Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05

out, and on the lava and ashes, and squalid SEQ
riae of ole eruptions grow the peaceful olive,
the cheering vine, and the sustaining conn.,
Such in my opinion, will prove to be the fate
OF the present sectional excitement, should
those who wisely seek to apply the remedy, con-
tinue always to confne their efforts within the
pale Of the Constitution. II this course be pur
sued, the existing agitation on the sabject of
domestic slavery, like everything human, will
have its day and give place to other and less
threatening controversies. Public opinion in
this country is all powerful, and when it
reaches dangerous excess upon any question,
the good sense of the people will furnish the
corrective, and bring it back within safe limits.
Still to hasten the suspicious result, at the pres
ent Crisis, we ought to remember that every ra-
tional creature must be presumed to intend the
natural consequences of his own teachings.
Those who announce abstract doctrines b.
versive of the Constitution and the Union T. st
not be surprised should their heated partis.. ;
advance one step further. and attempt by Vi:
lence to carry these doctrines into practical !.
feet. In this view Of the subject it ought never
to be forgotten that, however great may have
been the political advantages resulting from
| the Union to every portion of our common
country, these will all prove to be as nothing
ouOulu Vic llu16 6VGr dEFlN6 Wl6H ILl6Y cannot
be enjoyed without serious danger TO the per-
sonal safety Of the people of fifteen members of
the coLfederacy. If the peace of the domestic
Preside through these States should ever be in
vaded-if the mothers of families within this
extensive region should not be able to retire 10
rest at night without suffering dreadful appre-
tensions of what may be their own fate and
that af their children before morning-it would
ho - 70 10 L. Al -
cal benefits which result to them from the
Union
Self-preservation is the first instinct of ma.
ture and therefore any state Of society in
which the sword is all the time suspended
over the heads of the people, must at last be-
come intOlerable. But | indulge in no such
gloomy lorebodings On the contrary, | firmly
believe that the events at Harpers Ferry, by
causing the people to stop and reflect upon the
possible peril to their cherished institutions,
will be the means, under Providence, Of allay-
ing the existing excitement and preventing fu-
ture outbreaks of similar character. They
will reso I've that the Constitu ton and the Union
shall not be endangered by rash counsels, know
ing that, should the silver cord be loosed or
the golden bowl be broken Y at the Fountain
human power could never reunite the sea tered
and hostile fragments.
Icordially congratulate you upon the final
settlement by the Supreme Court Of the United
States of the question of slavery in the Terrific
ries, which bad presented an aspect SO truly for
mdable at the commencement of my admins
tration. The right has been established of ev
cry citizen to take his property of any kind, in
GLIDING slaves, into the common Territories be-
longing equally to all the States of the confed-
nrao and IN hau kbo.o H.
federal constitution. Neither Congress nor u
Territorial Legislature nor any human power
has any authority to annul or impair this YES
ted right. The supreme judicial tribunal of the
country, which is a coordinate branch of the
government has sanctioned aud affirmed these
principles of constitutional law, so manifestly
Just in themselves, and so well calculated to
promote peace and harmony among the States.
1t is a striking proof Of the sense of Justice
which is inherent in our people, that the pro-
perty in slaves has never been disturbed, to my
knowledge, in any of the Territories Even
throughout the late troubles in Kansas, there
has not been any attempt, as am credibly in
formed, to interfere in single instance with
the right of the master. Had any such at
tempt been made, the Judiciary would doubtless
have afforded an adequate remedy. Should they
fail to do this hereafter, it will theu be time
enough to strengthen their hands by further
further legislation. Had it heen decided that
either Congress or the Territorial Legislature
possess the power to annual or impair the right
to property in slaves the evil would be intolera-
BILE. In the latter event, there would be q
struggl gle for majority of the members of the
Legislature at each successive election, and the
sacred rights Of property held under the Federal
Constitution would depend for the time being
on the result The agitation would thus be
rendered incessant whilst the Territorial condi-
ton remained, and its baneful influence would
keep alive dangerous excitement among the
people of the several States.
Thus has the status OF Territory during the
intermediate period from its first settlement until
it shall become a State, been irrevocably fixed
by the final decision of the Supreme Court.
Fortunate has been this for the prosperity of the
Territories, as well rs the tranquility of the
States. Now, emigrants from the North and
the South, the East and the West, will NEE in
the Territories on common platform, having
brought with them that species Of property best
adapted, in their own opinion, to promoie their
welfare. From natural causes the slavery
question will in each case soon virtually settle
itself; and before the Territory is prepared for
admission as a State into the Union, this
decision, one way or the other, will have been
a forgOne conclusion Meanwhile the settle
ment of the new Territory will proceed without
serious Interruption, and It's progress and
prosperity will not be endangered or retarded
by violent political struggles.
When, in the progress events, the inhabitants
of any Territory shall have reached the number
required to form State, they will then proceed
In q regular manner md in the axernisn of the