Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-25

idea, that tho United States can onglge in
any war, except when Necessary for the COM
mon defence, and to insure the internal ran
guilty Of the country. Our national cohled-
eracy is one OF limited powers, and clearly
gives no authority to annex the provinces Ut
a foreign ration by mere conquest, without
the authority even of "A law Of congress, and
without the consent Of the people Of the
country to which those provinces belong
Whether the gross usurpaiion Of civil author
ity, committed by the military commander
who has subiucatcd the province of New
Mexico, viii receive the treatment it merits
ut the hands Of Il e national government, re-
mains TO be determined. There is no rule
Of the JUS JeH established by the practice Of
nations, which can authorize a disregard of
the constitution and of the limited purposes
aud Legitimate designs Of our national COM
pact. Let justice be done, and the great
principles of our constitution maintained,
whatever consequences may follow.
One of the first principles in the theory of
our republican form of government is, that
the people Of every country, for the purpose
Of protecting their rights and liberties and Sc
curing their independence, have an ina!iena-
bic right to select and establish a govern
ment for themselves, and all times a COM
~ " wv ~ WV " NAeN' N''-' w.
alter, reform, or abolish the same, whenever
they may deem it necessary. So important
was this principle thought to be, we find it
embodied in the first section Of the Bill of
Rights in the Constitution of Ohio. With
out a palpable violation Of this fundamental
principle OF all civil governments, we cannot
acquire by conquest, and annex 10 our ma
tional Union, by the force Of arms, the In
habited territory aud organized provinces OF
a foreign nation. Even sUppOsing 1t TO be
one Of the constitutional objects of our ma
tionaI confedcracy 70 extend our civil author
iiy, and acquire a vast extent OF country,
those subiugdted Mexican provinces could
not be annexed to our national Union with
out the cosnent Of a constitutional majority oil
the people of the United States.
The following, in relation to the black
laws, though as good, perhaps, as public
opipion will sanction, and therefore all that
could be expected of a politician, gives evil
dence Of very little regard for the welfare Of
the colored population.
] can only repeat the recommendation
made in my former communicate TO the
General Assembly, in favor Of the repeal of
the laws imposing useless and unjust r%estric-
tons and disabilities on the colored popula-
ton ct this State. These laws have no ten
dency to limit the emigration and settlement
of this kind Of population within Ohio, and
they are at variance with the humane spirit
Of the aye and inconsistent with the charac-
ter Of our people. The colored population
already located in orr State, should be treat
ed with humanity and justice. Their rights
are entitled to the protection Of our laws, al
though their settlement in Ohio may be UNI
fortunate for themselves. Their further
emigration to the State ought not to be en-
couraged and it may be discouraged, if it
become necessary, in a manner not inconsis-
tent with humanity and Justice.