The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-17

Georgia Mr. Mr. ! p %m, ay, LAY.
SO it was resolved in the affirmative"
( Every State present voted TO retain the ar
Iiclc. There was but one vote against il,
and that was from the State of New York.
This ordinance repealed the ordinance of
l 1854, and forever prohibited slavery in all The
territories then belonging 10 the Coniodera-
CIV. The slave States at that time, had no
desire TO see slavery established in any part
of the country where it did not then exist
Universal emancipation was the wish and the
prayer of the abest and the wisest statesmen
ofthe Conicderacy.
Hear the Father ofhis Country upon the
subject. Gen. Washington, in his letter TO
Robert Morris, speaking OF slavery, says:
81 can only say, that there is not man liy-
ing who wishes more sincerely than | do to
see plan adopted for the abolition oft, rsiave-
ryl but there is only one proper and efectual
i mode hy which il can be accomplished, and
that is, by the legislative authorty;and this, as
far my suffrage will go shall not be wanting.
Sir, the subject OF slavery was an exciting
topic in the Federal Couvruian of 1857. AZ.
ter the convention had settled the scheme of
making numbers the basis OF representation
ofthe Union, Il difficulty of very serious
nature arose. The controversy was in regard
slaves: Whether they should lie iucluded in
the enumeration or not. On the one hand,
it was coutendcd, says Judge Story IL his COM
mentaries on the Constituliou,t that slaves were
treated, in the States which tolerated slavery,
ms property, and not as persons They were
bouuht and sold devised aud transferred, like
any other property. They had no cvllrighls
or political privileges. They had no will
oftheir own; but were bound to absolute ODE
diencc to their masters. There was, theh,mo
more reason for including them in the census
olpursons, than there would lie for including
any brute animals whatever. Ifthey were to
be represented us properly, the rule should
be extended 50 as 10 embrace all other prop
erty. 1t would he gross inequality to allow
representation for slaves 20 the Southern
States; for that, in effect, would he 10 allow
to their masters Il predominant rlght. found
ed on mere property. Thus, i've thousand
free pcrsous in II slave State, might possess
the same power 10 choose II Representative
Us thirty thousand free persons in non-slave
holding State. On the otI,er hand, it was
contended, says The same authority,rhat slaves
are deemed persons as well as property
They partake ofthe qualities of both. In be-
ing compelled TO labor, not for himself, bu,
for Ills muster; in being Nendihle by one
master to another; aud m being subject, at all
times to be restrained in his liberty and chGs-
Used in his body by the will Of another, the
slave may appear to be degraded from the
human rank, and classed with the irrational
animals. But, in being protected i'll his life
and limbs against The violence OF Others even
ofthe master oths labor s. liberty; s in being
punishable himseffor all violence committed
against others-the slave is no less evidently
regarded by law as n member of the society
and not us II part of the irrational creation; us
a moral person. and not as a mere article OF
property. Tie Federal Constitution should
therefore, view them in the mixed characteI
Iofuersons and properly, which is in fact, ;heil
true character. This reasoning, sir, is, to my
mind, quite inconclusive. But if it is wei
=. founded, itappes to all property III all States
The controversy, however, was AZ lcngl
settled by compromise and concession.
. was agreed that slaves should be repre- sent
: ed, under the appelIation OF, "othcr persons
not us free persons, but only in the proportion
+ OF three iits. In order TO reconcile the non
u Saveholdng States to this provision, anohe
- clause was inserted, that direct taxes shoult
u be apportoned in the same uauucr as rep
II resentatives. So that, theoretically represent
!, alton and taxation, might go pGri paSSu. Ihi
! provision, you will perceive, sir, relieved thu
~ other two-tiiths ofthe slaves from being tax
u ed at all as property; so that the STAKEHOLDER
= in case ola direct taH,pays only onthree 1tlh
'' of his slave properIy;whllr the non-slavehold
y property. This is manilestly unequal. Bu
u sir, It's ia the Constitution, and we are boun
20 by it. Does any Senator believe that IN
10 MISUNDERSTANDING States would have consent
81 ed that three-fths Of the slaves should be rel
81 resented under the appellation of"other pei
d sons" il had been understood that the Fec
a eral Government had power to acquire toreiS
Il territory, and create it into new slave States
. No. sir, if such had been the understanding:
,! u slaves would have been excluded from the I
~ ~ Enumeration.
IL Sir, there were many able statesmen
" the Federal Convention who denounced sa'
y cry in unmeaSured terms. Hear Colonel MI
W sou of Virginia:
vs. "Slavery disconragcs arts and manufactures
nc The poor despise labor when performed
OF slaves They prevent the emigration ofwhit
Ib- who really enrich and strengthen country
They produce the most pernicious effect
manners Every master of slaves il born
petty tyrant. They bring the Judgment
he Heaven on a country. As nations cannot
led rewarded or punished in the next world, tn
lad must be in this BY an inevitable chain
causes and effects, Providence Furnishes II
tionnl sins by national calnmitjes. lie held
lor essential, Che said) in every point Of view, II