of the
Constitution wherever under the jurisdiction of
the Federal Government it might be carried,
and the doctrine of the bred Scott decision in
all its fnaities, had not come to be fully COM
pretended the effect of the declaration of the
organs of the Executive in all the States, in ia
vor of allowing the Stakeholder with his slaves
to travel, sQjourn temporarily, and permanently
if he chose, in our midst, and that they should
exult in the time when Southerners with their
servants should make their summer residences
upon the islands and along the shores Of Lake
Champlnin and up the beautiful Connecticut,
bad not boel seen; the Southron had not held
his slaves during some weeks stay in Burlington
had not resided under the halo of our own
Capitol, with his slaves to do his bidding, not
hnooiny his right to Freedom aSouthern COM
pany had not purchased Lake Dunmore and,
bringing their slaves with them, dared to pol
lutte our soil with Slavery, rs at present they are
doing no Shareholder with his slaves resided
in Brattleboro, as there has during the past
year and none were known to have taken up
their residence in Norwich, with the colored
man obedient to his whip. Bat these facts can
now be plainly demonstrated. The bred Scott
decision carries Slavery to Vermont as well as
to Georgia and the people Of this State have
at last come to see that if they mean to be free
if they wish to Lave the State continue Ere,
State they must be up and doing. They have
come to see that. as Senator Seward said, thest
fine fields Of grain and growing corn, these fan
wales and farer hills must either be given up tt
Slavery, or else its power must be crippled, anc
it finally extingulshed where now it exists. Tit
percursory indication of an alarm in public sen
timcnt was discerned early in the year, and TIT
Administration papers set up their howl, soma
other conservative journals led with TRADE 0
abuse, while new conservative organ wa
started to hrow-beat, ntimdate and break VI
the "nawow, proserptive and bigoted notion
but the tide was setting against them, and thu
result is such as to encourage the heart of ever,
one who reveres the principles upon which our
Republican Government was established. Th
principles ayowed at our State Convention fount
an echo in every honest heart. The reiteratioi
of the same by our worthy Governor in his an
nual message showed that he was not unmind
full of the advanced step in the minds of thu
people. The thousands Of petitions headed b,
oar Senators and members of Congress, land iillct
up by the leading men as well as the mass Of thu
worthy people Of our State, shows all conclu
sivcly that they are awakened to the insidiou
attempts to render our former laws imperative
and establish Slavery in our very midst.
The matter is now in the hands OF iudiciou
Committee of the House Of Representatives, ant
we have the fullest confidence that the sublec
will be met promptly and efficiently.