Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-01-25

- protect and extend slavery. On this conGi,ion,
and on this alone, will they C nsent TO withdraw
their opposition to the recognition of n constitu-
tional election Of Chief Magistrate. Viewing the
matter IN TINS light, 1t seems inadviSable to at
tempt to proceed a step further in he way Of
ofeiing unacceptable proposition. lie can never
gave his consent to the terms demanded
lie concluded that he should have nothing
to do with any resolutions of any sort, under
such circumstances We think his ultimate
conclusion was much more becoming to a re-
publican of his character and position than
his first one was
But there was another minority report, of
a healthy and vigorous tone from beginning
to end. 1t was made by Messrs. Washburne
Of Wisconsin and Tappan of New Hamp-
shire Stating at the outset that they voted
against the appointment of the committee of
thirty three, as in their view useless and in-
ehectual measure, they review the schemes
proposed by the majority Of a quorum" to
quiet the insurrceton which has broken out
in the South and to preserve the peace of the
country hereafter, and they pronounce them,
one and all, in their judgment powerless for
permanent good -
The present dissatisfaction and dscon-
! tent does not arise from the fact that the
North has passed personal liberty bills, or
! that The Fugitive Slave law is not faithfully
| executed, neither does it arise from an ap-
prehcnsion that the North proposes to inter-
| ieTe with slavery in the States where it ex-
| lists.
The reasonable purposes Of South Carroll
M are not of recent origin. In the recent
! convention Of that State, lea1ing members
made use Of the following language in the
| debate on tho passage OF the ordinance Of
| secession
They quote from the language Of promi
nent men in that convention Mr.. PARKER
said -
III as no sfGsn1od,c effort that has come sud.
! de1ly upon Us but IL has been gradually cuk
nlinatiitg for long series Of gears, uafl, at
last, ii has come 10 that point ,ehen lee may say
the maHo as entirely ',ght."
Mr.. INGLIs said -
GAS my friend (Nlr PArkcr) has said -
| MANY Of US here had this mater under o0n-
sderatl0n for the last t,renfy years, and, I
presume, zee had by tt,s un.e, arrived al de-
! oia0a on the subject.
Mr. KEIT said -
"Sw, we are performing 4 great act,
which involves not only the stirring present,
but embraces the whole great future for ages
to come. / hare Jecn enqqgCd IN his great
Increment ecer ancs ! ealercdPoAlcaI hte."
Mr.. RuETT said 80
" The secession # South Carolina IS not as
eveat of a dog. j is not anything produced
/ by Mr.. Lwco.1'S election, or By n0a-e Jccutioa
/ Of The FHgiacc Stare lar. il has bclH a mat
fer trhIch has ban gathering head jor thirty
y GrS. The election Of Line in and liamlin
WIS the last straw on the back Of the camel
But twas not the only one. The back was
nearly broken before. The point upon which
| now differ from my friend is this lie says
/ he thought it cxTCdent for Us to put this
| great question before the world upon this
simple matter OF wrongs on the question OF
! slavery, and that question turned upon the
/ FugiJiye Slave IAw Now. in regard to the
/ Fugitive Save law, myself doubt it, uucon-
stitutionality, aud doubted it on the floor Of
/ the Senate, when Nvns member OF that
! body. The States acting in their sovereign
capacity should be responsible for the rendI-
| tion Of fugitive slaves. This was cur best Sc
| curity."
With regard to the alleged grievance that
the legislation Of the o. 5. Government has
been Of character to injure the pecunilry
prosperity ol tie Southern States andbeneGt
unfairly the Northern States, Mevsrs Wash
burn and Tappan deny it..altogethcr, and Offer
in conclusion a pointed and appropriate res
olution.
We could easily demonstrate by official fg-
ures. that the Government Of the United
States annually expends, for the exclusive use
! and benefit OF South Carolina, a much larger
sum than that State contributes for the sup
| vCr. Of Government. This same rule will hold
| true in regard to most of the States that are
now SO anxious to dissolve their connection
with the Union. Florida, State that con-
tains less than one ive-hundredth part Of the
white population of the Union, and a State
which has cost us directly and indirectly, not
! less than $40 ,000 GOO. and upon which the
/ general Government annually expends sums
Of money for her benefit more than four
! times IN excess of her contributions 10 The
! support Of tie Government, has raised her
arm against the over which has 50 literally
| sustained her.
But we will not pursue this subject fur
ther. The Union Of these States is q necessi-
| ty. ard viii be preserved long after the mis-
| guided IN who seek g overthrow ar dead
and forgotten, OF if not forgotten, only re-
membeTcd as the attempted destroyers Of the
lairest fabric erected for the preservation OF
human liberty that the world ever saw.
Regarding the present discomfort and hos
| till Y in the South as wholly without just
cause, we submit the following resolution,
| which is the same az that recently offered IN
the United States Senate by Mr.. Clark Of
New Hampshire:
"R,solU,d, That the provisions Of the Consttu-
tion ample for the preservation of the Union
and the Of the material interests Of the
o0uLtGy; that it needs o be obeyed rat-er than
| amended, and extrication from present diff
cuties is be looked for in efforts to preserve and
protIct the public property and enforce the laws,
rather than IN guarantees for particular inter-
ests, cumpremises or concessions TO unreasonable
demands"
AID 81 AfaS