Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-07

ed has freedom therein--and il is turtle, ex.
pressly declared, that "he shall be delivered
" on claim OF the party to whom such SER
vice or labor may be due" The above ex-
tracts contain all that can be found in the
Constitution of the United States, which has
the most remote relation to Slavery, except
proviso, in the 9Th article, relating to fu.
ture amendments, and which goes to prohib.
it any amendment which may be made, pri.
or to the year eighteen hundred and eight,
from affecting in any manner" "the impor.
tation OF such persons as any Of the States,
now existing shall think proper to admit
Here then is an end of the Constitution on
the subject OF Slaves and Slavery Let US
then endeavor TO concentrate our ideas lit
tie, on the above extracts And frst-we
see that the Constitution, article LIST, sec. Cd,
clause Sd, allows the blacks in their aegre.
gate capacity of numbers. TO affect the repre-
sentation Of those States, in Congress in
which they reside. Who ratified and accept
ed the Constitution of the U. S. with this
clause attached toit2 Ans--All New Eng.
land did Secondly.-article LIST, sec. 9th.
clause list; here the Constitution expressly
declares, that the importation Of such per
sons as any Of the States, now existing,
shall think proper TO admit, shall not be pro-
hibited prior tothe year eighteen hundred and
eight, &c. Who supported the above clause
in the Convention, whilst the Constitution
was yet forming2 Ans.-Norfkern Mem
bers. Who the more gladly ratified and ac-
cepted the Constitution although containing
the above clause2 Ans-All the Northern
States Tbrdly.-the Constitution, article
18th. Sec cd, clause Sd, declares in substance,
that when servant fees from his master,
in Virginia or Georgia, and takes refuge in
Massachusetts, mo law or regulation" in
the latter State shall prejudice the claim Of
the master TO his right Of service in the
Slave but that said Slave shall be given up
on the claim Of the rightful owner Again
let me ask. who assisted in forming this very
clause, and afterwards ratified and accepted
the Constitution with this understanding Of
this clause staring them inthe face? Ans
All the Northern States accepted and ratified
this modification OF Slavery alsol Thus il
appears that there is nothing contained in the
Constitution Of the United States. which en-
courages the hope, that Congress can ever
interfere, in any manner with persons held
to service" Ii does not say that they shall
ever be freed. II does not inform us that
Slavery is wroDg-nor that it is right; but
it does say in language not to be misunder
stood, that those States which hold this spe.
cies Of property. shall be protected in the
enjoyment of the right. Consequently ifthis
domestic right is secured to its possessor by
the Constitution, then it was never intended
that general government should interfere
with it. The people of these States were
particularly cautious in establishing Fed
eral Union, TO limit and define those powers
which they were about TO surrender for the
general good. Hence they specified the pow
ers which they intended Congress should
exercise; and they as specifically define and
name certain other powers which they ex-
pressly declare Congress shall never NEEDLE
with And finally, to avoid all ambiguity
and effectualy to restrain the exercise Of
doubtful powers, they expressly declare, that
1.-The powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, MOI prohibited by
il to the States, are reserved to the States re-
spectively, or to the people" And again.
THE enumeration in the Constitution OF
certain rights. shall not be construed to deny
or disparaee others retained by the people"
The domestic rights and local interest OF the
people in the individual States are not touch
ed by the Constitution. The Federal Gov
eminent is limited to few general powers.
1t is a trustee for the general concern whose
duties are explicitly defined-and the exer-
else of all others explicitly forbidden. Was
this Constitution ratified by all the States
Yes Is this Constitution binding on all p
Yes. Art. O." This Constitution and the
laws of the United States which shall be
made in pursuance thereof" SC. SC, +" Shall
be the supreme law Of the land" But IL
may be asked can the Constitution be con-
sidered as morally binding on every citizen
in the United Statesi Undoubtedl y-for il
citizen is not morally bound 10 defend the
government. and to obey the laws OF his
choice, and his own making-neither can
he be morally bound to protect or defend his
person and his own household from violence,
because the latter is consequent with, and de-
pendant on the former. If "a man is morally
bound 10 provide for comfort. and defend his
wife and children from want. or from peril,
then most assuredly he is bound to protect,
support and defend those laws, which were
established for that very purpose. and with
out which, such protection cannot be secured
If as we read in the volume of inspiration
that "the powers that be, are ordained Of
God" who can doubt the sacred obligations
which rest upon us all, to obey and support
that constitutional government which, In SO
signal manner, was formed underline guild
ance of His providential agency. ;,
With great respect, your friend . H.
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