The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-19
LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT.
Annual SessiOn---1S6l
Monday, Nov, IL.
AFTERNOON.

/ VI Onuay, NOV., To-
! AFTERNOON.
SENATE Reporis of Commitees.-By MIR.
Edmunds, for Judiciary Com, on Senate Dill
49, eoualzing the appropriation OF the property
of nsolvent debtors, with amendments. MT
Edmunds stated this bill to be an approximation
in some features to an Inso!vent act though not
containing many provisions objected to by some
Senators. He hoped it would pass as the best
measure which could he adopted at the present
session.
Mr.. Juderins wished time to understand So
important bill, amended suddenly as it had
been, therefore be moved it be ordered to lie and
$50 copies printed. lie said it was one of the
it should have been attended to before. The
Senate refused to print the bill by vote of Is
to 2. The bill was then ordered to be read a
third time by vote of 10 to g.
Senate bill 8, to prevent kidnapping and for
the protection of personal liberty, was heartily
supported by Mr.. Woodbridge. He did not de-
sire to discuss the abstract question of Slavery
any farther than it was necessarily involved in
this bill there was but one opinion on that
subject here among the Green Mountains, yet
his conscience would not permit him to Say he
would support the Constitution only as he un-
derstood it. He was Il liege subject Of the law
ful government Of his country, and under that
government there was but one authoritative way
Of ascertaining the true nent OF the Constltu-
ton. He could commend the frankness of those
who he'd totally different opinions, but he asked
if it was wise, just, or loyal to contravcpc the
direct mandates of the highest tribunal we
know! Would any man in this State dare to
differ from the Supreme Court of our own State
in their construction Of legislative enactments,
however dissonant they might be to his own
convictions! He thought it was but poor ex.
cuse to say that South Carolina had laws con-
trary to the mandates of the Supreme Court of
the United States. Had South Carolina ever
obeyed laws bat such as were suited to her own
peculiar notions, and would they have orr
State emulate the example of that State which
had idolized the hand that first had been raised
against the Union, and first sounded tho tocsn
Of rebellion, and sect war and misery stalking
through the lougth and breadth of the land
If there had ever been any excuse for our lib
erty-oying people to keep this act on our stat
ute books, it has now passed away. He &C.
knowledged the provisions Of the bill to be to-
tally imperative, but in his opinion, it was not
yet too late to do right if never before, let
Vermont now purge herself Of this blot on her
fair fame lie cared uothing, so far as lis ac-
ton on this bill vas concerned, about Slavery,
it had nothing to do with the question
lie would not mind, in this case, til, opinion
or prejndiccs Of the people, but must keep in
mind that the decisions of the Supreme Court
could not be nullifed OF neglected by any con-
scientious Senator, and he would implore them
not to be unmndful OF he paths they had taken
to support the CONSTITUTIONS
Mr. Willard favored some portions of the BIZ -,
b,,th h., 4 ~.
if the act proposed to be repealed which de.
clares every person within this State to be of
right fee. lie regarded this bill as though we
were making laws for our own State, and cared
for Or interler,d in no respect with those of the
United States. llo took it to be our right to
enact that any person in cur State should be
free; it seemed to b.. in no conflict with the
Constitution Of the United States, and it was
expressly guaranteed in our own Constitution
lie held this exprcssi N free, whenever it occurs
in shc Constitution. to mean the reverse of
Slave, and to have reference IN every Case to the
antithess of Slavery We need not cast 1t out,
and speak oi the detention Of criminals, for it
refers always to this vexed question.
lie could see no difference in the propositions
that L slave brought into this State is free, but
ono escaping here must be returned as u fugitive.
He was willing o let the declaration remain on
our statute books
Mr.. Stewart said that if the article meant
what Mr.. Willard tried to prove it did, it was
all nonsense and should be repealed on that &C
count. In this question there is no middle
ground, or uncertainty; if the law is in any
part unconstitutional it must be repealed, and
those who vote against its repeal are rebels in
the eye OF the law, as much us those OF South
arolina II the &C: says that any man escaping
INTO this State is free, it is unconstitutional, for
the Constitution .cognizes the relation of mas
ter and slave. and provides that it be not sus-
pended in such cases. The judge in this State,
by the Constitution, must give up such fugitive,
and do it because he is "a slave and for no Other
reason. II We desire our laws and our Consti-
tuition to be respected and to be Of any avail,
we must strike out such acts as these which
have too long dssraced our legislation
Mr.. Willard doubted somewhat The proprie-
ty Of striking out at this time. when the Gov
eminent Is making every exeytion in other quar-
tiers to put down the Slave rebellion, the proys-
ion which simply enacts for citizens of our own
State, that every person coming within It's pre-
cincts is free. lie claimed that his construction
of the Constitu tional provision of this State to
be the same as has been defined by the laws and
courts Of the United States. lie moved to
strike out the word six in the repeating clause,
and called for the yeas and nays.
MIR. Edmnnds failed to see the force of the
reasoning which makes the proposition declar.
ing fugitive slave once within this State to be
free, agree with the Constitution which express
y say that such slave shall be still held to SER
vice. lie was as Jealous as any one that perfecr
freedom should be accorded to all the people in
this State and everywhere else, but he dcsircd
To have it dome by law and the an ;op ny,
by the hasty steps Of political ardor.
i H. Il .;.l ,.,4 - L. Il