Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-03-17

aspirations of the cavilers, could, within the
period of mere generation of men, become
SO perverted as to consider slavery blessing.
But let us suppose for moment that the
statement of the honorable Senator is true, and
that Virginia does occupy the position in which
he places her, what object does he expect to
gain by asserting that the sentiment Of his State
is almost universally different from what it was
when represented by her worthest citizens some
forty or fifty years ago? 1t has become so COM
mon at the present day to cut loose from the
landmarks and principles of the past, to dis
parage the worthless of former times by term
ing them old fogies, that he has perhaps fol-
lowed the same course, and expects to find APP
proval in the bold and reckless spirit of the
times. But he should remember that If he cuts
loose from the principles of the past, he cuts
loose from its glory and its prestige too; he
separates Virginia from all that once made her
great and powerful, and places her on no
higher level than is occupied by the Mormons
themselves; fer new and extravagant opinions
arc no more respectable when advocated alone
ny ulouNIH VII Siiit lllttfI lhtl NOulu Dt ny tut
polygamists of Utah or any other people 1t
is from the past that Virginia derives all her
glory and her power: As represented in mod
ern times by Mr. Mason, she is but a third rate
State, whose opinions in the councils of the ma
ton would have but little or no effect.
1t is plain to all the rest of the world, if not
to Mr. Mason, that the humiliating position in
which he has seen fit to place his State, is the
inevitable consequence of that wrong step
which the directors of public sentiment in Vir-
ginia took on the occasion of the Calhoun re-
bellion, in presenting their State as the mere
shield for the protection of slave institutions.
From that hour commenced the strife of resist
ing the development Of the Anglo-Saxon germ
of life its irresistible impulses by the jugglcry of
mere intellectual cunning, collision and policy.
Then commenced those efforts at magic by
which tac mere political tricks of the South
were to be made to counterbalance the mate
rial power and growth of the North. The
opening developments of the laws Of Nature
were thereafter to be restricted, repressed and
rendered abortive by the Vaccinations Of art.
For every miracle wrought by the one there
was perfect counterfeit miracle presented by
the other, and with so much success that the
magicians themselves were surprised at their
own craft and never seemed to reflect that the
proper end Of all this contest was to be, what
had already been exhibited to the world before,
the swallowing up Of their own rod OF power
by that other rod to which their futile iugglery
was opposed. And why is it that under the
light of the present day Virginia will not oc-
knowledge her false step and hasten to correct
it? Why does she still persist in making her.
self the champion of All institution which is so
unsuitcd to the original character Of her people
and to their interests moral, geographical and
politcalP Is it because she is already so far
gone that she takes counsel from wounded
pride rather than from the dictates of sound
judgment? Is she indeed SO benightened by
the effects of slavery that she admits into her
systems of public policy the same little passions
that govern us as individuals? Such is not the
spirit suitable to the enlightenment of the pres
ent day. 1t is passion, not reason that identi-
fics slavery with honor and its restriction with
disgracc-its propagation with blessing and
Its dlmlnuton with curse. II Is pIt me nav
ing of the disappointed and chagrined magi-
clan, not the cool and elevated calculations of
the statesman.
1t has become very fashionable in these lat
ter days to hear politicians of the common
stamp, such as Mr. Mason is, while speaking of
popular action in the territories, declare that
the people have or have not right to introduce
slavery there, as if the people had a power over
moral questions, and had right to institute
murder, theft, adultery and slavery as a law of
the land. No people have any more right to
enact that slavery shall exist in new country
than they have 20 say that murder and robbery
shall exist there 1t is just as contrary to the
basis and character of our civilization in the
one case as it is in the other. Our national
constitution, it is well known, is based upon the
habits and modes of thought arising from the
common law and the christian religion, both of
which teach us that though there are evils which
are to be borne and tolerated for a while, yet
these evils are never to he encouraged cher
ished, or fostered. There are certain axoms
which lie at the foundation of all Christian law,
and the prohibition of slavery is one of them.
J. W. p.