The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-03
Prohibition Of slavery.


GEO. BANCROFT, the celebrated historian, in
his address before the corporation OF the city
Of New York at the celebration of Washing
ton S birth lay, spoke as fellows respecting the
prohibition of slavery
If the views of Washington with regard to
the Slave trade commend themselves 10 our ap.
probation after the lapse OF nearly ninety years,
his opinions on slavery are 50 temperate aud SO
clear that if they had been followed they would
have established peace amongst us foreve.. On
the 18th Of April, 1855, he wrote TO Robert
Morris There is not q man living who wish
es more sincerely than do to see IL plan adopt
ed for the abolition OF slavery This WAS nj:
fixed opinion so that in the following month
he declared TO Lafayette: - By degrees the
abolition Of slavery certainly might, and as
surediy ought to be, effected and that too,
by legislative authority.'' On the 9th of Sep
TENDER of the same year, he avowed his res
ouion " never to possess another slave by pnr-
chase ~ adding it being among my first
wishes TO see some plan adopted by which sla
very in this country may be abolished by law. .
In conformity with these views the old con-
federation OF the United States, 1T time when
the convention Tor trumlng our constitution Was
IN session, ~ u Unanimous vote prohibited sl1-
very forever lii ali the territory THAT then be-
lonsed to tie United States and Que Il the
very first acts OF Washington us President Was
to approve law by which that ordinance might
- continue to have full effect.
On the 9th of May, 1874, in the midst Of MS
cares as President, he devised IL plan for the
sale OF lands in u ,stern Virginia and Western
Pennsy lyana, and after giving other reasons Tor
his purpose, ne adds " have another motive
whlch makes me earnestly wish for the ACCOM-
plishment OF these things /! is, indeed. more
powerful than all the rest namely 60 llberAte
certain species OF property winch | possess
very repugnantiy TO my own feelings
And IN less than three months alter he wrote
that Farewell Address TO which Xe this day
have listened, he felt himself Justified in
nouncng 30 Europe his hopes for the future in
these words. Nothing Is more certain than
that Maryland and Virginia must have laws for
the gradual abolition Of slavery, and at Pc
Rod not very remote
But though Virginia and Maryland have not
been W sc enough t. realize the confident pre-
diction of the Father o his Country-though
slavery is still permitted in the District Of Co.
umbla, from winch Madison desired u see it
removed--the cause vi freedom has been stead
lily advancing. The line of So 80 min. which
formed IL barrier to the progress of skilled labor
to the southwark has been etiaced. Our cvun-
try at one bound, crossed the Rocky Mountains
and the wisdom Of our pcope, as they laid the
foundations of great empires on the coast OF the
Pacific, has brought about that 70 day, from the
Straits of Behring to the Straits OF Magellan,
the waves Of the great ocean, as they roll 10 up
ON The shore, clap their han Is in joy, flor along
all that wide region the land is cultivated by no
hands but those Of the free. Let us be grateful
to good Providence which has established lih
erty as the rule OF our country beyond the pos
sibility Of Il relapse.
For myself, was one who desired to postpone
or rather hoped altogether to avoid the collision
which has taken place, trusting that society by
degrees would have worked itself clear by Its
own innate strength and the virtue and resolu
ton of the community. But slavery has forced
upon us the issue. and has lifted up its hand to
strike death-blow at our existence as people.
1t has ayowcd itself desperate and determined
enemy of our national life, Of our unity as u
republic, and henceforward no man deserves the
name of u statesman who would consent to the
introduction of that element Of weakness ana
division into any new territory, or the admission
| Of another slave Stale into the Union. Let us
hope rather that the prediction of Washington
will prove true, and that Virginia and Maryland
will soon take their places rs Tree States by tho
side of Ohio and Pennsylvania.