Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-10-10
"THE INTENTIONS"

find an article in regard to the intention ofthe
trainers of the United States Constitution
The editor thinks there is no warrant for re-
ferring to ontemporaneou history when there
is nothing dubious or ambiguous in the lam
guage of the instrument.
Of course no one would take the trouble to
do so, if all were agreed in relation to its
meaning, but when a doubt arises, we are
not only warranted, but it is our duty, to de-
rive testimony from every authentic source.
We know that all the Courts in the United
States, every officer of government, and the
entire nation have always had one, and the
saint understanding of the nature ofthe com
pact, and it only becomes necessary now for
us TO prove that this general understanding
is tine correct one, because it has been ques-
toned by Liberty Party. A portion of that
party admit the Constitution to be pro-slave-
r., and then resort to all manner of subterfu-
grs to justify themselves in sustaining it
the other portion claim that it is anti-slavery,
and although their position is the more con-
sistept of the two, yet it cannot be maintain
ed. tits impossible to exculpate either from
the charge 81 inconsistency, and from occu-
plying unwarrantable ground, strangely at va
rance with the principles they profess.
The. Advocate appears to think that the in
denton of the trainers expressed in the Pre-
amble is as strong proof of the Anti-Slavery
character of the document, as are the inten-
tions expressed in the Madison Papers, of
dts pro-slavery character. We do not Judge
of their intentions merely bytheir professions.
One may avow himself in favor of libeity, or
slavery, hut his subsequent course must de-
termine his real character. In the Preamble,
the expression is evidently in favor of liberty,
in the Madison papers, and in the body of the
instrument itself, it is quite as evident that
the trainers entered into a solemn covenant in
flvm Of Slavery; and their subsequent course
shows that they rere in favor of the latter,
instead of the former. 1t would have been
strange indeed, if the real objects of the I'M
ION ndu We'll tAplCSoCu III lit l. iCdhiplCs-
criminals seldom publish their intention to
commit crime. This nation laid down the
broad principle that all men nave an i~naliena-
BILE right to liberty,-of course it would not
be so inconsistent as 10 declare in its Consti.
tuition in explicit language its intention to
mold a portion of the people in the most de-
grading bondage. The design was so artful.
ly worded, that the world scarcely knew its
meaning, but this nation understood it, and
has always acted accordingly.
The very first clause in the Preamble is
palpable falsehood. 1--WE the people" it says
do so and SO, when W the people," a grea
proportion of them at least, had nothing1todC
with it Had the Preamble been true to the
facts in the case, and true to the spirit itrep
resented, it would have read thus" We thu
white male voters, ia order to form a mor
perfect union of oPpressors, establish %iustic,
between ourselves, secure domestic tranquil
lily by the more complete s%ubjugation of on
slaves, provide for the common defence o
chatteiism, promote our owl general welfare
and secure the blessings Of liberty 10 our
selves and our white posterity, do ordain ant
establish this Constitution for the Unite,
States of American" We say had the Pre-
amble been = faithful index, it would hav
referred TO the institution of Slavery, tina
blighting curse which they intended to guar
and project, and which they knew was mali
tanned at the expense Of every principle {
Justice, and republicanlsm, and Christianity
But admitting for the sake of the argumel
that the trainers did express their real inter
tions in the Preamble, that is nothing againt
the pro-slavcry character of the compact.
nation, the Sandwich Islanders, for instance
might profess to believe in the inviOlabilit
of human life, and form a Constitution, in Il
Preamble of which, this principle should
the professod design of the document.
,he articles Of agreement they covenant t
gether to mike human sacrifices annually
The provisions of the document would eN
dcntly defeat the desig rol the Preamble, b
would the Preamble al'er the nature of 4
compact! Certainly not, and the Sandwi'
Islanders ARE as legally bound to fulfill thu
contract, as though the Preamble were of
opposite character. SO in relation to t
Constitution, If the trainers did design
establish Justice, and secure the blessings
liberty, they formed a compact, which co,
not fail to defeat their intention, and the
ture of the agreement is not at all changed
its professcd design; neither are those, W
nnrcc 10 il. nv ynfinr under the Cnnstitnti