Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-12
VOL. 2.---N0. 80.


rely upon this These are solemn questions
which ! put on all sides.
Sir, look to the past. If we are TO look to
that will not 90 into the details-we will
see from the beginning of this government 10
the present day, as far as pccuniary resources
are concerned-as far as the disbursement OF
revenue is involved, it will be found that we
have been a portion Of this community which
has substantially supported the government
without receiving anything like a tantanount
support from it. But why should ! 90 be.
yond this very measure itselfl Why go be-
yond this determination on the part Of The
ron-slaveholding States, that there can be no
addition TO the slaveholding States, to prove
what our opinion is!
Sir, what is the entire amount Of this poll
cy? | will not say that it is so designed.
| will not say from what cause it originated.
! will net say whether a blind fanaticism on
one side, whether u hostile feeling to slavery
entertained by many not %fanatical on the other,
or whether it has been the work Of men, who,
looking to political power, have considered
the agitation Of this question as the most ef-
f,ctual mode of obtaining the spells Of this
government. / look TO the fact itself. 1t is
a policy now openly avowed 10 be persisted
in. it is a policy, Mr.. President, which aims
10 monopollze the powers Of this govern
ment, and obtain sole possession of its pa
tronage.
Now, / ask, is there any remedy? Docs
the Constitution afford any remedy? And,
if not, is there any hope? These, Mr.. Pre-
sident, are solemn qusstions-not only to US,
but let me say to gentlemen from the nom
slaveholding States, TO them. Sir, the day
that the balance between the two sections of
the country-the slaveholding States and the
non-slaveholding Siates-is destroyed, is a
day that will not be far removed from politi-
cal revolution, anarchy, civil war. and wide
spread disaster. The balance of this system
is in the slaveholding States. They are the
conservative portion-always have been the
conservative portion-always will be the con-
sentative portion; and, with a due balance
on their part, may, for generations to come,
uphold this glorious Union of ours. But, if
this policy should be carried outfit we are
to be reduced to a handful-if we are to be-
come a mere ball to play the presidential
game with-to count something in the Balti-
more caucus-if this is to be the ~rcsult-wo.
We! ! say to this Union!
Now, sir, again | put the solemn question
does the Constitution afford any remedy 7
Is there any provision in it by which this ag-
gressive policy, boldly avowed, as if perfect
ly consistent with our Institutions and the
safety and prosperity of the United States
may be confronted I Is this consistent with
the Constitution? No, Mr.. President, no
1t is, in all its features, daringly opposed &c
the Constitution. What is it? Ours is a
Federal Constitution. The States are its
constituents, and not the people. The rs
States-the 80 States (includinr Iowa.
rtapl ,,nl,r III, 80 on s-J;,;l,
ais, or as 90 individuals would stand to a
consolidated power. 1t was not made for the
mere individual prosperity Of the States as
individuals. No, sir. 1t was made for higher
ends. 1t was formed that every State con-
stituting a portion Of this great Union of ours
should enjoy all its advantages, natural and
acquired, with greater security, and enjoy
them more perfectly. The whole system is
based on justice and equality, perfect equal,
~ between the members of this Republic
Nor can that be consistent with equality
which will make this public domain a mono.
poly on one side-which, in Its consequences,
would place the whole power in one section
of the Union, to be welded against the othel
sections Of the Union? Is that equality?
How do we stand in reference 10 this ter
%ritorial question-this public domain of ours
Why, sir, what is it! 1t is the common pro,
perty of the States of the Union. They are
called "the territories of the United States
And what are the United States" but the
States united ? Sir, these territories are the
property of the States united held Jointly fol
their common use. And is it consistent witt
juslice-is it consistent with equality, tina.
any portion of the partners out-numbering an
other portion, shall GUST them in this common
property of iheirs-shall pass any law which
shall prescribe the citizens of other portion,
of the Union from emigrating, with their pro
perty, to the territories Of the United States
Would that be consistent-can it be consist
ent with the idea of q common property, he'll,
Jointly for the common benefit of ala Woult
it be so considered in private life? Woul,
1t not be considered the greatest outrage il
the world, and which any court on the fac,
OF the globe would at once override!
Mr.. President, not only is that proposition
grossly inconsistent with the Constitution
but the other, which undertakes 10 say tia
no State shall be admitted into this Union
which shall not prohibit by It's Constitution
the existence Of slavery, is equally a great cut
rage against the Constitution of the Unite,
States. ! hold it to be a fundamental princi
pie OF our political system, that the peopl
have a right TO establish what governmen
they may think proper for themselves tha
every State. about to become a member o
this Union, las a right TO form its own 90
vefnment as it p~leases; and that in order Il
be admitted, there is but one qualification
and that is, that the government shall he Re
publican. 1t is not so expressly prescribet
by the instrument itself, but by the great sec
ton which guarantees to every State in thi
Union, a Republican form of government
Now, sir, what is proposed, from a vague
indefinite, erroneous, and most dangerous con
ception of private individual liberty, 10 over
rule this great common liberty which a PEG
pie have of framing their own constitution
Sir, the individual right of man is not nearl,
so easily to be established by any course O
reasoning, as his common liberty. And yet
sir, there are men of such delicate feeling OF
the subject of ~liberty-thero are men whc