Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-05-07

" federation of the Stare T'rG3e could not
make S~layery--the right IF property IN man
Jaw full anywhere, not even on board the
slave ship-(p. 23.)
This is strange. we might almost add, fool
lsh doctrine. All laws must have a reason
able Interpretation. The right ITO declare
wer," given TO Congress, means, Of course,
not only {" sag that war exists, but 10 carry
IL on, otherwise Congress does not possess
that power. So "to raise and support arm
les" means not merely to keep these pxpen-
sive %baubles, but 10 use then.-(Story Comm.
|. 4l2.) Mr.. Spooner tells us, (p. CO., that
the right 'to keep and bear arms" secured
by the Constitution TO the people, "implies
the right TO use them. as a provision 10 buy
and keep food, would imply the right 10 eat
it," Plainly, then, when Parliament allow
men TO trade in slaves, thereby affirming it TO
be legally right to do so, they implicitly al
low them to hold and own that which they
permitted to buy and sell. This is too plain
to need argument.
Mr.. Spoouer says, speaking Of Slarsyy il
self:
alt is also doubtful whether Parliament
had the power-or perhaps rather it is GER
tain that they had not the power--to legal
ize it anywhere, il they had attempted to do
So.
''lIave Parliament The constitutional pre-
rogative Of abclishing the writ of hobsas COR
pus? the trial by jury7 or the freedom of
speech and the press? If not. have they the
preroga,ive of abolishing a mans rightof pro-
perry in his own person 2"-p. 81.
To these questions we answer unhesita-
tiugly, yes. The Constitution of the En-
glish Government supposes Parliament to
possess these powers. 1t is IA self.evident
proposition, that the power which enacts IA
law can repeal it. Now Parliament ps,ab-
fishes habcas corPusi Of course they can re-
peal 1t. "Patliament might, if public opin-
ion would allow them, abolish the A1beos corr
pus act forever" This is the language OF
Lieber. speaking Of the omnipotence of Par
liamtnt.-(Pol. Her. p. 1879 Parliament
does abolish the right Of jury trial every
year, as to every Englistman in a naval or
slaves, equally MS well. Thd, they might
regulate Slavery was very clearly the opin-
ion of Mansfield, in the Somerset case. We
need not dwell on this. In this country the
casp is different. In most, if not all Of the
States, the Constitution protects the writ OF
habeas corpus even against the Legislature
clearly showing, that without such a provis.
ion it was thought our Legislatures might
like the English, do with that as with all
other laws, alter and repeal them at theiI
pleasure. Any one who wishes 10 learn how
''absoluiely despoiic," how sovereign and
uncomfortable to repeal all laws, civil, mill
tary. ecclesiastical, &c. &C.; to alter the es-
tdbIished religion, 10 change the constitution
Of the kingdom and of Parliament Them
selves - lin short, To DO everything not ma.
nrahY impossibt''- Parliament is, may con-
suit Blackstone, |. 100. l6l. Also 9. Dali.
Rep. 500. De Lolme, p. 1871.
70 show that this d~espotic power did I'M
dertake to act, and to establish slave proper
~ in the colonies, We shall trouble the read
Pr by citing a single Statute, pointed out TO
us by William J. BUwditch, Esq. though
Mr.. Spooner was not able to find any. Dad
time permit, doubtless we might fill our pa
ges with more. The quotation given below
is an express command by Parliament 10
seize and sell negro slaves, like any other
property, when needed to pay the debts OF
the master; being the ~clearest and most dis
tinct recognition, it will be seen, of Stare pro-
perfy. The language here is unambignous,
and serves 10 explain the wording Of other
Statutes, about which Mr.. Spooner has Quib-
bIed, trying To make out that they did not re-
fer 10 SLAVES, because they merely spoke OF
negrOes, (see his page 26.) IN, gro" is the
usual term in many old laws for slave, and
the two words are used interchangeable y
The Virginia Constitution Of l77G, charges
George III. with prompting our neSroeS to
rise in arms against US, those very negroes,
whom, by an inhuman use of his negative
he hath refused us permission 10 exclude
See also Conn. Act, 1854.
5 George IL. C. 7. 6. Statutes at Large
"A.
San act for the more easy recovery Of debts
in his Majesty'S Plantations and Colonies
in America.
4. And he it fn rther enacted, by the author
ity aforesaid, that from and after the SAT-
twenty ninth day Of September, 1882, ih'
houses, lands, negroes, and Other hercditanientS
and real estates, situate or being within an.
of the said Plantations belonging 10 any per
son indebted, shall be liable to and charged
BILE with all Just debts, duties, and demands
Of what nature or kind soever, owing by an,
such person to his Majesty or any Of his sub
jects, and shall and may be assets for The sat
~isfaction thereof, in like manner as real es
lates are by the law Of England liable TO III
satisfaction of debts due by bond or othe
HpcCldltJf w SHdll pC ohpJ''h " '"S ~
NEEDLES, proceedings, and process, in ever,
court of law or equity in any of the sal,
Plantations respectively, for Selling, extend
ing, selling, or disposing Of any such houses
lands, negroes, and other herediIaments ant
real estate towards the satisfaction of sncl
debts, duties, and demands, in like name
as personal estates in any Of the said Planta
lions respectively are seized, extended, soil
or disposed of for tho satisfaction of debts
See also 80 George II. c. 81, A. D. 1850
An act for extending and improving the trad
10 Africa.
'Whersas the trade 10 and from Africa !
very advantageous to Great Britain. and ne
cessary for the supplying the Plantations AM
Colonies thereunto belonging with q srgeettn
nUm6er sf negroes Of receoTSdk yos0'" DO
&c.
Further on the Act spcoks-tAough Nj