Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-17
NUMBER III.
Suppression Of Domestic Violence.
BY A WHO OF ONO.

Suppression of Domestic Violence.
The trainers Of our Federal Constitution
set forth in the preamble of that instrument,
the objects for which it was entered into.
One Of these objects is ITO SECURE TO OUR
SELVES, AND PosTERITY, THE BLESSINGS or
LIBERTY" Mr.. Webster, in his late letter
TO Lord Ashburon, says, "Slavery exists in
the southern States Of this Union under the
guaranty Of our Federal Constitution. -
The patriots who framed the Constitution,
declared their object was "to secure the bieS-
sings of Liberty" Mr.. Webster affirms
that they "gudrantied sidvery" Did Madi-
son aud Washington, and Franklin say one
thing, and do another, or is Mr.. Webster
mistaken in the assertion contained in his
letter; If this doctrine of Mr.. Webster be
correct, it follows, Of course, that the free
States are invol'ed in all the guilt, disgrace,
and responsibility of slavery; and the po-
silion assumed in my first communication,
"that the free States are no more liable to
support slavery, than the slave States are TO
abolish it," is erroneous and unfounded.-
This doctrine of Mr.. Webster is often as
serted by southern shareholders, as well as
| by northern men, who appear anxious To
impress our people with the idea that the
free States are thus subsidiary to the slave
States, and involved in all the hateful con-
SEQUENCES of slavery. | will not call such
men dOugh-fdceS; with them | have no.
thing to do; my business is with their ar
gunents. Our country and posterity will
hold them responsible for their attempts to
induce our people to yield up their own
constitutional rights, and to become the vol
untary supporters of slavery and the slave
trade. To arouse our people to the inves-
ltigation Of our constitutional rights in re-
gard to this subject, and TO inspire them TO
a patriotic and firm maintenance of our in
terests and honor, is the duty Of the public
press, and public men.
To the people of Ohio, and Of the free
States, / declare this doctrine unsupported
Iby any clause in our Constitution. No
such guaranty is found in that instrument.
The patriots who framed that bond of I'm
ION, made no such degrading stipulation
on the part of northern freemen. If that
instrument had contained any clause siis-
cepiible of doubtful construction, in this
respect, all will agree, that it would. aud
ought to be so construed, as 'to secure the
blessings Of 6b0ty," rather than to per-
potuoie sidpery. But there is no clause that
can, in the opinion Of the writer, be deemed
doubtful, or that by any strained construc-
ton can be said to guaranty slavery. The
18th section Of the 4th article is, however.
quoted in support of the doctrine referred
TO. 1t reads as follows "The United States
snail guaranty 10 eUay State in his Union,
a republican farm Of gorrnment, and shall
protect them against invasion, and on APP
plication of the executive, when the Leg
lslature cannot be convened, against do
nestle pioienee." The word guaranty is
used in connexion with "repnbiicaa form
of government, and not with slavery. Ii is
believed, however, that those who adhere
to the doctrine now coniended against. rely
upon the last clause, which pledges the pro-
lection of the United States against "do-
nestle piOlence."
The history concerning the insertion of
this provision is this In 1856 the "Shay's
rebellion" broke out in the State of NJ assa-
chusetts. This insurrection threatened the
overthrow, not only of the government of
that State, but portended the downfall of
all the other State governments.-Wh While
they were thus endangered, it was discover
ed that no authority existed in the old ar
ticles of confederation, by which the troops
of one State could be employed to suppress
an instruction in another. This difficulty
gave rise to the adoption of this clause
for suppressng domestic violence. Mas
sachuset:s was then the only State that had
abolished SLAVERY. In this history it is diff
cult TO trace out any intention to guaranty
siarcry. 1t is impossible to see how any
legal mind can torture this clause into such
guaranty. 1t is simply provision for
suppressing inSurrectiOn. II applies as
much to the free States as to STARE States,
and would have been adopted, had no slave
ry existed in either Of the States. Ii has
no relation to the character of the insurgents,
whether they be black or Dhite, bond men or
frecmen, masters or SiaccS. If an insurrec-
ton actually take place, the power of the
Federal Government must be employed to
put it down, il milder measures will not eE-
feet that object. But the President, when
called on for aid to suppress an instruction,
cannot stop to inquire into the cause from
which it arose. He is entirely unauthor-
lied to withhold such aid, in case it arise
from the abolition Of slavery The truth is,
the Federal Constitution considers slaves as
persons and draws no distinction in regard
to the character of the insurgents. When
the United States troops arrive upon the
theatre Of action, they must direct their eff
forts to suppressing the Uioienee. 1t is their
duty to Stay all persons found in arms a.
gainst the public tranquility. The master
and slave fighting side by side against the
public authority, must both be slain with
out distinction, and without inquirng into
their relations to each other.
When the violence suppressed, the duty
of the troops will be performed, II, then,
every slave in the nation peaceGbiy lsaves
his master and starts for CANADA. there is !