Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-10-24
THE CONSTITUTION PRosLAYERY


The declaration of Independence is a diff
ferent instrument from the Constitution of
the q. $. The former was nothing more
than an act of dissolution of allegiance from
Great Britain. 1t was made at the COM
mencement of a fearful, desperate, and bloody
contest when all was at stake. 1t was a
death-like struggle, and in its terror, God
was invoked as the Supreme Judge Of the
world to witness the rectitude of their inten-
lions. But like the dedth-bed repentance of
most sinners. when their prayers were an
swered they lost sight of the rectitude Of
their intentions. In this act of separation
they were willing that men of all colors and
conditions should participate. But the Con-
stitution was formed under different auspices
and for different purposes. The struggle was
then over. The sea of blood was then ford
ed. The cannibal Eagle was sufficiently
gorged. The nation was flushed with victory
-Gud and the hope of the poor slave were
forgotten. American Israel remembered no
more that they were strangers and bondmen
in Egypt. The colored man was no longer
needed in the battle field, he was wanted on
the plantation to deiray the expenses of the
war, and ill his masters Golfers that be
might enjoy the blessings of liberty and as
sist in the government of the nation. Under
these circumstances the convention met to
form a Constitution, What was its object!
lSt. 10 form a more pertec, Onion. What
Union! A compromise between the slave
holding and non-slave-holding States, with
all the advantages Oh one side. I'd. 70 es-
tlblish justice. How so! BY laying down
rules for offering and organizing the differ
ent departments of general Government.
Sd. 70 insure domestic tranquility. Per
haps this must meanto suppress MODS; and
keep down instructions among the slaves.
4th. TO provide for the common defence.-,
That is, raise an army and navy, and make
appropriations for their pay. 9Th. 10 pro-
mote the general welfare and secure the bles-
sings of liberty. Whose welfare and liberty
were to be promoted and secured by this OBJ
ject of the Constitutions The slaves! Then
surely the convention were a pack ofconsu,n-
mate block heads, or nnprincipled knaveS,
and the petitions to congress for the abolition
Of slavery i'll the District of Columbia, wor-
thily thrown under the table, to say nothing
Of the folly of forming a party in politics
for the abolition Of slavery. But alas! the
liberty of the slave was never designed and
never affected to be secured by that |proslav-
cry document called the Constitution of the
United States. 1t has been boastingly said
that the word slave is not SO much as men-
toned in it. True, but a description is sub
stituted and one of the signers says it was
done through shame. But the slave ought
to have been mentioned and that too, in close
affinity with holy and righteous freedom.
That would have given consistency and stabil-
ity to cur Government. 1t would have Civ
en- success to the experiment of republican
principles. 1t would have made the mother
country a convert to the colonies. 1t would
have secured what would have been of more
consequence than a bloody conquest of all
Europe. To US the admiration of all the
world; to them, the blessings of free Gov
ernments. So far as the condition of the
slave is concerned, nothing was gained by
the Revolution and adoption of the Constitu-
ton, but much was lost. The compromise
Of the North-Our Mon with Shareholders
in this ungodly and disgraceful partnership,
is the streng h of slavery. l say then to the
gradualists, here is The place to begin the
work. Let It be commenced with the disso-
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