Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-11

more wcighty N congress than what the
people of that state will Justify. Sup
pose the subject of war agitated in con-
grcss, the slave states could bring the
nation into war, when the free states
would from necessity have to fight the
battles: and any other measure may be
carried by this fictitious representation,
when there will not be people to justify
it; which is vitality subversive of a repre-
sentatives.s. .sfn of government. There
fore the Introduction of slavery into Mis-
souri,, or any new state, vitality affects
the whole union.
This is so sclf-evident, that any farther
comment on it would be wasted. The
power of inspiration could not prove the
contrary doctrine. Then congress have
the right to prevent the introduction OF
slavery into Missouri, or into any other
new state. From this view of the sub
iect, every man in the union is affected
by the introduction of slavery into Mis-
souri,, and consequently it is not private
local concern only with themselves.
| VIII llOW EAuilliilC liIC UCdty VI NSo-
sion of Louisiana to the United States,
and conclude. L deem the doctrine cor
rect, that the president and senate have
no power to incorporate into a treaty any
matter that is not necessarily connected
with the same; but 1 will not avail my
self of this principle, not because it is
incorrect, but because do not need it.
The third article of the above treaty
provides in these words: &C that the in
4" habitants of the coded territory shall
be incorporated into the union of the
" United States, and admitted, as soon
/" as possible, according to the principles
" of the federal constitution, to the en-
!" joyment of all the rights, advantages,
and immunities of the citizens of the
" United States.' Thus i have tram
scribed the only operative clause in the
above treaty, to show that the mighty
mountain moulders into insignificancy at
the approach. Congress cannot deprive
citizen of Missouri of his rights of
property, or any other right: on this
reason, the people of Missouri ought to
retain their present slaves, and their
issue: but future slavery, or the intro
duction Of it, never can be said to be a
legal right in republican government.
In Missouri it is as it was in some of the
original states. 1t was unhappiIy found
in them so It is in Missouri.
Slavery, in no point of view, can be
called an advantage" not viewing the
slave at all, nor any of his rights. Even
the master is not advantaged by it. But
when the rights, advantages, and inn
munities of citizens," are examined, both
classes of citizens must undergo the
same examination. The slaves are in
habtants of the United States, are hui
man beings, are part of mankind, and are
ofcourse born free, and with equal rights,
from the declaration of our indepen-
dence. Then it cannot be said that it is
a " right or" advantage" for the slave
to be held in slavery. But in reality a
republican government has no power 10
create such species of property as
slaves. In the original states this sort Of
property began under the British gov
ernmcnt; in Missouri, under some of the
despotic powers of Europe; in the Uni
ted States it ought never to have a be-
ginning, nor extended. To allow it in
Missouri, or to allow its introduction
into any new state, is creating slavery.
Slaves are not transported from one state
to another by the claim or lien imposed
on them by the state they are leaving;
nor can they be held in slavery by such
a lien or claim. The frame Of govern
ment the state migrated to, must war;
rant their bondage, or they are free. This
is beyond doubt creating slavery; and
therefore out Of the power of our gov
eminent. For congress to admit any new
state into the union with slavery attached
to it, is the same as if congress passed
an act extending or creating it in such
new state. The same reasoning applies
to the word i" immunitics" in the same
manner as it did to "rights" and " adj
vantages," and believe no reasonable
man will assert they bind congress-
Thus conclude congress has the right
to restrain the introduction of slavery in
Missouri: as to the policy of it there
can be no doubt.
MAN.
Seh'. Cd, 1878.