The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-02
COMMUNICATIONS.
SLAVE POLICY.


able terms--just 10 ourselves, hossSabls to her,
and equitable TO the union. Great doubts DO
exist however, whether this object can be
fully attained in any mode Immediately before
Congress.
Ii the proposition for her admission were pred
icsted upon the condition OF her eypunging SLA-
VERY from her constitution, itmght come to solae
purpose. But otherwise there CO be no efectual
security for the rights Of csitasashp guaranteed
| by the federal constitution aud ID il perfectly
| frutless TO think of any. The Aptrer 10 exclude
free blacks and mulattoes is an Inevitable infer
,nee FROM the PriviIegeof holding slaves. 1t is
| the mere fruit Of the tree. You might as well
try to stop the muddy waters Of the Missouri from
flowing into the Mississippi, 10 prevent the leg
islatnfe from excluding all other persons OF colour
| who might intermix among their slaves.
The truth Is uuquestionabie, that IL is necesss-
~ for those states which hold slaves TO exclude
| free blacks II is a conclusion embraced with
| reluctance but it is absolutely forced upon the
conviction from The agitation Of this very contro-
yeTsy; the result Of which has produced an alto
gether unexpected and profound impression Of
the Importance attached by those states, in which
there are the greatest swarms, TO the exclusion Of
this species of population The authority is re
gardsd by them vital to their safety-as essen
tial TO their very exis.encc as the atmosphere in
which they breathe--and that we might Just as
| well take their lives wrench from them the
securities which they hold upon their slaves
Hence therefore the ferocity with which they
pei an assumption, which all their confidence in
the purity and patriotism of those who advance it.
cannot prevent them from considering as war IN
disguise.
| Hence slss the attitude they are obliged to
! take in self deiencs against the constitution.
| hey say, " If tins ~ the meaning OF the compact
you set up, it was entered into unadvHedly on
| our part-and however you may esteem this pro-
vision the basis Of the system, must hold it
void in regard 10 US, unless you will assent to
consiructisn of II, which shall exclude these poo
pie from its speration." The original Missouri
question was nothing in their minds to this. That
went only to their rsIief-Ths goes to the havoc
and confusion Of their whole society The relief
they could reasonably expect from taat expedient
was comparatively ANAL while the mischief
they apprehesd from the present principle 10 to
! tally istsrminable. What they contended for
before was comparatively an abstract prsposltton.
interfering at farthest with some obsolete spscu-
iations concerning state sovereignty, &c. and
they were perfectly satisfied that their slaves
were safe enough at home, if they could not push
the overplus into the west. Whatever they
might advance in the way OF argument, they had
not the smallest fear in reality, that tn. pretsn-
sions set up IN support of the right Of Congress
restrict the national domain in respect TO slavery.
would be extended as TO NEEDLE with the in-
stitutsn In the original states of the uaon, where
II was established by a prescription eldsr than
the constitution itssf--Rut here il is evident the
case is altered. The provision Of the constitution
now IN question 10 universal. Ii is the very basis
cithe union 1t comes upon them therefore like
fash of lightning. And they at once perceive
by mers dint of intuition, that there be
power exercised over Missouri in this matter,
which doe, not extend equally to Virginia, Geor-
eis and the Carolinas-and they are accustomed
consequently, 20 reason from the cases indiher-
ently-drawing very ominoas conclusions In re-
gard to THAR own.
IL is plain that this is stated in a strong light
and we ready to meet it in all its force. The
truth is, that the poltsy pursued by the Slave
States on this subject 10 lncontrorertiole and in
regard to the original members of the contedsra-
cy, where the m schief has get it were the
upperhand OF them, we must Geq'aesce IN its nat
ural and perhaps unavoidable operaton-howev-
er ill it may square with some Of our conceptions
Of the Constit utlon. We must submit to this in
Engagement of the rights Of the citizen we do
to The susPension of The habeat e0rDus ia seasons
OF great public calamity and danger. II may
psrhaps be necessary consequence Of the orr
gInal principles Of concession, on which the con.
stitution founded: and little we must con
fcss we admire the increase Of this obnoxious sps
cses Of population among ourselves, We ars dis
posed to consider Il as evil with which hose
states. which more fortunately situated, are
in some measure bound by the spirit Of the COM
pact TO compound, in order to cooperate with
those of the Slave States, who cannot be accus-
cd Of having brought it upon themselves, in re-
lievlng them from il by the only prosperous ex-
pedient, that appears yet 10 present ITSELF 10 lc
emancipation. IL is very certain, and indeed il
Is sckno~ lodged, thsl unless some such success
| IA expedieHt Is adopted, a final csnvulsion.
though II may be postponed, cannot be avoided
ne Tree states stand il were in the gan
befsesn the lying and The dead 10 stay the plague
| In order TO guard against the svent or diminish
the danger Of explosion, they may be willing ID
have their agency employed as conductors "a
carry of the electrical excess a. fast as it col
ieets. And : 10 free the foul BOSOM of the Com
monweslth from II this psriIous stuff they are
content TO administer 10 the disease though AZ
The consequence Of exposing themselves to the
I discharge.
But they can do no more. Patience may do H.
I perfect work but, charity must have some limit
and the highest and purest beneyolence must be
7 bounded W other moral aud social obligation.
This comfy therefore should be confn.d 10
those sections IN which Slavery existed at the
\ formation Of the constitution. For let IT be con
sidsred 10 what the free States thus voluntarily
subject themselves. In effect it really amounts
10 ths, that 'se are obliged 10 support ihstr DGrI
PtTs. Now this refuse OF their population adds
very little TO the elective force Of ours. and moth
ing az All TO our resources, upon whish itEa
mere dead weight. However therefore We NAV
&c disposed 10 extend our alns to The unlortu-
nate and 70 aid those who ar. not responsible ~
thsir condition. n j. maniiestly impossible "a ex
tend The sans indulgsace ~ those who have 60
uracsa me mi'ehi.f from free choice, AMI adopted
VI q HNNn 10 II.