Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-11-19
REMARKS OF MR.. CHITTENDEN.

Nr. Cnltten0rn would content himself
with a brief statement of the reasons why he
should vote against the bill. The first was
that Its passage involved an open disregard,
an undisguised violation Of the provisions of
the constitution of the United States If
this position was well takcn-and Of that
each senator must Judge Tor himsef-it was
sufficient for him. and the consequences must
take care of themselves. The people knew
that the constitution was the bulwark Of
their rights and liberties, and they would re-
pudiate the act OF any man who should lay
his hands upon it to tear II down. The very
fact that while no one dared to question the
sincerity of the people OF the north In their
adherence Of every species OF tyranny and
oppression, they had always stood right upon
the record, and given to their political action
Il moral force which would be resistlcss in
the end, which. sncewe have been here, had
swept away almost the last particle Of power
and influence from the dccaying administra-
tion Of President Buchanan,
The erciusiro power of Congress over this
subject had been first asserted, by Judge
who could never be accused Of urostitutng
his Office to the service of any section or par
ty; whose purity of character. legal crudi
ton and judicial integrity no one, not suff-
ccntly reckless to disregard the truth, would
dare to question who, more than any other,
is regarded us the exponent OF the views OF
the free States upon the question OF slavery
who, at the last election, was Il promlnent
candidate for the nomination ior President
by the Republican party. lie referred to
Judge Mcl.anc. In the case OF Irigg VS..
! Pennsylvania, in which the question under
discussion came before the Court Tor the lrst
time, the exclusive power oi congress TO le-
/ ~. . Il. IL L.
glslate up the SUBJECT was asserted ny
Judge Mclane, IN an opinion that was con-
| elusive to the mind OF every rejecting man,
| Again. it was impolitc tor Vermont to
assume the position that 1t was the duty OF
the State to legslate 50 as to give effect to
this provision. The day was coming when
| the free people Of the North would cor troll
| both Houses OF Congress and the Executive
| When that time came, and the Fugitive
| Slave Law, and other kindred acte repealed
he did not wish Vermont to stand upon the
record committed in favor of State legislation
upon this subject. Let the South not be in a
! position to claim legislative aid from US.
He opposed this bill also, because 1t DID
not mean what it said-because 1t spoke
with double tongue. 1t protessed to be
an act in aid of the surrender OF fugitive;
| from service, when 1t was designed 10 PIE
vent such surrender such legislation wa'
hypocriticll, vicious, unworthy the Senate
of the State. Vermont asks for, would tole
rate, no such legislation as this Her peo
pie were not afraid to publish to the whole
world their views upon this or any question
lhey ana not ask 10 nave 'aese aent Views ron
ment a' ike tbis Much had been said abou
the public opinion that demanded the pas
sage OF this act-that was expressed IN th'
~ 4ha y,aui of tbe Senator from Rutland
was w about to order to instant execution ever,
opponent of this bill, He denied the pre-
misses upon wnlch such ;or conclusion III WA. wa
nnnt uu1ut chat % JawonJsd tbe nassare of an un
constitutional law. There never would b
as long as her mountains stood 1t was
slander TO assert the con.laly it Pep;