Litchfield enquirer., 1860-03-29
Who Have Changed i?


 before the country, are not only in unison with those of the Fathers of the Republic, and the most eminent statesmen of later days, but that until very recently, the voice of this State on this subject, has been nearly unanimous. The records of our Legislature, year after year, show that Wings and Democrats have, with great unanimity, expressed their unqualified opposition to the extension of Slavery over the Territories of the United States. For example, in 1s49' only eleven years ago, the following resolutions were passed unanimously in the Senate, and by a vote of 190 yeas to 2 nays, in the House o' Representatives
 Hesolyed, That Congress has full constitutional power to prohibit Slavery ill the Territories of the United States by legislative enactment, and tha, it is the duty of Congress to pass, without unnec esssry delay. such strict and positive laws will effectualy shut out Slavery frcm every portion Of the Territories of New Mexico and California.
 ResoLred. That the existence of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia, is a na tional disgrace which Congress has full constitn- tional power to remove, and that Congress .houlI use this power without unnecessary delay.
 Resolred, That this General Assembly. for and in behalf of the people of Connecticut. hereby publicly and Sulelnnly avow their determination to adhere to and abide by the compromises con tained in the Constitution of the Unitet! States relating to Slavery to the letter and in the spirit of the same but that they will oppose, in all constitutional and proper ways. any and ever! measure of compromise by which any portion oi our Free Territory may be. given up to the en- crOacbments of Slavery.
 Resolved That this General Assembly, for and in behalf of the people of Connecticut, while s,l emnly declaring their purpose to use every con stitutional and proper effort to resist the Exten sion of Slavery into the Territories and the fur ther extension of it's influence into the councils of the Federal Government. do as soiemnly avow their attachment to the Ftdrr1 Union, and their de termination to aand by its maegrdy at all hazards, to the last moment
 Resolred That in resisting the extension of Slavery we do not make sectional issue, or op- posc the interests of the people of the South, in. asmuch as very large majority of the white in habtants of the Slaveholiing States are non Shareholders. who need and should enjoy the privilege of emigrating to the new territories. without being followed by an institution which is every way hostile to freedom and which 50 effect nally contributes tn degrade the toil and debase the life of the free laborer.
 Resoived, That our rScnatorsin Congress are here by strictly instructed, and that our Representa- tivrs in Congress earnestly requested. to vote in every stage of the question in favor of the in corporation of the fundamental principles Lfr sonion ordinance of 17s7 into any acts of Congress esta biishing Territorial Governments over New Mexico and California to vote always and in every stage of the question: for the abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District of Co., lumba md to vote alrays, and n trery sfaSe of h question: ogana the admission e another Savtholding Sate into the Federal Union.
 These resolutions go quite as far, to say the least, as those of any Republican statesmen of the present day. Among those who voted for them, were the late Gen. Francis Bacon of this village, then in the Senate; and Messrs o. S.. Seymour and Christopher Wheeler, members of the House from this town.
 In 1850, the Hon. Thomas II. Seymour being Governor, and Judge Seymour Speaker of the House, and the Democratic party in majority in both Senate and House, the following resolu- tions were passed:
 STATE OF CONNECTICUT
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY May Session, 1850.
 Whereas the people of Connecticut have here tofore through their Senators and Representatives in General Assembly convened. solrmnly and de liberately avowed their purpose to resist, in all constitutional and proper ways, the extension of slavery into the national territories and the ad mission of new slave States into the Federal Union and also to seek. in a peaceable and con- stitutional way, the abolishment of the slave trade. and of slavery in the District of Columbia and whereas, the important questions now before the country touching these make it desirable that these convictions and determinations should be re-afirmed in the most solemn and public man. ner Therefore
 Resolued, That Congress has full constitutional power to prohibit slavery in she Territories of the United States by legislative enactment, and that it is the duty of Congress to pass without unnec cssary delay, such strict and p.sitive laws will effectualIy shut out Slavery from every portion o these territories.
 Resolued. That Congress has likewise full con- stitutinnal power to remove Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia and that this power should be at once exercised for the imme diate prohibition of the Slave Trade therein, and for the abolition of Slavery upon such terms of compensation to the shareholders as may be just and reasonable
 Resolued, That in the name of the people of Con- nccticut, we do hereby soIemnly reaffirm our un. alterable attachment to the Federal Union, and our infexible determination to adhere to our na tional Constitution, and abide by all its compro misses to the letter and in the spirit of the same : while. with equally unaltcrab!e and inflexibIe purpose, deterred by no threat of disunion, we shall forever orl"Se any and every measure ot compromise. by which any portion of the territo now belonging to or which may hereafter be acquired by the United States, shall be given ur to or left unprotected against the encroachments of slavery.
 Such were the sentiments of both Whir and Democratic Legislators in Connecticut, ten years ago. Now, orators from Georgia and Virginia are perambulating our State, to dis prove these sentiments, and to convince Con necticut freemen that Slavery is an institution which exists of right in all the territories of the United States. WHO HAS CHANGED?
 About the time these resolutions were passed, their sentiments were endorsed by those illustri- ous statesmen, HENRY CLAY and DANIEL WEE. srER, as follows:
 Coming as do from Slave State. it is my solemn. deliberate ard we'll nstured deternina- tion that no power, no earthly power, shall com pei m. to vote for the positive introduction of Slavery, either North or South of that line''
 HENRY CLAY
 "So long as God allows tho vital current to flow through my veins, will never, never never, by word or thought, by mind or will, aid in sub. hitting one rood of Free Territory to the ever lasting curse of Human Bondage
 HENRY CLAr
 "1 would never consent, and never have con sented, that there should be one ftmt of Slav. Territory beyond what the original thirteen States had at the formation of the Union. Never, never" DANIEL WEBSTER
 s@- The Hutchinsons have arranged Con- certs for the next week as follows:
 At Litch6eld, Thursday, March 29th.