Newbern weekly progress., 1860-12-04
A sTEpIN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

We find it stated in one of our exchanges
that a bill has been introduced in the Legisla
ture of Vermont to repeal the Personal Lib
erty" statute, of that State, and that the sub
ect was referred to special committee. This
is step in the right direction and would, If
acted upon, do more to quietsthe present poEt-
ical excitement than anything that can be at
tempted at the present time. But the Burling-
ton Verrnont) Sentinel does not regard the
success of the motion as probable, as VIII be
seen from the following article which we quote
from its columns.
REPEAL OF THE "PERsoNAL LIBERTY" AcT.-
We were pleased to notice in the proceedings
Of the legislature last week that Col. Thomas,
of West Fairlee, introduced bill into the
House to repeal the personal Liberty Act,
so called This act was passed some three or,
four wears ago by Black republican legislators
of this State, for the purpose OF nuitylng the
Fugitive Slave Law and rendering it's execution
| i,npracticable It denies the employment OF
ali States officers, the use of all public edifces
in aid of the master, and for attempting to Sc
cure his property, provides that he shall be
! fined 50. 600 and imprisoned in the State Prls-
| on at Windsor fifteen years. Yet the Black
Republicans of Vermont in the canvass just
| ended, have been protesting unbounded respect
for Southern rights declaring their patriotic
purpose to stand by the Union and the Constl-
tuition: and announcing that the election Of
Honest Old Abe" would quiet the slavery ag-
tation!
If they were honest in these declarations, let
them now come forward and attest it by rem
dering this act of justice to the South. But
they have not the manliness to do It. 1hey
have not the moral courage to face the demon
cftanatics1n they have raised and sent abroad
/ ~, noH old
to recian his constitutional rights. We hope
Col. Thomas may be able to bring these Black
/ Republican legislators up to a discussion OF hS
hIj-may be able to hold them strictly to the
issue and thus show them how they have kept
public faith with the South.
VIRGINIA TO "CAROLINA"- A"-GREETING
We had observed the defiant and dlsreSpect
full tone Of the Charleston Mercury towards the
brother States, and especially towards Virgin
!. when it was announced that Gov. Letchel
would recommend Convention OF the South
ern States. and we expected TO see proper
notice Of It in some of the influential journals
of the Old Dominion. We have not been dis
appointed as the following dignified and csus
tic re;,ly Of the Alexander Gazette will prove
The .Charleston Mercury will take nothing
hy its impudent aiuSion to Virginia. Oul
State under the advice of The conservative mel
of both parties-Democrats and Whigs-ano
by the resolution of its Legislature declined, a:
; il had right to do, and as It's best interests
demanded, the invitation Of South Carolina OF
a former occasion to go into a proposed Con
yention of the Southern States. It declined
respectfullv. 1t treated the Commissioner o
South Carolina with all honor and courtesy ant
respect It was an invitation from anothe
: State to us, produced by the toray OF a bald O
incendiaIies, fanatics, and assasslns upon 0@
territory and to the injury OF oar c1t7zenS-
Vir@inia chose to punish these ruthanS tlnde
e her own laws-w}ch she did to the entire eS
tirnation of the whole band-and to provid
. for her own safety without troubling othe
States. or callin5 upon them to avenge he
! wrongs or take up her quarrel. That she dl
l. well and wisely we have no doubt and all nor
O or and thanks to the patriots in the Leglslatu1
If who then directed her counsels and shaped nc
action in this matter! We have now no douf
that had that invitation been accepted the oil:
1 union movement would have commenced thei
e and Virginia been expected to head and lead
J., on Is it the failure to "hitch IN" Virgin
then which has produced the outbreak OF tn
Mercury and its disunion friends 7e0ac? Lt
II that be as it may, we repeat that the Mercur
f. will take nothing and make nothing by its e.
s position OF the feelings of the South Carolln
,s disuionsts towards Virginia and the other 30
der States On the contrary, Its remakS WI
D. d;sonst and turn away from all sympathy wit
r their course thousands of the citizens of Vi
+ ginia, who, admitting the injuries inflicted upo
= the South by Northern Legislatures and Nortl
. ern people, will not suffer patiently the arr
. CANT air, tone, and pretenslons now assume
y hy the South Carolina coteries.'
We people in North Carolina are used to II
Sc arrogant air, tone, and pretentions " me
OF toned in the last sentence above, and we T
Sc gret to say that the very frequency of its c
h. Ribition seems to have produced on some
I'd those towards whom, and whose State 1t n
n been exercised the remarkable effect OF ADM!
~ ton for sympathy with, and vindlcatlon OF
e. authors = VII Herald