The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-03-30
THE MIsrAD CAST
BY DAVID NJ. CAMP

DAVID NJ CAMP.
g. That tho slave ccde is destitute of that prin-
| ciplc Of law which ais binding all the globe,
| and in all countries and at all times" is shown in
the fact that slaves are safe and free, whenever so
fortunate 10 escape beyond the reach of force;
| tho law having been found in nnumerable nstan-
entirely insufficient 10 compel return 10 their
masters, or secure indemnify for their absence.
Some thousands Of instances, in the Province of
Canada, speak in no equivocal language, declaring
hat the laws ofthe southern prison house are not
recognised us binding in other countries. If the
compacts between the slave holders possessed the
force we'll the form of law, the cold returns Of
the British Government to applications for a re-
tmn of runaway slaves, would at any time justify
on our part declaration of war. That this has
OF been done, is tacit but very emphatic decar-
alton that these pretended laws indeed nothing
bu compacis, tg89 rraars1
The same thing is proved by the settled practice
fsome OF the free states to refuse TO re turn slaves
who have escaped from their masters; but have
been brought into such states with their consent
The constitutional provision the subject, making
the practice in the free states thus to differ from
that of Caaadn.
a. But the real character o f that law, of which
slavery is the creature is not exhibited in tho
duct Of the British authorities and those of the free
states only; the virtually admitted by slave
holders themselves. The IMMUNITY with which
they suffer their pretended rights to be irampled
upon beyond their territorial Limits, incontesubly
proves consciousness that the institution has
foundation in moral right, even themselves being
judges 1t has always been and the trainers of
the national constitution treated it. IF the blacks
were righIaiy slaves, then, Gas declared by their
masters compacts), "they were property to all in
tents, purposes and constructions whatever" but
this dem led by the constitution, for they are
be enumerated, once in ten years as persons and
three fths, at least far from being property,
that they are pant of the basis of population
which representations and direct taxes are appor-
toned among the different states. Property forms
no part of that bnsis.
Again the compromise Of adverse interests be-
tween the free and the slave states, by which the
slave trade could be prohibited after twenty years,
is believed to be an admission that that trade was
immoral or sinful. If il in the first place APP
proved on the score Of expcdicncy yet the slave
holders subsequently united in carrying that
promise into effect and finally in denouncng the
trade piracy, which never would have been
done, if they intended only declare 1t impoli,ic
or inexpedient But the kidnapping and transpor-
aton Of persons to this country with an intent to
manu- tnc RECEPTION vi tneTn anu car
rying out that intent and holding them and their
descendants in this condition, all acts Of the
same moral character and equally violations Of the
laws of God. If the first be admitted sinful the
others sinful also. Therefore, in the constitu
tonal provision Tor prohibiting the importation of
slaves and the subsequent measures of the naiona,
government based upon that provision, slavehol.
ders have themselves given sentence of con-
domination against slavery in language strong
and unequ:vocal, though perhaps intended to be
weak and obscure, The aboliionists have ever
used. H@
| This is also further and yet more cleurv in
that curious revision of the constitution already
referred to: tho last paragraph Of section second,
article fourth 1t has been said the southern states
never would have adopted the constitution without
this, or some equivalent provision. Were this
wanting fugitive slaves would be safe in the free
states as they in Canada Hence the value
set upon it by persons holding this precautions kind
Of property. "'h
But il 'ssavery is the creature of law }" if that is
"property which the law makes property and if
human law, including the slave code, is based upon.
the law Of nature, which sis binding over all the
globe, in all countries and all times" then the
provision is useless, because the rights Of slavehol-
ders are secure without it, No one thought
the right property any thing but slares iuse-