Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-26

DEolCDSS " bBo uototdl W DSS4eA SSh6es
lions. This is true view Of this law.
That it will have that full operation,
which its advocates bepe and expect;
that it will ELL your armies with runa.
ways from their matters and fathers,
do not believe. Bat that j, viii Lave
very great operation l know. The
temptation to some Of Our youth will be
| be irresistible. With my consvn.7 thcy
| shall never be exposed IN it.
offer another consideration. The
constitu,ion Of the United States, de-
clares, in its seventh amendmcn:---
" Private property shall net be taken tor
| public use, without just compensation.
| Now Of Ill the property which the lava
Of the northern states secures to thu
people of that country, that which con.
si.ts in the labor Of the minor, & which,
by our laws, is sacred 10 the gaardian,
master or parent, is perhaps the BIOS,
| valued and most precious to our me-
chapic., manufacturers and yeomen.
Yet when the gentleman from New
York (Mr. StOwe) proposed TO secure
the wages and bounty Of the enlis,ins
miner, TO those to whom his service be-
.onged, it was rcjeeted.-What is this
cut palpable violation Of this provision
ofthe constitution What is it but taxi
ing private properly for public use,
without compensation
But; neither the pceunisry loss, nor
a. ..ol,t;o,x IF he sonetitvfion
the evil which | most deprecate. tits
the infringement efour moral rights and
The inroad which the bill makes III the
moral habits of cur quarter ofthe ccun.
Try. know that gentlemen are very
apt to sneer, when they hear any thing
said about eur religious institutions, or
moral habits, in the eastern country.
Bat I will explsn what mean. IL
is not our religious institutions, cur
sabbaths, our fasts, cur tbanksgivlnss
nor yet our schools, colleges and semi.
naries OF education, to which l refer,
when l speak Of our moral habits
These are but means and precautions,
1t is certain established principles Of
life and conduct, which without being
noticed in general laws are often the
foundation Of them, and which always
rule and controul cur positive institu.
ions. l do not know, for instance, tina.
the extent IF the moral tie, which binds
the son TO the father, or the apprentice
20 the master, is precisely assigned BY
any of our laws. Yet the principle, up
IN which all our laws on this subject
rests, is this THAT this Tie is sacred
and inyioIate. The law regulates, but,
exccp, in case of misconduct, never Sc
vers it.
know it is said, that in our country
minors are subjected to militia duty.
And so they are. But this very service
is proof Of the position, which main
tain. Their obligation to serve, in ths
militia, is always subject to the para
mount authority Of the master and the
parent.
The law says, it is true, that minors
shall be subject to militia duty. BIT it
also permits the father and the master
to relieve them from that obligation, at
an established price. If either will pay
the fine, Es nav retain the service Of tina
minor, free tom the militia duty. What
is the consequence of all this! Why,
that the minor always train. not free of
tho will, but sub iect TO the will of his
natural or legal guardians. The moral
tic is sacred. II is never broken. Its
aprircip.c, that, cases OF misconduct out
OF the question, the minor shall never
conceive himself capable oil escapin.
from The Wholesome and wise cor,roul
of his master ,r father. The proposed
law cuts sthwart this wise principle. It
breaches nfdeiity 1t makes every &c.
cruiting officer in your country an apos-
tic Of perGdy. 1t says to every win,
thoughtIess, discontinued. or ambitious
minor -" Come hither, here is an a.
sylum from your bonds. Here are va
ges and bounty for disobcdience-OEiY
consent to 60 to Canada-Forget what
yen owe to nature and your protectors
Go to Canada, and you shall find free
dom and glory. Such is the morality
OF this law.
Take slave from his master, on any
general and novel principle, and ,herS
would be all earthquake from the Poto-
tomac to the 81. Mary's. BSibo an sp-
prentice from his master; sedpcs son,
worth all The slaves Africa ever produc.
ed, from his father, We are told il is on.
" common affair 1t will be right
" hen there i. law for it. Such is now
he law in France
Mr. spcaker-I hope what am nov
bout to say will not be construed into
| thre4t. 1t is not uttered in that spirit,
,ut olf1y to evince the strength OF my
concerning the effect Of the
provisions Of this law on th= hepcs OF
New England, particularly Of Msssachu-
e.ts. But pass ii, and if,he legislatures
# the injured states do not come down
lpon your recruiting officers, with the