Year: 1861

/ from education ana habils) uluvIcu'


modes of thinking upon important sub


iects, it was necessary to make numerous


provisions in favor of local prejudices


and so construct the constitution, and SC


10 enact the laws made under it, that the
rights, or the supposed rights, of all


should be secured throughout the whole


national domain. In compliance will


the spirit Of this constitution, upon our


admission to the Federal Union, our


statute laws were revised, and an act re-


pealed which was supposed to initiate


against the fugitive slave clause Of the
L. S. Constitution; and if cases shall


happen in which our local sentiments


and feelings may be violated, yet trust


the good people of Vermont will on all


such occasions submit with cheeriulness


to the national Constitution and laws,


which if we may in some particular wish


nc e congenial to our modes, yet we
must be sensible are productive Of numer-
Gus and rich blessings to usas individuals
and to the state as an integral of the
Union


Such were the sentiments of the en-
inent jurists of Vermont in 1902; and,
in my Judgment, such are the views Of
all our judges to-day and not only theirs
but every sound lawyer, and every other
honest, substantial, and intelligent citizen,
embracing, too, the entire congressional
delegation Of the state. Why then
should we be longer diseraced by these
unmeaning and hynocri,ical laws2 The
sober sense Of our people, we all know,
was never expressed in them There
was a lack Of true moral courage, it is
true, in allowing the passage of such
vile and wicked provisions. But it was
allowed in order to make peace with
demagosues and fanatics. These, trust
hare had their dag. Rampant rhetoric
can never rule the public. Sound prac-
teal wisdom, conservative and judicious
counsels must prevail, or the government
will crunble


It's bad faith toward each of the 9TH
er states of the Union to connjve at de
predations upon their rights or property. |
WHAT c0parmcrsuip como exist wln1y ouu
# the partners devoted himself to steal
ing at midnight the property Of his CO.
partners


It is bad faith toward the President
elect to retain a law here that prevents .
all persons holding officers in this state
from taking and holding any Office under
The federal government that may call for
aid in executing this particular law Of |
Congress. a republican state pledged /
IN advance to allow none Of its officers /
to aid the President of its choice in exc
cutting the laws Of the Union, and sup
porting the constitution according to his /
oath II! tell you, sir, if these acts re-
main, Vermont will have but one plain
course to pursue-and that is
to 90 at once into an organized opposition |
to President Lincoln's administration
for do most solemnly believe that Mr.
Lincoln is an honest man, and will break .
no pledge and disregard no duty to the
people who have intrusted him with pow
err


It is bad faith toward the people of this .
state a people as devoted to the Union
and to the compact that binds it together
a people as patriotic as just, as faithful
to all its obligations and duties as the sun
ever shone upon.


These consideratiens,a and others, which /
will readily occur to you, Mr.. Chairman
md gentlemen, viii hope, induce you
% recommend unanimously to the senate /
he instant removal of the obnoxious sec
ions from our statutes and l have no
loubt both houses will with like unanim-
ty sustain your report.


The fact that other states are attempt /
ng to move out of the Union should not
DC the cause of our action, but because
t is right; and the continuance of such /
wicked provision is some excuse
If affairs at the South. Extreme and |
violent men can point the people of those
liscontented states to the acts Of Yer
mont and Massachusetts, and demonstrate
low unsafe their rights are within the
Union.


Repeal these measures and you furnish
he Union-loving men in the South with
most potent arguments among their peo-
pie, and you disarm the entire influence
Of the dsunionists at a single blow. But
as they are, how can you resist the claims
Of the South to withdraw from your com
pact after you have been the first to yio-
late it.


It possible, sir, that the evil days
are near at hand in which our govern
msnt is to be broken up; that the once
glorious title of American citizen is
soon to become byword and laughing