The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-11-27

credited, rs they ought TO be. There may 10
negotiations, but there will he no peace.
GF@Thc author of the following is very
anxious to have it published. He says two
papers have refused it, we therefore give him
a hearing, though we consider his doctrines
about dissolution and voting entirely errone-
Gus. We are republican enough 10 confidc
in the opinion of Mr. jefferson, to wit: Ger
ror of opinion may he safely tolerated wherG
reason is left 10 combat it,"
Mr. EDIroR:-There seems to he different
opinions among different classes ofpeople n
bout the Constitution of the United States MS
il respects slavery. Those who are in favor
of supporting the domestic institution con-
tend that they have the Constitution in their
favor, and that none have right TO interfere
or say aught against it. Another class under
take TO make it appear that the instrument is
An,islavery, therefore they being opposed TO
slavery and thinking that the means best a.
dapted to do it away is by the ballot box they
therefore in order to feel justified in using
such means undertake 10 make themSHNes
believe that the Constitution does not sane /
ton the institution. They say the words |
"lhree fifths ofall other persons" as used in
the first article of the Constitution does not
apply to slaves for they are not called persons
in the Constitution. ] will here ask what has |
deprived the slaves of their personality un-
less the Constitution has done it, and If so il |
certainly makes it a proslnvery instrument
But if ''threc fifihs of all other PERSONS" docs
not mean slaves l ask who does it apply to?
II it means the inmates of the State Prison
or any other class of persons except slaves, l
should like to know if three filths and only
three fiiths of their number have ever been |
added to those who are free in apportioning
Representatives and direct taxes But |
whether that has been done or not,One thing |
will not be disputed, l conclude, if it is,
it will avail nothing, that is whether slaves
are called persons or things, three fifths of
them have been added to the number of the |
free, and have heard no one thatI remem- |
Der deny that it is constitutional he that as it |
may, think it is undeniable that it has been
practsed from the adoption of the constitu-
lion 10 the present time, and this fact shows
that the trainers ofihat instrument so under
stood it,
And now Task again, what has been the .
practical result? who, with an unpreJudiced .
mind, will deny that it has given the slave
states power in Congress which they have
not failed To improve, which has vastly
strengthened the bonds of slavery and with
out which they could not have effected ii I'M
less they could have secured The cooperation
Oft larger number of northern dOughfaces:
they have added to the union a number of
slave states i'll Louisiana, in Florida, in Tex
as and have acquired territory sufficiently
extensive to make n great number more, and
il looks as though their object is to make the
whole of Mexico aud California slave coun-
try, and annex it 10 the United States. And
all this has resulted from the union Of the
states, the basis of which union is the Con-
stituton; and to my mind ii is evident enough
that every state that has adopted the Consti
tuition and every individual now who sup
ports the union 10y voting is responsible for
the wrong done to the slaves, 1t makes no
difference TO the slave whether his condition
is termed slavery or freedom or any other
name; at all events it is n wretchcd miserable
condition, not merely physically, but who
does not know that it is the object oflhe mas
ter, and their laws are so framed as to pre-
vent their acquiring any more knowledge
than what is necessary TO make them servi-
ceable, the same as brutes, But this sir, you
are aware of as we'll as J. All is wish to
have il understood who are to be blamed i'll
this matter and again | must say that north
crn men are as much so as the owners of
slaves. Let the union be dissolved then at
once, ifthe free states so called would clenr
themselves from guilt. What it will he said
violate our engagement, break our oaths! YeS
san, and do it with emphasis, unless our en-
gagement TO do wrong is paramount to our
obligation to obey God and do justice TO all
men. But it may be said how is il to he doneF
my answer is let every man north of Mason's
and Dixon's line mind his own business take
no part in clectiuga President or member
of Congress: let every state enact laws that /,
shall make the slave as free when he comes
into it as when he gets into Canada, and if u,
the South arc disposed to raise an army and
attempt to enforce compliance with the |
terms ofthe covenant, (Which is called COW
enant with death and has proved true, it has
not only been death to many slaves but to
many qthers-witness the Mexican war, and 7