Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-11-12
LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT.
REMARKS OF MIR. NICHOLSON ON
TIE FUTTIINE NIA y bIIL,
IN SENATE TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 2 1853

~ SENATE ! l hNllA l. NON IhblN y lNin.
Mr.. Nicholson, in q very elaborate argu-
,,. -, ID. 81 ,Lo c,uo,,;.,,
"'e".' "'""S ''iUi9 Hi'N0 'H0 i''i""i"6
points
Mr. Nicholson would not rise to say one word upon the
bin II it could pass without comment II was open for
iis,i s,d \, ti, ,,irJ c,,,,i,d ..,at merits aud
having introduced il he fet bound 10 say few words n
BE-, support MANY have questioned no doubt. whether
hcrc be- any occasion for any new law upon this suhicct
and up1u This point be- f bound 20 explain his position
frt. hc would say have law now that In any way
necessarily effects The objects of this bill lie could not
think that State had nothing do in executing the
provisions of tho constitution Of the United States The
position of Vermont upon this subject and the position
Of the American people, who have questioned ,hc power
of the Federal government laws upon this SUBJ
ieef IL rrb a., f attrart our attention In seemed 10
linn that we sboud a.seri our right of interpreting If
th, section N thc constitution relating 10 hipitiycs as
,tu @ , ,b" s i,bcy c,t ,oo, tif ,r,rnd
within which ,vo ontrefch onr.clvcs or ryc nn those
points we have ondcayorcd 90 make in behalf Of freedom
10 NAV be said that v nced mo- such law and hc would
bat if we cre ip ,lr.r II would be- true.
tnt En- vrrot ,qio sot bcr t4nie Of liberty 80 bieb
t is time o rive suitable effect 20 h,r constitution .ud
laws Strio hr stride slavery ha. id,inccd against -
,rt, In Now or fb, s,.gre ,,, r hin, slave frv.rrf
f.. power and s omsf thr decision in thc Drcd Scott
case and the poudine issue ir he Lemon case
and OF tbo fact that tbc firuds of rreetou arc str-
giiur in ri, defence b. i incumbent upon Vermont to
r.is, b., .,,,i,r5 bihr and XIV, il rn,, No mas,
lt,e irtitid,aI opniaf. luf v,o arc bound rropcry
To- represent the wilt Of thc nroplc NJ me state W. rrp
resent nconlc whose sa.,ontbHfie. are Keen upan
mi. abi,1t. ard c ool o, ,,.stcptly re.pend
to tts,airo m nstir r,ri il, ,,,r ms by tbc reSric
l. this su. law A. fho ,aor. of Vermont call unou
enact had heard if said that Of a.
and '5l uoro rood enough bit DO who had never held
ballot iu hi, fu1crs which was stained with pro-aycrv
would NOT v1tc r tbero If tev were now before the
Senate One yoat trouble NJ those laws was that thcv
hear the name Of s,r, and he would not have tho stat
utcs OF Vermont contain word tlat tmd ever remind
his children Of o existence of ech "a labolea svtein
MS .l4vcrv Auoficr re4son WA. that these acts aaurt
aroiJ terms W 5e6,ore ,to pro,iding dipnised ard
adeouatc sanctions
Thc state by those laws that collateral trial
by iry Shall be- given hui In case of thr defeat she
comes forward 20 spiile thr bills like defeated partvi
slavery claims 10 bear the titlc Of an CONSTITUTION
bu his assumption T.. ono of ts blackest cnormiti,s-
You might AS vc1 e,l murder arson and adultery am in
stitutian as 10 give that potent name To slavery. T.
was mover established bv law but is state Of war and
ms victims are prisoners Of war
which cases rngl arise providcd fr ia i. bnl fu-
utvc from sre may bc arra,c ed pon nlplc oharrc.
IN foi,iyc r mi eb0ii ,o, f r,nei,isd H., ar,
er 4r,e proeceainr cnoritv that cannot b, or-
dproJ if it he ro., f ti f,ri o brsaL tfro,gb Tho
hiu o- fanatic but a. calm defender Of rght aud
Justice Hc claimed for Ills law no aauntnu words and
was d,.irous OF having b. boar nome It's aim was not
intimidation but i.rr It- terms nrc those used in ihc
Constitution ofho United States "fcitvc from service"
and Fugitive. from iusiiac and lre n purpose wide
m tho poles are asunder The doctrines which arc SUBJ
icct nn, 20 DC forced unou MS age such demand in
vpsipati1u and earnest inouiry. How much respect
should wo have for such ttaclmg as that which
iu these last 3ays has given Hre TO such an iufl-
NOUS til as that known ass the Fugitive Slave
Act. and which is even agitatng the country,