Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-03-27


I proceed briefly to establish tho position
that the Constitution of the United States fos-
tiers and protects Slavery.
Article LIST, Sec. 2. Provides that Repre-
sentatives and direct taxes shall be apportion-
ed among the several States, which may be
included within the Union according TO their
respective numbers, which shall be determin-
ed by adding to the whole number of free per-
sons, including those bound to service for a
term of years, and excluding Indians not tax
ed, three jfhs g all other persons"
This clause of the Constitution, although
ambiguous in its terms, (all other persons,
embracing slaves,) gives to five hundred slave
holders, owning fifty thousand slaves, politi-
cal power in the General Government equal
with thirty thousand, FIVE hundred freemen,
who refuse to hold their fellow men in bond
age. 1t gives to the slave holder political
power under the Constitution, increasing with
the number of persons he may reduce to slave
ry; thereby holding out a high premium for
the rObbing Of men g their inahenaJh rights.
Article 4th, Sec. 2. "No person held to
service or labor in one State, under the laws
thereof, escaping into another, shall, in con-
sequence of any laws or regulations therein,
be discharged from such service or labor; but
shall be delivered up on claim Of the party to
whom such service or labor may be DUE"
This clause has received an Interpretation
by the only tribunal authorized to pass
upon it. In the case of Prigg VS.. the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania, the Supreme
Court decided that any State law that accords
TO the fugitive slave a trial in order to deter
mine the claimants right to him, is uncon-
stitutional and void that the claimant by
virtue of this section, has the right to his
slave Immediately and Internationally.
Another section of the Constitution requires
the suppression of Instructions whereby
the united strength of American freemen may
be required to enforce any State law, however
odious, that slave States may see fit to enact.
Icould multiply proofs of the pro-slavery char
acter of the Constitution, but deem it UNI
necessary when / consider that at the time
of its adoption, and since that time, it has
been universally acknowledged and acted up
on as a pro-slavery instrument; that its very
adoption was effected by a compromise of the
principles Of liberty, and the entire destruc-
ton of the rights of the colored population.
If the legitimate business of Americans I'M
der the Constitution, is to kidnap and plumber,
is it surprizing that you find yourself unable
to protect Ohio citizens from being kidnapped
and plundered When the Constitution,
which is the exponent of the rights of a Ma
ton, sanctions robbery, can you expect that
the people Of that Nation will not be rob-
bers!
1t is not surprizing that in this country the
sacred name of Liberty has become a by-word
and a reproach that the Liberty Of the
Press" is Frustrated, and that we dare not pro-
claim that sail men are created free and equal"
unless we are willing to suffer martyrdom!
1t is a lamentable truth, that a record of the
instances in which Americans have been per-
secuted and put to death for obeying the die
ta,es of humanity and the commands of God,
would require = book equal in magnitude to
Fox's Book of Martyrs.
l will therefore henceforth refuse, v~olunta-
rily, to support the Government, so long as
it continues to uphold the accursed system of
slavery, but will use what little influence |
have, in putting an end to the compact, fraught
with so much injustice and oppression.
Yours respectfully,
f.. p. BASSET-