The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-09-12
We are not satisfied.

In The last Herald, is copied from the Ma
tionsl lnlelligencer, a short account Of the
Constitution of MISSOURI by which we
learn, that Slavery and involuntary seIvilude'
are established IN that territory or State
and the Legislature is empowered to pass laws
10 prohibit The introduction OF slaves, who una y
have committed any high crime III any other
State or territory also To prohibit The intro
duciion OF slaves on speculation, or as an arI'
Gle OF trade also TO prohibit the introduction
of slaves, who may have been or may be
imported from any foreign eoua,ry also 10
permit the owners OF slaves 10 emancIpale
them on certain conditions.
As the legislature will be composed Of the
masters Of slaves, they may exercise The above
powers. or iorbear 10 exercise them, as they
please but it is made the duty OF the legisla-
lure to pass laws to prevent free negroes and
mu'altoes coming TO settle in the Stale; also
10 obige the owners of slaves TO treat them
with humanity also to secure TO slaves right
of trial by jury also to punish masters. who
shall malciously deprive ofiiie, or dlsmember,
a slave.
As the slaves cannot be tried by their peers,
they viii not have security under the above
laws, as ireemen would have still their con.
dilton may be alle,iaied.
1t is asked, a, the foot OF the account,
I" FRIENDS OF RESTRICTION, ARE YOU NOT
SATISFIED" Is there any thing in the above
account calculated 10 satisfy men, who con-
tend for a total prohibition OF slavery 10 Mis-
sour, as II is prohibited 10 Chic, Illinois, and
Indiana? Whether the party in favour Of re
stiiciion, were IN the night or wrong, has moth
ing 10 Go with the enquiry. That party was
opposed TO the existence II slopery IN States
hey ond The Mississippi. Probably they ought
10 have resisted il, when il passed the bounds
of States which were parties to our Constitu
ton. The opponents OF slavery did not wake
IN season. While they slept, the evil became.
as the event has proved, too g,eat for redress.
Too late they raised their voices in favour OF
restrictions A small majority Of the Congress
dc clded sgainst them.
Do any OF yonr readers remember he motto
on the helmets Of the soldiers of the revolution,
" LIBERTY, OR DEATH ?" In thai day, slavery
was declared to be worse than death and
In our Declaration OF Independence, all men
are SAID to he equal but as slavery was es
idbliSnpu IN some OF TIE States, 3UU dS the
evils OF speedy emancipation were meal.
oulable, provision was made against these
evils We consider the condition Of the sons
of Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, and
Georgia in connection with this subject, very
different from that of lie settlers Of new ter.
r,,ory We are disposed TO give all due
credit to those men OF enlarged views, who
are wiling to ensave tens Of thousands Of the
human race. and their posle'liy for ever, be.
cause II will be convenient for the Inhabitants
of a sister State. However noble or Philan-
ihropic may be such views, we do mol partake
OF them and although we may subma 10 the
introduction, diffusion, and perpetnily OF
slavery, Throughout, the great territory be-
yond the Mississippi; yet. when the friends OF
restriction see siarsry established by the Con-
sliiuiion of Missouri, THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED.
30 long as every settler in Missouri may
hold slaves, and may sell The father, the moth
er. or the children, the light proyisoes in the
Constitution will be OF little service TO The slave.
lie is deprived Of bis lawful liberty, OF his