Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-02-11

CipdtorSls unconstitutional. / do not say that
there are any words in the Constitution which
lorbld the discussions they are engaged in--I
know that there are not. And there is even
an article which secures to the citizens he
right to express and publish their opinions
without restriction. Butin the construction Of
the Constitution, it is always necessary to re-
fer to the circumstances under which it was
framed, and to ascertain its meaning BY a COM
parlson Of its provisions with each other, and
with the previous situation of the several
states who were parties toit. In portion of
these, slavery was recognized, and they took
care to have the right secured to them; to fol-
low and reclaim such ofthem as were fugitives
to other States. The laws Of Congress passed
under this power have provided punishment to
any who shall oppose or interrupt the exercise
OF his right. Now can any one believe, that
the instrument which contains a provision Of
this kind, which authorizes the master to pur-
sue his slave into another State, take him
back, and provides punishment for any citi-
zen, or citizens Of that State who should OPP 3
hir, should at the same time, authorize the
latter to assemble together, to pass Resolutions
and adopt Addresses, not only to encourage
the slaves to leave their masters but to cut
their threats before they do so
insist that if the citizens Of the non-slave-
holding States can avail themselves Of the ar
ticle Of the Constitution, which prohibits the
restriction Of speech, OF the press to publish any
thing injurious 10 the rights of the slaveholdine
States, that they can GO to the extreme that
have mentioned, and effect any thing further
which writing or speaking could effect. But,
fellow-citizens, these are not the principles Of
the Constitution. Such construction would
defeat one Of the great objects of its formation,
wi Oh was that of securing the peace and
harmony Of the States which were parties q
it The liberty Of speech and OF the press,
were gwen as the most effectual means to
preserve to each and every citizen their own
rights and to the States The rights which ap-
pertaned to them, at the time other adoption.
1t cOild never have been expected that it would
be u,ed oy the citizens of one portion of the
States for the purpose of d9priving those OF
another portion, Of tie rights which they had
reserved at the adoption Of the constitution,
and in the exercise Of which, none but them
selves have any concern or interest. If slave
ry is an evil, the evil is with them. If there is
guilt in it, the guilt is theirs, not ours, since
neither the States where il does not exist, nor
the Government of the United States can,
without usurpatiOn of power, and the violation
of solemn compact, do any thing 10 remove il
witgout the consent Of those who are immedi.
ately interested. But they will neither ask for
aid, nor consent to be aided, whilst the Illegal
prosecuting and dangerous movements are in
progress, ofwhich complain; the interest o.
all concerned requires that these should be
stopped Immediately. This can only be done
by the force Of public opinion, ard that cannot
too soon be brought into operation. Every
movement which is made by the aboltionist:
| in the non-slaveholdmg States, is viewed BY
| our Southern brethren, as an attack upon then
rights, and which, if persisted in, must in ,ht
end eradicate those feelings of attachment anC
affection between the citizens of all the States
which was produced by community of inter
ests and dangers in the Wa of the Resolution
which was the foundation of our happy Union
and by continuance Of which, it can alone b.
preserved. I entreat you tlren, to frown upor
the measures which are to produce results 81
much TO be deprecated. The opinions which
have now given, have omitted no opportuni
ty for the last two years TO lay before the PEG
pie of my own State. have taken the libert,
to express them here. knowing that even ifthe.
should unfortunately not accord with yours
that they would be kindly received.