Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-07-19


that object was introduced into The Assem-
bly, 10y The grandson of Mr.. Jefferson, and
warmly supported by distinguished poli,i-
cans now on The stage. Nay, we have the
recent admission Of the Vice President OF
the receding confaderacy, that what he calls
"thc errors of the past generation mean
ING the auii-slavery sentiments entertained
by Southern statesmen, "slil clung TO many
as late as t,eeaty years ago"
To this hasty review Of Southern opn-
ions and measures showing their accord
ance till a late date with Northern senli-
memt on the subject Of slavery, might add
the testimony Of Washington, of Patrick
Henry, of Georse Mason, of Wythe, Of
Pendeton, Of Marshall, of Lowndes, OF
Poinsctt of Clay, and of nearly every first
class name in the Southern States. Nay,
as late as 1919, and after the Union had
been shaken by the agitation incident TO
the acquisition of Mexican territory, the
Convention Of California, although nearly
oue-half Of its members we're from the slave
holding States, unanimously adopted Con-
stitulion by which slavery was prohibited
in that State. In fact it is now triumph
antly proclaimed by the chiefs Of the re-
volt, that the idea prevailing on tins sub
.jeet when the Constitution was adopted
are fundamentally wrong; that the new
government of the Confederate States
(" rests upon exactly the opposite ideas that
lis foundations are laid and its corner stone
reposcs upon the great truth that the negro
is not equal TO the white man, that slavery
--subordination to the scperior race, IS his
natural and normal condition. This our
new government is the first in the history
of the world based upon this physical, philo-
sophical and moral truth" So little founda-
tion is there for the statement, that the
North, from the first, has been engaged in
struggle with the South ON the subject OF
slavery, or has departed in any degree
from the spirit with which the Union was
entered into by both parties. The fact is
precisely the reverse.
NO ANTI SLAVERY MESSAGES ENACTED
BY CONGRESS
Mr. Davis in his message to the Confed.
crate States, goes over long list Of meas
nres which he declares TO have been inau,
gurated, and gradually extended, as soon a.
the Northern States had reached suili
Gent number 10 give their Representatives
controlling voice in Congress. But of al
these measures not one is a matter of Con.
gressonal Legislation, nor has Congress
with this alleged controlling voice on the
part Of the North, ever either passed law
hostile 10 the interests of The Sonth on The
subject Of slavery nor failed to pass on,
which the South has claimed as belonging
10 her rights or needed for her safety. II
TRUTH the anti-slavery North never has hae
the control of both houses of Congress
never of the judiciary, rarely of the Execu.
tive, and never exerted these to the preiu-
dice Of Southern rights. Every judicial or
legislative issue on this question, with The
single exception of the final admission of
Kansas, that has ever been raised before
Congress, has been decided in favor of the
South, and yet she allows herself to allege
"a persistent and organized system of hos
tile measures against the rights Of the own
ers of slaves, as the justification of her re-
bellion.
The hostile measures alluded TO are as
have said, none of them matters of Con-
gressional legislation. Some of them are
purely imaginary as to any injurious effect,
others much exaggerated, others unavoida-
bly, incident 10 freedom Of speech and the
press. You are aware, my friends, that
- l.a.sssA @y---s,f-sfrpro The agitation
Slavery, for party purposes, or with vie,
10 infringe upon the Constitutional rights q
the South. But if the North has give
cause of complaint in this respect, the fanl
has been equally committed by the South
The subject has been fully as much abuse,
there as here for party purposes, and if th,
North has ever made 1t the means Of gain
ing sectional triumph, she has but done
what the South, for the last twenty-five
FIVE years, has never missed an occasion oil
doing With respect to everything sub
stansial in the complaints Of the South
against the North, Congress and the States
have afforded or rendered all reasonable
all possble--satislaction She complained
Of the Missouri Compromise, although
adopted in uniformity with all the iradi
tons OF the government and approved by
the most judicious Southern Statesmen, an,
after thirty -four years acquiescence on III,
part Of the People, Congress repealed il
She asked fora Judicial decision Of the Ter
ritorial question 10 her favor, and the Su
prcme Court of the United States, in con
trayenton of the whole current of our Leg
isiation, SO decided it. She insisted on ear
rying tbs decision into effect, and thre
new territoriei, at the very last session q
Congress, were organized in conformity |
it, as Utah and New Mexico had been be
fore il was rendered. She demanded
guaranty against amendments OF the Con
sululion adverse TO her interests, and il wa
given by the requisite majority of the tw
Houses. She, required the repeal of tn
State Laws obstrueling the surrender Of fu
gtive slaves, and although she had tax,
the extreme remedy of revolt into heI
hands, they were repealed or modified
Nothing satisfied her, because there wa,
an active party in the Cotton GROWING
States, led by ambitious men determined on
disunon, who were resolved not TO be sat.
'siied. In one instance alone tue South has
suffered defeat. The North. for tie frsi
time since the foundation Of the govern.
meut, has chosen President by her unaid.
ed electoral vote and that is the occasion
OF the present unnatural war. / did not
as you know, contribute TO flat result. but
] did enlist under the Banner u ;. the Tn.
ION, the Constitution, and the Enforcement
Of The Laws Under thai Banner mear
TO stand, and with it, If it is struck down
am willing 10 fall Even for this result
the South has no one 10 blame but herself
Her disunionists would give their votes TO
no candidate but the one selected by lead
Who avan.sd tho ,,,,rr.-.. -