Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-07-03

acting IN conformity to then. What is
the conilagration Of city 10 the evils
which flow from slavery What, the
destruction of property to the banish-
ment of liberty, of virtue, OF happiness
1t slavery is crime, it is the duty of
Legislators to prevent its increase, and
provide for its diminution, by all the
means in their power IF it is al eUil,
they are bound, SO far as they are able,
to reduce it, or at least to prevent its
increase. 1t is the summit Of folly to
say, that, because congress cannot per-
form imhoS8i6iHtieS, they have no RIGHT
TO perform Possibilities. It's their right
and their duty to promote the general
welfare, to the extent of their constitu-
tional powers. And though it is out of
their power to effect the entire abolition
OF slavery, yet every rod of territory
which they may save or redeem from its
all-destroyiDg influence, will give them
an additional claim to the appreciation of
every friend of justice and humanity, and
to the plaudits of grateful posterity.-
On the other hand, with what execration
will their memory be loaded, if, while
they have the power to prevent it, they
permit slavery 20 obtain a permanent
ioot-hold in aVast and fertile region IF,
iorgetful of their duty to themselves, to
posterity, to the world, they suffer them
selves to be influenced by the clamor,
the menaces, or the solicitations of de.
signing persons?
In addition to the powerful motives
which impelled the house of representa-
tives, at their late session, to insist upon
their amendment to the Missouri state
bill, they will find, in the language which
has been used on this occasion by the
friends OF slavery, a very strong induce
ment to persist in that amendment. A
dissolution OF the union has been threat
ened by men who must soon, according
to the natural course of events, rely upon
the people of the free states for force
adequate to quell instructions among
the slave population. The house of
representatives have been loaded with
obloquy and abuse for their vote. To
reccde from their amendment, would,
therefore, be construed into an act of
cowardlce. But | will not harbor the
degrading suspicion that the house of
representatives can SO far abandon their
own dignity, the character of the nation,
and the welfare of future generations,
as to yield to the clamor of men who can
have no better object than to amass
wealth by the unhallowed speculation in
human flesh.
1t has been objected that neither con-
gress nor state Legislature has right
to declare that the unborn children of
slaves shall be free at certain age
The objection is easily refuted. Ifslave-
~ IS in itself zcrong, no law or custom
can make it right. The STAKEHOLDER had
no rtghyMt claim to the, parent; there
fore, he has no just title to the child
Governments, though instituted for the
promotion of justice, are frequently una
bic completely to fulfil that object
They are sometimes induced by motives
OF policy to wave the performance of
strict right. Justice would require the
immediate emancipation of every slave
IN the world; but policy would condemn
the measure as imprudent. Yet although
a government may be compelled to wave
the performance of justice in one case,
it does not follow that they shall do so in
every instance, even when no obstacles
exist. In the case of Missouri, all slaves
residing there at the formation Of a state
government, were, according to the pro-
posed restriction, to remain slaves for
life; but their future offspring were to
be free at the age of twenty-five years.
This provision takes away the property
of no one, even considering human beings
as property. 1t merely provides for
period when man shall no more be placed
on level with beasts of burden. 1t
DECLARES that the injustice which has
been and continues to be perpetrated
against the parent, shall not be suffered
to take place against the child.
On this question, as well as ON the
general subject of slavery, permit me to
direct your attention to the remarks of
the late Judge Tucker, Of Virginia;
gentleman not less distinguished as a
lawyer than as statesman and a patriot.
"Ihpse Shareholders" says Judge Tucker,
(whose numbers trust are few who have
been in the habit of considering their fellow
creatures as no more than cattle and the rest
OF the brute creation, will exclaim that they
are to be deprived of their property without
compensation. Men who will shut their ears
against this moral truth, that all men are by ma
ture free and equal will not even be convinced
that they do not possess property in an unborn
child they will not distinguish between al
lowing to unborn generations the absolute and
unalenable rights of human nature, and taking