Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-07-10
FOR THE SPECTATOR.

10 slavery, and yet denies the right OF
congress to prohibit it's introduction into
Missouri, answer the following ques-
tons.
Is the country called the Louisiana
purchase, the property of the people OF
that country, or Of the people ofthe Unit
ed States at large?
If it be the property of the latter, who
Shall decide whether it shall be free or
a slave country? Shall it be the repre-
sentatives Of the TEN MILLIONS of
people who compose the nation, and
whose joint funds purchased it, and who
are, themselves, their friends and rela-
tions, to occupy and settle it? Or, shall
it be the few thousands who are now
settled in It
In an extent of country capable of
sustaining six millions of our inhabi-
tants, shall it be considered a reasonable
demand from the nation to allow to a
few thousand the right of deciding a
question Of such vital importance, mere
ly because those few, from pecuniary
interest, wish for the future federation of
slavery? Would not this be giving up
the rights of the many into the hands of
a few?
1t is denied that congress has the right
to interfere with this subject. But what
are the objects of the constitution of the
United States, as declared by the pre-
amble to that instrument?
They are, "to form more perfect
union, establish justice, ensure domes-
tic tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity." Does the
eXtenaion of slavery, then, render the
union more perfect? Or, does it not in
crease that cause from which disunion
is ultimately to be unprecedented? Does
it establish justice' Or, is it not unjust
to enslaye fellow being ? Does it insure
domestic tranquility? Or, does it not lay
the foundation Of discord, and even Of
domestic rebellion Does it promote the
general welfare? Does it provide for
the common defence Or, does it not
weaken the country, by placing in its
own bosom an eXcitable and ihvsterate
foe Does it secure the blessings Of
LIBERTY to ourselves and our posteri-
ty? Or, does it not most certainly en-
courage and keep alive the ultimate
means of enslaving us, or our posterity /?
1.-THE extension of slavery does not fur
ther these great and fundamental objects,
does congress discharge its duty to the
people in allowing it 20
But we are told that congress may
admit new states into the union, and also
that the United States shall guarantee
to each state a republican form of gov
ernment:" and that this is the only pow
er congress has over constitution; and
it is then urged that domestic slavery is
not anti-repubiican- But by the same
article of the constitution it is declared
that the United States shall protect each
state against invasion, and upon applica-
ton of the legislature, or of the execu-
tive (when the legislature cannot be
tionvened) they shall be protected against
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. If, then, it is the
duty of the United States to protect each
state against invasion and domestic vio-
lence, IS 1t not proper for congress to
prevent those causes which do not now
exist by constitutional sanction, and which
might render the state more vulnerable,
or which might, and must, in the end,
lead to domestic violence?
The first section of the eighth article
Of the constitution says, {" The congress
shall have power to lay and collect taxes,
duties, irnposts, and excuses, to pay the
debts, and provide for the common de-
fence and general welfare of the United
States" And by the 18th section of the
same article, power is given to make all
laws which shall be necessary and hroter
for carrying into execution the foregoing
powers, sc. Now, if it is the duty Of
the nation to protect each state against
invasion, and domestic violence, and to
provide for the common defence and
1eyare Of the whole, and the interdc-
ZION of Slavery in Missouri, or in any
6tner new state, is g hroher'" to effect
any of these ends, then congress clearly
has the express right to legislate upon
the subject, because they have the right
to pass all laws that are necessary and
proper to effect those objects. /!
Again: The practice of slavery has
an influence upon the general policy of