Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-14

who were among the greatest men of the country
at the tine, can warrant the belief that more was
expected of the Constitution, and the Government
to be established under it, than the prevention of
the further importation of slaves from Africa, eav
ing the States, where it already existed, to deal
with it as an affair Of their own and it Is equally
manifest, that the hopes of the wise and the good,
the most ardent wishes of the most influential and
patriotic men in the country, looked not to the fur
Their increase and extension of slavery but to its
gradual abolition and the highest ntellects ofthe
country were exercised in the contemplation OF
means by which that abolition might be best efec-
ted.
As significant of the fact that the trainers of
the Constitution considered domestic slavery con-
dition Of things which would be of temporary du
ration, we ask your attention to this circumstance.
While the.consltution contains provisions adapted
to the actual condition of the Southern States, and
to the servitude which existed there, it does not
once recognize slavery in terms. The word, slave,
is not to be found in that document. That the o.
mission is not accidental, would be clearly and me-
cessarly inferred, from the careful circumlocuton
by which this class of persons is provided for with
out being named.
But we are not left to Inference however irresst
ibc, to enable us to ascertain the reason of the
mission 1t was declared by distinguished mem
Der of the Convention of 1857.
An act contenporaneous with the formation Of
the Constitution throws further light upon the pnr
poses of the Fathers of the Republic.
In July, 1884, while the Convention that framed
the Constitution was in session, the well known or
dinance for the government of the Northwest ter
ritory was adopted, with but one dissenting vote,
by the old Continental Congress. 1t provided, as
we have seen, for the formation ofStaes out Of that
territory 1t also ordained that there should forev-
er after be no slavery, or involuntary servitude,
within it. When it is remembered that this ordi-
nance extended its provisions over all the terrific
res then possessed by the conederated States, out
of which new States could be formed, we have, in
the form of permanent legislation, d solemn decla-
ration of the purpose then entertained, not TO per-
nit slavery to spread beyond its original limits.
| The theory that the Constitution was made for
the preservation, encouragement and expansion oil
slavery; that every new acquisition which freedom
shaud make on her own soil, through the blessing
of Heaven upon toll and enterprise, should be
counterbaanced by the incorporation into the body
polite of an equal portion of exotic slavery; and
that the decline of the latter through the operation
of bencfccnt causes, kindly placed beyond the
control OF man, should be retarded by subiectng
to its desolating influence new regions, acquired
by purchase, fraud force, dates its discovery
from period long subsequent to the establishment
of the Government.
Having shown that the Constitution was not de
signed to uphold slavery, and that such consruc
ton of it derives no aid from contemporaneous au
thority, this Convention finds, in the purposes TO
which the General Government was established
further insuperable objections to the measure un
der consideration
What were those purposes? They are declared
on the first page of the Constitution. They are, t
establish Justice ensure domestic tranquility, pro
vide Tor the common defence, secure the blessings
of liberty to themselves and their posterity" These
are the declared objects for which the Government
were ordained. Are any of these ends promoted
by the extension of slavery?
Were there no purpose to enlarge the limits o.
domestic servitude, were the Executive and the sup
porters of his prominent measure content to leave
the evil where the Constitution left it. that is with
in its original bounds, it might seem luvidious fol-
this Convention to examine into relations and con
dtions of things existing in other States of the I'm
ion over which Massachusetts has no control. Bu
it must be remembered that the inquiry now inst
tuted by this Convention is forced upon it by ar
attempt to bring within the protection of the Con
stitution that which it was never made to compre
bend, and to sustain by its power. a new, because
it did not crush at once an existing evil. We
therefore, ask the advocates of the extension o
slavery, which of the great objects of the Unior
they expect to promote by the success of their un
dertaklng
mat lhe cause oil justice Is not ADVANCED by th'
subJugatlon oil one portion OF the human race t.
the despotlc power ana absolute VIII OF anothe
portion, Is proposition, Id the aostract so manifest
~ uHe, that It's denal, III ie" anu rehathaole III
stances, is regarded by the common unaerstahdih
OF mankind as the melancholy proof OF disorder
cd intellect
But Independently OF principles OF universal ap
plication, which prohibit the relation OF master an
Save, on the ground OF infringement OF lnaller
able rights, there are objections to the preser
scheme Tor the acquisition OF Texas, deserving tn
grave consideration OF ALL who would preserve tn
honor OF the country unstained, and Its characte
Tree from the reproach OF seeking It's own aggrar
dizement, regarGies OF inc rights Z, OF others.
Inc history OF the reVolt OF lexas IRON tne pa
REM county OF us CONNECTS oi 'le FORMATION oi a.
goserien ,L anu VI tI h,r h;sn
ot ,"t eove'nieil 70 'ie p'esent nun 20 'tss'oi
oi inc ache'ehcitS oi U,tHehs Vi 'ie chlleu Sta,e
upon foreign sou. Inc boosted . ylc.ory o. ga
JaGnt3 was won oy ciuzens Oh lne U niue States
aided oy the soldiers from us army me aeclara
uon oil exam independence was MADE ny citizeh
OF the Ohted states Among the signers oil Una
instrument there IL found