Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-25

so il resolved in the Affirmative"
Every State present voted TO retain the article.
There was but one vote against it, and that was
from, the State of New York. This ordinance
repealed the ordinance of 1904, and forever pro-
hibited slavery in all the territories then belon.
ring to the Contederacy. The slave States, at
that time, had no desire TO see slavery establish
ed in any part of the country where 1t did not
then exist. Universal emancipation was the wish
and the PRAYER of the abest and the wisest states
men of the Confederacy.
Hear the father of his country upon the sub
iect. General Washington in his letter to Rob
ert Morris, speaking OF slavery, says;
can only saw that there not living who wishes
moe sincerely than do to plan adopted for the abo
Of it, but there oR Pna a ana S e
legislative authority and this, as far my suffrage will go
snail not be wanting"
Sir the subject of slavery was an exciting
tonic in the Federal Convention of 1857. After
the convention had settled the scheme of max
ing numbers the basis of representation Of the
Union, difficulty of very serious nature arose
The controversy WIS in regard TO slaves: wheth-
err they should be included in the enumeration or
not. On the one hand, It was contended, says
! Judge Story 10 his Commentaries on the Constr
| tuition, that slaves were treated IN tho States
which tolerated slavery, as property and not as
persons. They were bought and sold, devised
| and transferred, like any other property. They
had no will Of their own; but were bound to alb
solute obedience to their masters. There was,
then, no more reason for including them In the
census of persons, than there would be for incu-
ding any brute animals whatever. II they were
TO be represented as property, the rule should be
extended so as to embrace all other property. II
would be gross inequality to allow representa-
ton tor slaves to the southern States; Tor that,
IN effect, would be to allow to their masters pre-
dominant right, founded on mere properly. Thus,
five thousand free persons, IN slave Stale, might
possess the same power to choose Representa-
live as thirty thousand free persons IN a non
slayeholdIng State On the other hand, 1t was
commended says the same authority, that slaves
are deemed persons as well as property. They
partake of the qualities of both. In being com
peled not to labor for himself, but for his master
in being yendlble by one master to another; and
in being subject, at all times, TO be restrained IL
his liberty and chastised IN his BODY by the wal
of another, the slave may appear to be degraded
from the human rank, and classed with the IRA
tlonal animals. But, in being protected IN M
life and limbs against the violence OF DINERS -
even the master OF his labor and liberty; and II
being punishable himself for all violence CON
mitted against others-the slave is not less evl
denlly regarded by law as member OF so
ciety, and not as part of the irrational creation
as a moral person, and not as a mere article o
property. The Federal Constitution should
therefore, view them in the mixed character o
persons and property, which 49, TACT, thelr lru'
character This reasoning, slr, Is, to my mind
quite inconcluslve. But II 1t is wel-iounded, |
applies 10 all property in all the States