Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-03-07

should not vote for it; because it wears the
! appearance OF an evasion OF principles hereto
fore made prominent, and which am unwilling
10 vail in cloud
There IS another proposition, founded upon
the same section in the Constitution upon
which the law for the return oil persons held to
service escaping into another State is based, in
relation to fugitives from justice, which, in my
opinion, would in practice prove unsatisfactory,
and instead of curing present irritations, would
multiply them teniold Heretofore, the requi-
sition has been made by the chief executive Of
icer OF one State upon the chief executive Off
Ger of another State. 1t is now proposed to
make this requisition upon the district Judge
of the United States Of the district" in which
the criminal may be found whose duties are 50
defined and limited as unnecessarily to give the
criminal laws Of local Legislatures wider and
even national APPLICATION and at the same time
bos out the sovereignty Of State altogether.
1t 1t be solely judicial question to be deter
mined, answer that the Governors Of most
States are apt to be as able jursts as the Judges
OF those district courts nor can political pref
udces be avoided by the change, for Judges are
now often appointed as much in reference to
their political aGnties as to their legal kncw-
edge. The demand must be made by Cover.
IhlS anu ~ - IIUptJ Lldl II SUDulu NJ FtFIJnQ-
ed to by an equal. Undcr the present practice,
Governors surrender fugitiycs from Justice when
the charge alledged would be Il crime in the
State to which they have fed That would
seem 10 be a rule far less liable 10 abuse than
the one proposed, and as equal and just as can
be devised. trust this most exceptonable
project to change the old law will receive the
decided negative Of all sides OF the House, and
Of Staterigbts men especially
Failing Of success in the late election of Pres
ident, though still maintaining supremacy in
both branches OF Congress the southern States
now demand as their altimatum, and as a condi-
ton precedent Of their faithful adherence to the
present Constitution, IA recognizancc and pro
lection OF slaves as property in all the territory
we now have or may hereafter acquire, south
of 36' 80, north lat This is in part the Crit
tenden compromise. 1t is proposed to make this
part OF the Constitution. SO far as it would
be a revival Of the Missouri compromise it woud
certainly seem expedlent to place it where it
could not become imperative and void
through the action Of the party now renewing
the proposition, as we'll as safe from the reach
Of the supreme Court lest history should repeat
Itself. But what is the necessity for this meas
ure Slavery has already obtained foothold
in All this Territory protected by the Territorial
Legislature. and hedged in by impending decis
ions Of the Supreme Court. Is it not enough
that this is hct, but must the minority be
forced to concede the fate OF an empire not yet
within our grasp The conclusion is irresisti-
Die that it is not after all, contest about the
condition of what we now possess, but whether
we shall hereafter acquire territory now free,
and force slavery into il without allowing the
conquered people to say even whether they will
tolerate it or not. This Invasive purpose, TOO,
is to be announced in advance, and emblazoned
in the very very forehead of our Constitution.
The whole OF this claim, as must have been
ioreseen, will meet with an emphatic denial
There is no part OF II worthy Of the sanction of
great and high-mindcd people. Tfthc desire
was simply room for the expansion OF slavery
into New Mexico, that ia practically enjoyed al
ready. IL the desire reaches beyond that: if
is Sonora and Chihuahua that is hunted in the
distance let those who mean it ayow IT, Then
the question would be squarely presented ,wheIh
er those Mexican provinces must be obtained ut
/ the coat Of breaking up the Union or not
whether secession or Mexico should be conquer
cd whether South Carolina or Cuba must be
bought. Not until after the present dangerous
fit OF indigestion shall have pa ssed away, can the
American people be induced to swallow more of
the disjointed limbs Of priest ridden Mexico
+ and trust their hunger in that direction is for
ever appcased knew man once who was al
ways in litigation about the boundary lines of
his land, and a neighbor said of him. that he be-
/ lieyed If the cap'n owned all Paradise be
would quarrel with the devil just for little
strip more for log pasture - Have we not
enough' Then, let US not quarrel about ATTY
more little strips. Bot, come what may, tie
North will stand by the declaration of Henry
Clay, and no earthly power can compel them
to vote for the positive introduction of slavery,
either south or north Of that line" (367 30)
do not propose to marshal the resources OF
the free States, nor to consider how tolerable
might be their condition when left alone, or az
ter the withdrawal OF the Slave States, and the
accession of the Canadas and other British PROV
inccs-the failure of the first being the only
possible hinderanre to the ast-but wish to
make way-sidc remark touching the threat of
sending certain States to g Coventry"
| know it is the fashion of some parties to
snecr at New England, to Talk of reoonstrua-
ton of Union with this part left out, slough
ed off; but this imbecle spite does not evon
excite pity 1t will be found that almost every
free State has its New England within its Dor
ders, and thus leavened, some for augbt know,
are in advance of the Puritan stock 1t is evil
dent the political Jonah would not be disposed
of, even it down east were to be thrown
overheard. They remember the fable of mem.
bers rebeag against the head but will let 9TH
ers make the application New England makes
no apology for the past and will indulge in no
envy for the future; bat having no inyincible
sectional hatreds, II any can do better than her
self, she will bid them God speed 1t nigh, be
pertinent to remind those who aippan,ly talk of
ostracizng such a people thai when the old
Greek philosopher was bauished from Sinope he
retorted And condemn you to stay in Sinope
Certainty Vermont bcgs for no concessions, asks
no guarantees. For years and in her infancy
she stool alone, and such doom, now in her
majority, were il possible 10 be enforced would