Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-03-01

SuDnOrt from ~ 49,
would indicate that it is sufficient Tor me
I evils complained of; and then 1t VIII be
4 useless to offer as remedy what the pa
tent avows will be flung out of the window,
and may properly be abandoned. Should
the seeding States stand aloof, 1t would
be vain to attempt to give efficacy to TINS
MEASURE as its only Acknowledgment
operation-would be wanting,
I If il be said that this would be a surren-
der Of any principal, l ask howf We
have already solemnly abjnred it. IL Is
not, unless you intend to accomplish an I'M
constitutional end by constitutional means,
and the change of doing that even, can BE-
computed by tracing out the process. AS
il requires three-fourths OF all the States TO
carry any amendment Of the Constitution,
with fifteen slave States sure to vote against
it, no amendment authorising interference
with slavery in the States could succeed,
until the whole number of States amounted
to sixty. and of these il would require the
entire concurrence of forty five. Ii is I'M
necessary to spend more time in discussing
a measure that cannot pass, and which, II
| it could pass, would not give the slave
! States one whit more Of security than they
now practically enjoy.
The present fugitive slave law, coLided
TO magistrates unkown to the Constitution,
who is what assumed, would need FIVE dol
lars more to be persuaded to decide a case
in favor of slavery than for freedom, mer-
cless in its summary process, and with no
trial by jury. compulsory upon all citizens
| TO join in the hunt of any runaway, so OBJ
noxious in its features that it would almost
seem 10 have been made repulsive by de-
sign, has yet been held by the highest
judicial tribunals legally and technically
constitutional. Such being the decision,
notification by inferior courts or Legi>la-
lures is no remedy for its faults, as their
action is itself nullity. The amendment
proposed by the committee, although they
may not reach to the extent of amelioration
that they might have done without impair
ing the constitutional purposes of law, are
yet steps in the right direction and though
4 they will not secure alacrity in the ordina-
/ ry execution of law, so long as life and lber-
1 ~ are more precious than property, they
win remove the general excuse for mobs
| No proposition to amend the law of 1850
would be likely to fail of being an improve
ment; and these amendments ought not To
he refused by any just legislator. unlrss
other provisions OF an Objectionable character
shall be ingrafted upon them in their prog
rrss though this House. calculated to defeat
substantial improvements here rendered.
Another prusition OF the committee is an
enabling act for the admission Of the Ter
ritory Of New-Mexieo as STATE in the
course OF the ensuing year. ] am really
to admit that this would practically dispose
cf all the territory we now have which the
slaveholding States set up any claim in
their utttmdtum OF n restoration OF the
Missouri line but il leaves open what they
hold TO be the paramount question of the
disposal of territory hereafter 10 be acquired,
aud viii therefore be satisfactory, even if
the question that it would become slave
holding State was free Of doubt.
The fatal objection to the measure is that
the civilization of the territory is unequal
to the task disappearing State government.
| trust that they are making progress in
wealth and education; but there is no evil
dence present showing either their capacity
or desire to embark in the experiment.
To be entirely frank. do not think ii can
ever practically become a slave State. II
must forever remain pastoral country
Whatever its mines, real or fabulous, may
attract, its tillage land skrting he borders
of streams only, It's arid WASTES destitute of
water, can never support a population, much
beyond its present numbers; nor can a
cheaper labor be substituted for that which
now prevails.
BY the organic act passed ten years ago,
in addition TO the rights obtained by treaty.
New Mexico obtained the right of admission
into the Union with or without slavery /;
and during eight years Of that time. The
whole Federal patronage of the Govern
ment 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 constitution.
and all outside pressure on the people shall
be removed they will decide the question
in favor of human freedom. But any peo-
pie willing TO vote peoa SerpituGe upon them
selves, as they do in New-Mexico, are
hardly 10 be trusted with the destiny of
State.
Under ordinary circumstances | should
vote against enableing Mew-Mexico to
come into the Union at the present time !;
and cannot find any thing 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 as
measure of adjustment. But were it other
wise, should not vote for it; because il
wears the appearance OF an evasion of
principles heretofore made prominent. and
which l am unwilling to veil in cloud.
There is another proposition, founded
upon The same section in the Constitution
upon which the law for the return of per-
sons held to service escaping into another
State is based in relation TO fugilives from
justice. which, in my opion, would in prac-
tice prove unsatisfactory, and instead Of
curing present irritatlors, would multiply
them tenfold. Heretofore, the reaui>iton
has been made by the chief executive officer
of one State upon the chief executive Of
icer of another State. 1t is now pfoao ed
= make this requisilion upon the district
Judge of the United States of the district !"
IN which the criminal may be found. whose