The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-12-17


SECTION IV.-StGte Gouernxnents-R epasb-
Iican.
1. The United States shall guarantee 10 every
State IN this Union Republican form of Govern
nlent.''
Compare with this the extraordinary clause in
The Constitution of Texas, QUOTED below,) which,
not content with establishing Human Slavery,
renders IT lrrevOcobte by an act of her Legislative
authorlty, however unanimous or imperativey
necessary. We insist if this is Republican Con-
sutuuon, then State in which one man owned
all the land and all the people, would be likewise
Repubhcan. Look at the suicidal inconsistency
oil this clause with any true Republicansm, and
Judge what is our duty
The American Review for this month opens
with calm, able, and generally sound article on
s. The Wing Party-ItS Positions and Duties"
from which we quote with hearty approval the
following:
"One point of special interest is the nature and
spirit OF the Constitution adopted by Texas. 1t
is not enough that it should be republican in
form, ii 1t be not so in essence and most assur-
eddy the provision which it contains respecting
the Institution OF slavery must appear TO every
reasoning, liberal and patriotic person, whether
IN the North or to the South, whe her possessing
slaves or having no interest in such property,
open to the most Insurmountable objections. We
will try to put this point briefly in clear light.
A clause of an article in the Constitution of Tex
as (See Art. viii, Sec. ~ holds this language
The Legislature shall have no poWer to pass
idtOS for the emancipation of SldUeS aoith0ut the
consent Of their oloners; nor without paying
their owners, previous to such emancipation,
full equivalent in money, sc.
Now, let every lover Of his own State and Of
our Cohtederacy-in whatever section OF the
Union--fairly consider what is implied in those
words marked in italics. They embrace posi-
ton and law such as should belong to no State
in the Union, and such as no State nor any part
OF the citizens of any State, could now be per-
suaded to assume. 1t will be perceived that by
the construction of the language, the law con-
tanned in the clause stands absolute, entirely
connected with any modification of contingent or
supposed conditions (of compensation, general
consent, or otherwise ,)-bu markedly setting FORTH
that under no possible change Of circumstances
shall the State dissolve an institution unquestion-
ably subject to constant and untoreseen changes,
but shall all any possible fraction of its origin
al supporters, fifteenth, o. ntieth, 1.-THE
rest asserting to its dissolution to maintain it still
In existence--if so determned-and that even
though they might be offered a reasonable COM
pensation for the loss of property therein. Now
the institution of slavery has been secured to each
State of this Contederacy as long as such State
shall choose to continue it, by the most solemn
guarantees OF the Federal Constitution ; and no
ou0 hdS any rlSnt TO urge ltS aDOntOn, except
through the action of each State by itself. 1t
will also be remembered that, by the Missouri
! Compromise, the contingency was deliberately
! provided for Of Slave holding States arise TO
within certain prescribed limits--lines of lati-
! tude and longitude considerably traced out
within which the same institution should be in
definitely recognized and upheld But most as
suredly the idea that would have been secuted
then in connection with this Compromise as il
would now by any State in the Union, that it, or
any State yet to arise, should, in the most solemn
! constitutional forms, bind itself never to allow
| the Legislature to act even upon the expediehcy
OF aboshing either this or ana other social inst-
tuition or condition Of things, so confessedy open
to notifications by time and circumstance 1t
would be considered, as it is, an unwarranted
and most dangerous introduction into our Repub
| lie, OF an entirely new and unrepublican feature.
! This, then, may undoubtedly furnish occasion,
unless Texas remove the clause from the Consti-
tuition, OF re-opening the question to the consd-
Grafton of Congress. And it is not point for
! party discussion. Not only the Wings will be
called upon to consider it, but all Of the opposing
party, possessing any knowledge whatever OF
the nature OF our Confederation, cannot fail to
speak strongly upon it. We only hope that in
the discussion to which this provision of the Con-
stitution OF Texas may give rise, there will be no
angry or unknd feelings Of either party
tional nature
These sentiments are not sectional or factious :;
they are the imperious dictates of Truth and
Duty. How can any lover Of Freedom cOntro-
vene them