The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-14
Gen. Phelps Address to the Legislature of
Vermont. and Citizens of Montpelier.

Phelps addressed the Legislature, and a large
concourse of citizens, in the Representatives
Hall last evening. The subject of his remarks
was that with which his name has recently been
SO intimately connected. The length of his ad-
dress prevents us from laying before our readers
more than brief selections. In introducing his
theme he said
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN This is an unex.
pecled honor, the greatest honor may say that
| have yet received. [ am not fully prepared
know to meet your expectations. | am some
what unwel with cold, and did not anticipate
SO early an invitation to address you. But
will endeavor to do my best to edify you, and
give you an evenings entertainment. | hardly
| know where to begin. | could have great
deal to say, if had time to say 1T in.
In commencing upon this subject the most
important that has ever come before the Amerl-
can people, | need to refer TO history. We
are not, as nation great readers of books or
history. 1t is the nature of popular govern
ments and institutions, to render the people I'M
patient; and we are for the most part hardly
patient enough to read more than the news
papers, and even those but hurridly. We pre-
ter pictures to the printed page, because they
| enable us to get at the idea more easily and
quickly. This however, which is 80 generally
true, Is not true believe in Vermont. | think
you are, perhaps all of you, better posted in
history tnan [ am. But beg leave to call
your attention to two important periods in our
own history, which singulary enough CORES
pond with important political periods IN tho
history OF our mother country, England tho
country which, until or birthday as IA nation +,
could boast OF being the treest nation on the
face Of the earth. lC was the blrthrIght OF an
| Englshman, that he was a freeman. twas his
pride, his glory and his honor. And even then
there We're abplitionsIs in England, men who
believed that slavery IN the BRITISH realm was
IN IL region where every form OF oppression
| must die.
Gen. Phelps proceeded to trace the history
of our country, and its European relations 50
far as connected with slavery.
MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
The next period ia the Missouri Compromise
This occurred about the year 1921 and 1t was
the first time when the forces OF slavery were
brought forward and successfully arraycd agains,
the moral sense of the North. Then first policy
and mere human cunning, presumed to array
itself against nigh moral principle, and agalns
the native truth of sef-governing people. Tn
til then, morality and public virtue had been
recognized as essential TO national prosperity
bot then policy was substituted in their place
For tine contest was carried forward
Henry Clay then used MS best efforts to effect
com promise, and then the first compronlse with
this evil began. MIR. Clay was young man
that time, iull Of talent and desiring always t.
lead, AS P.iny the younger, when he wit
nj ssed the eruption of "a volcano, when he saw
the sky Gackened with smoke and ashes, threat
enlng destruction 10 the world found consola
tlCn IN the thought that il he p1risneu, SO too
must the world PERISH, leaving no place 10" til
exercise Of ambition 50 Henry Clay felt that b
would not wish to survive as u statesman, as
leader in u tractor OF The Union. lie wouIt
have the entire Union 10 all It's greatness as th
arena II when To win bis Crlumpll3 II ne Wo.
them at all. v It'll hl2 character 50 admira
bic ~ many points, he yet IS responsible for
| com promise, obtained at The expense Of mora
!. principle. This was the beginning Of that weld
my that has proved disastrous, This was til
first act. | remember The scene Well as it wa
told to me,-the last night when that vote wa
put. The great Capitol had jus. been fnisAc
lheD 1t was new, and 4 wonder 20 our Ne,
i.ogand f.thols All had been gatnere
there that could dazzle and please tie eye:
was splendid, theatre. sublime. IL ha1 bee
: con1rNed 10 appeal to the senses, as one of III
plans OF slaVenoldcrs who have ever used sue
appeals to conquer the honor and honesty OF I'll
North. The beauty and wit, the brilliant Ia
dies OF Southern fashion were also assembled
Our fathers then cast their votes against NOR;
t principles, or IN neglect Of them aud in favor
/ policy only. The South, it ~ true, had lie
nothing untitled that might aid in carrying tho
i point. And now, what sort of vote shou]
: have been deemed necessary in deciding a mea
e ure that was revolutionary IN Its character, an
n that reached down in its results to the We,
foundations OF the fabric of our government
w hat should the vote have been that shou
e have pressed our fathers to yield the princip
e of Liberty? A two-thrds vote Ut least {; but
% remember that it was bat small majority
Six or seven
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
10 The next historical period would notice
IL the annexation OF Texas. 1t is not necessary
,e dwell upon this after what have already sal
u to show that we had no right to guarantee
Texas that she should be allowed to form he
self into five Siaveholding States There is
power ID our Constitution that gives us t
right to say to any State that she may no
Slaves. The law of moral right is against al
f. such action upon our part, and this is a law
= which every man and all human policy is bou
:. to succumb. 1t is then becoming for us as
y people to assume to be governed by L. WIS rath
IT than by policy,-laws that are IN eccordan
II with moral right and prime pie. We had, no
, ever, at the time of which am speaking, !
come so depraved and perverted IN our polltlc
views and education, as to lose sight Of ii