Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-11-11

property 10 slaves But the law Of my
State and other States have Otherwise
ordained, The law may b. wrong, 10
your opinion and ought 10 be repealed;
but then, you and your associates are
not the law makers; and unless you can
show authority to nuIlify our laws we
must continue 10 respect them Until
the law is repealed we must be excused
from asserting the rights-aye. the pro
perry 10 slaves which it sanctions au-
thorl2es. and vlndlcates.
And who are the petitioners whose
organ you assume 10 be! have no
doubt that many Of them are worthy,
sp'able a0d humane p%ersoua, who, by
erroneous representations, have bsen
induced iLconslderalely TO afix Their sig
natures 10 this petition, and that they
will deeply regret it Others, and not
a few, ! am told, are free blacks, men
women aud children, who have been
artfuIly deceived and imposed upon. A
very large portion | am credIbly inform.
ed, are the political opponents Of the
party to which | belong Democrats as
they most undeserVediy call themselves,
who have eagerly seized this opporrUni.
~ to wound, as they imagined, my teeI-
ings, and to aid the cause TO which they
are attached. 10 other quarters Of the
Union Democrats claim 10 be the exciu.
siVe champions Of Southern interests,
the only safe defenders OF the rights in
slave property, and unjustly accuse US
Wings with abolition designs, wholly IN
compatible with its security. What
ought these distant Democrats 10 think
of the course Of their friends here who
have united ~ this petition!
And what is the foundation Of this ap.
peal to me 10 Indiana 10 liberste the
slaves under roy care 10 Kentucky? Ii
IS a general declaration in the act of an
nouncing to TIE world the Independence
Of the thirteen American Colonies, that
all men are created equal. Now, as an
abstract princlpie, there is no doubt Of
The trUth Of that declaration; and it is
desirable in the O%rlginaI construction Of
society, and in organized societies, 10
keep it in view as a great fundamental
principle, Bat, then, | appreheud that
in no society that ever did exist. or shall
exist, was or can the equality asserted
among the members OF the human race,
he practically enforced and carried out,
There are portions OF It, large portions,
wnmeu. minors, insane, cuIprlts, trans
ient Sojouraers, Mat will always proba
bly, remain subject to the government Of
another portion Of the community.
That declaration, whatever may be
the extent Of its import, was ma e by
the delegations of he thirteen States -
In most OF them slavery existed and had
long existed, and was established by law,
1t was Introduced and forced upon the
Colonies by tha paramount law Of Eng
land. Do you believe that in making
that declaration, the States that concur
red 10 II intended that II should be tor
iured into virtual emancipation Of all
the slaves within their respective limits
Would Virginia and the other Southern
States have ever united in o declaration
which was 10 be interpreted into an alb
clifton oil slavery among themi Did
any one Of the thirteen States entertain
such a design or expectation? To i'm.
|, pute such a secret and unaVowed pur
pose would be 10 charge a political fraud
upon the noblest band Of patriots tina
ever assembled in council. a fraud upor
, the contederacy of the Revolution, q
fraud upon the Union of these States
whose Constitution not only recognized
the I%awlU'ness Of slavery, but permitted
, the importation Of slaves from Alrlc'
, until the year lS0S, And | am bold Il
, say that, if the doctrines of ultra poliu
ca abolltionists had been seriously pro
mu gated al the epoch olthe Revolution
our glorious Independence would nrve
have been achieved, Never! never!
Great applause and many voices echo
ing "Never."
know the predominant sentiment il
Z the free States is adverse TO slavery
but happy in their own exemption, Iror
whatever evils may attend it, the grea
t mass Of our fellow citizens there do nc
t seek to violate the Constitution or I
} disturb the armony Of those STATES.
Z desire no conceaIment Of my opinions i
regard to the institution of slavery.
look upon 1t as a great evil and deepl,
. lament that we have derived it froT
II the parental government and from gu
ancestors, wish every slave 10 tn
n United States was in the country Of h
Ancestors, But here they are aOd III
question is. how can they best be dea
Is ~ithY " slate of nature existed an
we we're about to lay the foundations {
society, no man would be- more strongI
u oppose than ! should be. 10 incOrpora;
.e the institution Of slavery among its ele
"a Il.N l. L.