The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-04-05

cede the whole continent to any one who
would take it, to England, 10 France, to
Spain-I would see it sunk in the bottom of
the ocean-beiore would see any part Of this
fair America converted into a Continental
Hay:i, by that awful process Of bloodshed and
desolation, by which alone such catastrophe
could be brought on. The great relation of
serviiude, in some form or other, with greater
or less departures from the theoretic- equality
OF man, is inseparable from our nature. I
know Of no way by which the form OF this SER
vitude shall be fixed, but political institution.
domestic slavery, though | confess not that
form OF servitude which seems to be most benz
etcial to the master-certainly not that which
IS most beneficial to the slave--is not, in my
judgment, to be set down as an immoral and
ireiigious relation. lfscannot admit that re-
llslon has but one voice TO the slave, and that
this voice is, " rise against your mastery No.
sir, the New Testament SAYS. 6 slaves obey
your masters" and though ! know full well.
that, IN the benignant operation of Chrstiani-
ty,whlch gathered master aud slave around
The same communion table, this unfortunate
institution disappeared in Europe, yet cam
not admit, that, while it subssts. lis duties
are not pre-supposed and sanctioned by relig-
ION. And though | certainly am not called
upon to meet the charges brought against this
institution, yet truth obliges me to say word
more on the subject. ] know the condition
OF the working classes in other countries:
am intimately acquainted with it in some 9th.
er countries, and have no hesitation in saw
ing, that believe the slaves in this country
are better clothed and fed, and less hardly
worked, than the peasantry of some of the
most prosperous States of the continent OF Eu-
rope. Consider the checks on population
read Nautilus. What keeps population down,
! Poverty, want, starvation, disease, and all
the MS OF lie; 1t is these that check popula-
tion all over the world. Now the slave pop
uiation IN the United States increases faster
| than the white. masters included, What is
inc inference as to the physical condition of
The two classes of society? These are opin-
ions have long entertained. and long since
| publicly protested on this subject, and which
here repeat in answer to the intimations to
which ! have already alluded. But, sir.
when slavery comes to enter into the Consti-
| tuition as political element, when il comes
TO AFFECT the distribution of power amongst the
STATES OF the Union, that is matter of agree
ment. Ii ! make an agreement on this sub
Ject, will adhere TO il like man; but will
protest against any differences being made
| from it of the kind, which was made by the
honorable mover Of these resolutions. will
protect agai"st f'-n.:::asT: e IS u..--.
being increased by the ratio of three-iifths Of
| the slaves.
| shall proceed now to offer few cursory
remarks on the merits of the different modes
OF choosing electors, as discussed by the hon.
orabe gentleman.
The gentleman passed lightly over the sp-
polntment of electors by the State Legisla-
lures tie treated it as a manifest usurpa-
in xrl Irsh Art 4 -
gentleman from N. Y. (Mr. Storrs) did in
tend to have said something more in detail on
| this subject; but the gentleman from Virginia,
| (Mr. SteFenson.) has so exhausted it, that it
snot necessary for me to go into that argu-
ment shall only remind the Committee, in
addition to what was stated by that GENTLE
man, that, IN the first appointment Of electors,
IN 1913, before the Constitution can be said
to have gone into complete operation al that
| early moment, very considerable proportion.
| all the States but three, did appoint their
electors by the act Of their Legislatures ln
| my own State, they we're appointed by the
concurrent act of the Legislature and the peo-
ple-the people in large districts making a
( nomination Of twice as many persons as the
State was entitled to appoint, from which the
Legislature selected the electors. We hear
great deal about contemporaneous exposi-
| ton, and we have the Federalist quoted, and
| Mr.. Dickinson quoted, and other sources Of
the same kind, which certainly hold in all
respect. But l do think the solemn acts -
the great majority of the Legislatures Of this
| country are as good contempofaneons expo
sitlon, as the speculations of any individual
| statesman, however respectable. An appoint
ment by the State Legislatures is not mode
that am partial tot is not popular in nv
State hnf i x,sth he
from South-Carolina, and the gentleman from
! New-YOrk, who spoke first on this subject, in
calling it a usurpation.
| Let us pass 10 the consideration of the Gen.
eral Ticket system.
! The first objection to this system which the
| honorable gentleman urged, was, that it had
the effect Of crushing the minority and he
drew distinction between that submits ION
of the minority to the majority, which is ne
cessary in all Governments, and Otal annihi-
ation and prostitution of the minority. must
say, sir, with great Difference, that this seem-
ed to me distinction witlsout difference
because, the choice is to result in an in6ivid-
ual. Suppose the President TO be chosen nv
distrcts--there are two hundred and sixty-
one votes; he may be chosen by one hundred
and thirty-two what will become of the re-
naming one hundred and twenty-nine in the
minority! Are they not annihilateds Are
tthey not crushed. Are they not Frustrated.
Where are they represented Where is fser
voice? Who knows or cares what they
think. The President is chosen by the Con-
stitutional majority Of districts. This is re-
suit from which, on the principles Of the hon
orable gentleman, you cannot escape. The
same holds in our State electious--in the cleo
ton OF Governor, which is the election which
calls out the heariest zeal Of the people ia
the State, |, in part, represent, and that for
very good reasons. There have been great
heats in these elections; they have been very
closely contested, and IN the vote OF eighty or