Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-07

The fatal objection to this measure is that
the civilization of the territory is unequal to
the tasl, of Supporting State government. |
trust that they arc making progress in wealth
and education but there is no evidence pres
cnt showing either their capacity or desire to
embark in the experiment.
70 be entirely frank, do not think it can
ever practically become a slave State. 1t must
forever remain pastoral country. Whatever
its mines, real or fabulous, may attract, its til
lage land, skirting the borders of streams only,
its arid wastes destitute of water, can never
support population. much beyond its present
numbers nor can cheaper labor be substitu-
ted for that which now prevails.
BY the organic act passed ten years ago. in
addii to the rights obtained by treaty, New
Mexico obtained the right OF oiadmisSion into the
Union with or without slayery and during
eight years of that time, the whole Federal pat
ronagc of the Government has succeeded in
permanently forcing into that Territory eleven
slaves only, ten of whom are women. With
this state OF facts | cannot but think whenever,
sooner or later, the subject shall be discussed,
as it would be at the formation of a constiu-
ton, and all outside pressure on the people
shall be removed, they will decide the question
in favor of human freedom. But any people
willing to vote peoH scritHde upon themselves,
as they do in New Mexico, are hardly to be
trusted with the destines of State.
Under ordinary circumstances | should vote
against enabling New Mexico to come into the
Union at the present time; and | cannot find
anything in the present condition of affairs to
release me from the obligation of doing so now
1t has not been made apparent, if this measure
could receive the entire vote of this side of the
House, that it would be acceptable a measure
of adjustment. But were it otherwise, | should
not vote for it; because it wears the appear
ance of an evasion of principles heretofore
prominent, and which | am unwilling to veil in
cloud.
There is another proposition, founded upon
the same section in the Constitution upon which
the law fer the return OF persons held to SER
vice escaping into another State is based in re-
lation to fugitives from JUST e, which in my
opinion, would inpractice prove unsatisfactory,
and instead of curing present irritations, would
multiply them tenfold Heretofore, the requi-
sition has been made by the chiefexccutiye Off
Ger of one State upon the chief executive officer
of another State. 1t is now proposed to make
this requisition "upon the district Judge of the
United States of the district in wIich the Grim
inal may be found, whose duties are so defined
and limited as necessarily to give the cyiminal
laws of local Legislatures wider an even ma
tonal application, and at the same time blots
be solely judicial question to be determined,
| answer that the Governors of most States are
apt 10 be as able jurists as the judges of these
district courts nor can political predjudices
be avoided by the change, for Judges are now
| often appointed as much in reference to their
political afnities as to their legal knowledge
| The demand must be made by Governor, and
it is proper that it should be responded to by
an equal. Under the present practice, Govern
ors surrender fugitves from justice when the
charge alleged would be crime in the State
to which they have fled. That would seem to
be rule far less liable to abuse than the one
proposed and as equal and just as can be
nevscd. | trust, this most exceptionable pro
iect to change the old law will receive the dec
ded negative of all sides Of tle House, and o
State rights men, especially.
Failing of success n the late election Of Pres
dent, though still maintaining supremacy ii
both branches Of Congress, the southern States
now demand as their ultimatum, and as a con
diton precedent of their faithful adherence tc
the present Constitutions, recogniXance ant
protection Of slaves as property in all the ter
ritory we now have, or may hereafter acquire
south of 30 deg 30 min., north latitude. Thl
is, in part, the Crittenden compromise. 1t i
proposed to make this part OF the Constitu
ton. So far as it would be Il revival OF the
Missouri compromise, it would certainly seen
expcdient to place it where it could becom
"inoperatiye and void" through the action o
the party now renewing the proposition, Il
well as safe from tho reach Of the Supreme
Cour. lest history should repeat itself. Bu
what is the necessity for this measure? Sla
very has already obtained foothold in al
this Territory; protected by the Territoria
Legislature, and hedged in by impending decis
ions of the Supreme Court. Is it not enoug
that this is a fact but must the minority b
forced to concede the fate of an empire not ye
within our grasp. The conclusion is rresista
BILE that it is not, after ALL a contest about tn
} condition of what we now possess, but whethe
, we shall hereafter acquire territory now free
and force slavery into it without allowing tn
! conquered people to say even whether the
) will tolerate it or not. This invasive purpose
too, is to be announced in advance, and embls
zoned in the very forehead of our Constitution
r The whole of this claim, as must have bee
J foreseen, will meet with upemphatlc denial
There is no part of it worthy of the sanction {
: great and high-minded people If the desir
; was simply room for the expansion OF SLAYER
e into New Mexico, that is practically enjoye
e already. II the desire reaches beyond that;
= it is Sonora and Chihuahua that is hunted
c the distance, let those who mean IT avow it,
= Then the question would be squarely presented
y whether those Mexican provinces must &c OF
o tanned at the cost of breaking up the Union {
c not? whether secession or Mexico should b
o conquercd-whether South Carolina or Cul
/ must be bought? Not until after the preseI
d dangerous fit of digestion shall have passt
= away, can the American people be induced
swallow more of the disjointed limbs of prizes
o ridden Mexico and | trust their hunger
}, that direction is forever appeased. l knew
e man once who was always in litigation aho
If the boundary lines of his land, and neighb
i said of him, that he believed ''f the cap'n owrt
l. all Paradise he would quarrel with the de'
If Just for little strip more for a hog pasture
1t Have we not enough? Then let us not qua
/ rel about any more little strips. But, con
l. what may, the North will stand by the declar
l. ton of Henry Clay, and mo earthly power CT
|. compel them to vote foi the positive introdu
% ton of slavery, either south or north of I'll
a line" (36 deg. 80 min.)
lie do not propose to marshall the resourC
le of the free States, nor to consider how tolel
'e ble might be their condition when left aloI
r or after the withdrawal of the slave States, a
j. the accession of the Canadas and other Britt
ty proyncce-the failure OF the first being the G
as " possible hinderance to the last-but | wi
Y, to make way-side remark touching the thr,
- of sending certain States to coventry"
le | know it is the fashion of some parties
Sc sneer at New England, to talk ofreconstructi
st of n Union with this part left out, "sough
IN off !" but this imbece spite does not even {
-, ,,.t, IL ,,ll bn G,un1 tbnt olnnoSt