Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-04-07
0WR PRBSS
PACIEICJJS:
N lumber III.
SUPPRESSION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

|
10 Lord Ashburton, saws Slavery exists in the =
Iouthern States Of this Union under The guaranty of
'ur Federal Constuton., The patriots who franz.
surs he blessings Of Lberiv" Mr. Webs,ers afirms
that they "gudrdntied sidrery." Did Madison and o
Washington. and Franklin say one thing, and do an
ons OF h WsS'e mistaken . the .h
eer be correct, it follows, Of course that the free
States are involved in all the quill disgrace and re-
sponsibifity OF slavery; and the position assumed in
more liable to support slavery than the slave States
are to abolish it," is erroneous and unfounded.-Ths 4
doctrine Of MI Webster is often asserted by south
ern shareholders, as well as by northern men, who I.
appear anxious to impress our people with the idea
that the free States thus subsidiary TO the slave
States and involved in all the hateful consequences
with them have nothing to do, my business is with
their arguments. Our country and postery will !
hold them responsible 70, their attempts to induce
our people to yield up their own constitutional rights,
and the slave trade. To arouse people TO the in
vestigation OF our constitutional rights in regard to
this subject, and to inspire them to patriotic and
frm maintenance Of our interests and honor is the
duty Of the public press, and of public men.
To the people of Ohio and Of the free States, de-
clare tins doctrine unsupported by any clause IN our
s,rument. The patriots who framed that "bond of
Union" made no such degrading stipulation on the
part Of northern freemen. If that instrument had
contained any clause susceptible of doubtful con-
and ought to be so construed as TO the bes-
sings ofiibertH rather than to perpetuats slarery
But there is no clause that cam in the opinion Of the
writer, be deemed doubtful, that by any strained
construction, can be said to guaranty slavery. The
9TH section Of the 4h article is, however, quoted in
support Of the doctrine referred to. 1t reads as fol-
lows: 1.-THE United States shall guaranty to every
STATE in this Union, a republican. form Of Gorern-
nsnt and shall protect them against invasion, and
on application of the executive. when the Legislature
cannot be convened, against domestic riolence."
VIA fnpl ,,,y, 20 IN 81,
Republican form Of government and not with slave
~. II can hardly be expected that any will sup.
pose these terms to be synonymous; is believed,
however. that those who adhere to the doctrine now
contended against rely upon the last clause which
pledges the protection Of the United States against
domestic riolence."
The history e"neernug the insertion of,hs rroyi.
in the State of Massachusetts. This insurrection
threatened the overthrow not only ofthe government
Of that State, Tut portended The downfall of all the
other State governmenis.-W While they were thus
dangered it discovered that authority existed
in the old articles of confederation, by which the
troops ofone State could be employed to suppress
insurrec,on in another This difficulty gave rise TO
the adoption of this clause for suppressng domestic
violence. Massachusetts was then the only State
that had abolished sarery In this history it is diff.
II is impossible to see how any legal mind can tor.
ture this clause into such guaranty. 1t is simply
prov sion for suppressng instruction ltapplies
much to the State as to sidres States and would
have been adopted had no slavery existed in either
Of the States 1t has no rela to the character of
the insurgents whether they be black ,ctite bond
men freemen, masters Slaves. II an instruction
actually take place, the power Of the Federal Gov.
eminent must be employed TO put it down, if milder
measures will not effect that object. But the Presi.
dent, when caedAn for aid 10 suppress an nsurrec.
ton cannot stop TO inquire into the cause from which
il arose. He is entirely unauthorized to withhold
such aid in case il arise from the abolition ofsayery
The truth u.s. the Federal Constitution considers slaves
Is persons; and draws distinction in regard 10
a.. >L., II, IL. H..
States troops arrive upon the theatre of action they
must direct their efforts suppressng the violence
II is their duty to STAY all persons found in arms
against the public tranquility. The master and slave
fighting side by side against the public authority must
both be slain whou, distinction, and without inquir-
ing into their relations to each other
When the violence is suppressed, the duty of the
troops will be performed IT. then every slave in
the nation peaceably leares his master and strrs for
CANADA, there is no power IN the Federal Govern.
ment to send our troops after hem to set them as
aguard to prevent their es'ape The duty of the Pres
ident and of the troops is to suppress the piolence
and not to support slarery Such escape of slaves
would prove total abolition of slavery. Where then
would be the guaranty? But suppose the slaves en-
rage in, and continue the violence; it would then he
the duty of our troops sdy them. Would such Kill.
ling ofsares be support OF siorery? 1t would be 90
far an abolition ofsavery, and if all the slaves be thus
slain, slavery would b. abolished (or no new impor.
tations can be made under our laws). Where then
viii be onr guaranty Asa. if the SLAVES should
stubborny refuse 10 labor or to o. e, their maslers
thew would thereby work the abolition of slavery
Eut would such act oblrate the Federal Government
70 furnish obedient servants? or should they commit
suicide and thereby abolish the institution would ihe
United States become liable as cuarantors7 Or were
thew 10 pursue course of secret destruction of the
msster's propcr,y and thus compel their owners n
emancipate them could the shareholders demand in
demnit, of the Federal Government? Or SHOULD In,
slave pursue anv other course which would ineyi,,bl,
DESTROY thai institution would the Federal Govern
ment be held re ponsibe? apprehend but one an
swer can be given to these inerrogatores But som
politicians eive more loose and indefinite construc
ton TO this section They hold that, rs Congress /
bound to lend its protection when called on 10 sun
press domestic violence i, is their duty in time q
peace to provide arms, troops and Notifications 70
that purpose and 10 have them so distributed as TO in
timida,e the slaves 10 obedience If this constructor
be correct il certainly on, that was not foreseen
intended by the trainers of the Constitution If it b
correct the freernen of the north may be taxed I
erect fertilization IN every plantation south of "Ms
son and Dixon's line" and to furnish BODY guar
70 every Shareholder and overseer in the United State
Indeed, such construction would render it the dut
Of our freemen Of the north 10 go to the slave State
and act as ite-guards TO the Shareholders But thel
is, in THE section, no authority for the Federal Gov