Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-06

cordlng to true history, the slavcholding INFER
est in this country has not been disfavorcd in
terest; it has not been disfavored by the North
The North has cOncurred to bring in these five
slaveholdng States out Of newly acquired terri
, tory, which acquisitions We're not ut all in the
contemplation of the Convention which formed
the Constitution, OF of the people when they
agreed that there should be Il representation Of
three-ffths Of the slaves in the then existing
States.
Mr.. President, what is the result of this p
We stand here how, at least | do, for one, to
| say that, considering there have been already
five new slave holding States formed out of
newly acquired territory, and only one non
slave-holding State, at most, do not feel that
am called on to go further do not feel the
obligation to yield more. But our friends Of
the South say, "You deprive us of all our
rights. We have fought for this territory, and
you deny us participation in it, Let us con-
slider this question as it really is and since the
honorable gentleman from Georgia proposes to
leave the case to the enlightened and impartial
Judgment Of mankind, and as | agree with him
that it is a case proper to be considered by the
enlightened part Of mankind, let us see how
the matter in truth stands Gentlemen who
advocate the cause which my honorable friend
from Georgia, with so much ability. sustains,
declare that we invade their rights, that we de-
prive them of participation in the enjoyment
of territories acquired by the common service
and common exertions of all. Is this true p
How deprive? OF what do we deprive them ?
Why, they say that we deprive them of the
privilege of carrying their slaves, as slaves, into
the new territories. Well, Sir, what is the
La, oF +hot ~, ~
we deprive them of the opportunity Of going
into their acquired territories with their prop
erty Their property What, do they
mean by property" We certainly do not de-
prve them of the privilege of going into these
newly acquired territories With all that, IN the
general estimation Of human society, in the gen
eral, and common and universal understanding
|of mankind, IS esteemed property. Not at all.
The truth rs just this. They have. in their own
States peculiar laws, which create property in
persons. They have a system of local legisla-
tion on which Slavery rests while everybody
agrees that it is against natural law or at least
against the common understanding which pre-
walls among men as to what is natural law.
am not gong into metaphysics, for therein
[ should encounter the honorable member from
South Carolna,# and we should find no " end
in wandering mazes lost" until after the time
for the adjournment of Congress.
The Southern States have peculiar laws, ant
10y those laws there is property in slaves. Thu
is purely local. The real meaning, then, O.
Southern gentlemen, in making this complaint
is, that they cannot go into the territories o
the United States, carrying aouh them their ov,
peculiar local lar, a iaD 0h,ch creates propert,
in persons This, according to their own state
ment, is all the ground of complaint they have
Now here, think, gentlemen are unjust to
wards us, How unjust they are others will
Judge; generations that will come after us will
Judge. 1t will not be contended that this sor
of personal Slavery exists by general law.
exists only by local iaw. do not mean to deny
the validity Of that local law where it Is estab
lished but say it is, after all, local law.
is nothing more. And wherever that local law
does not extend property IN persons does no
exist.
WE'LL Sir, what is now the demand on tn
part Of Southern friends? They say, W.
will carry our local laws with us wherever w
go. We insist that Congress does us injustice
unless it establishes in the territory in which W
wish to 20, our own local law This DOMAIN,
for one resist and shall resist 1t goes upol
the plea that there is an inequality, unless per
sons under this local law, and holding propert,
by authority Of that law, can 90 into new ter
rtory and there establish that local lal0, to til
erclusion Of the general ialc. Mr.. President,
was Il maxim OF the civil law, that between
Slavery and Freedom, Freedom should Away
be presumed, and Slavery must always be prov
ed. If any question arose as to the status Q
an individual in Rome, he was presumed to b
free until Aeryas proved to be IL slave, becaus
lkssasa exception to the general rule
msoIhfe general law Of mankind
bed to be free, until
- es ownership i
proved an
any part of tn