TH

HE introduction of a Senate bill, in Congress, early in the session, providing a territorial form

of government for Nebraska, with a stipulation that any State or States to be formed therefrom should decide, each for itself, whether slavery should or should not exist, together with an amendment expressly repealing the Missouri Compromise, began one of the most momentous contests in the history of American legislation. As a result a new political party was formed, a Civil War followed within a decade, and a Solid South became a feature of the political life of the Nation. Probably all of these things were destined to happen in the process of eliminating slavery from the United States, but the Nebraska bill was the culminating feature of a long series of events which united the North in its determination that slavery should go not one step farther. The Nebraska bill passed the Senate on March 3, 1854, by a vote of 37 to 14, Senator Foot voting against the passage. Senator Phelps did not vote, as his right to a seat was in doubt. The anger of the North flamed up and spread with the fierceness of a prairie fire. As an illustration of public sentiment in Vermont, the Montpelier Watchman bitterly denounced the act in an editorial, entitled "The Deed of Darkness," which declared that the Southern Whigs who voted for the bill "have probably put an end to the Whig party of the South. Henceforth we owe them no allegiance and we mean never knowingly to give them our confidence or support."

When the bill appeared in the House, Mr. Meacham of Vermont opposed it. "The people," said he, “are

absolutely struck dumb by the audacity of the proposition. If this bill passes there will be raised in the North a more bitter and prolonged anti-slavery excitement than ever." He challenged the friends of the measure to make it an issue in the next campaign. He hoped if the bill were to become a law "it would be passed on the 26th inst. (May)—the day of the great eclipse-for there will rest on it 'the blackness of darkness forever'." All the Vermont Congressmen voted against the bill, but it passed the House on May 12, by a vote of 113 to 100, and the signature of President Pierce made it a law.

After the passage of the Nebraska bill by the Senate, and before action had been taken by the House, meetings were held in great numbers throughout the North, A call was issued for protesting against the measure. such a meeting to be held at Montpelier on March 2, 1854, an appeal being made "to the opponents, irrespective of party distinction, of the proposed abrogation of the Missouri act, forever prohibiting slavery in the territory acquired from France north of 36 degrees 30 minutes." This meeting was called to order by George W. Bailey of Middlesex. William French of Williston was elected president and E. P. Walton, Jr., of Montpelier, editor of the Vermont Watchman, was one of the secretaries. Among those actively engaged were William P. Briggs of Richmond, D. P. Thompson and F. F. Merrill of Montpelier, H. B. Stacy of Burlington, E. D. Barber of Middlebury and William M. Pingry of Weathersfield. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted: "Whereas, it is proposed to abrogate

the provision made by Congress in 1820, prohibiting slavery forever in the territory acquired from France, lying north of 36 degrees, 30 minutes; therefore,

"Resolved, That we, freemen of Vermont, in State convention assembled, do most solemnly protest against such abrogation in the name of freedom, of patriotism, and of the sacred requirements of our holy religion."

"We protest against it as treason to the cause of human freedom; as a clear violation of the faith of the Government, which was pledged to the people 'forever,' by the very terms of the act of 1820; and as intended to extend the unrighteous and abominable system of American slavery into a vast territory, which has been sacredly dedicated to Freedom.

"We protest against it as an act which will destroy the confidence of the people in the integrity of their Government, and the stability of its laws, and disturb the peace and endanger the prosperity of the Union.

"We protest against it as an act against right, without excuse without rightful authority, and, therefore, to be repudiated and resisted by the people, to the last extremity.

"Resolved, That in the readiness of the South to absolve themselves from all obligation imposed upon them by the Missouri Compromise, so-called—a measure proposed by the South, unwillingly acceded to by the North, and by men of all sections looked upon as an enactment possessing a sanctity second only to that of the Constitution itself, and, of course, of binding force upon all-we are admonished that too much reliance has been placed upon the honor and 'chivalrous' good faith of the