The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-01

~.'k icoSt q ftSPttuM UtuStOu 10 me constitution
have always thought, sir, the pride and boast OF
Americans that not only lived in the enjoyment of the
blessings OF free government, but that our rights, ouI
property and happiness, protected by ren consti-
tuition, which we all taught regard sacred and
lnvolable; constitution written by the same hands that
bad us' welded the sword in the of human free
dom; constitution dictated by hearts burning with an
ardent love OF liberty and Just released from the thradom
| OF tyranny. And when wise egslator--one who APP
pecates his responsibility representative and his
rights as cuzenis invited into a field of legisa-
hon, he turns to the pages OF the constitution to learn
whether he has the constitutional right to act before he
proceeds to the subordinate considerations of policy and
eypedency And SIR, ii there aquestion which
should call into exercise al elfcontrol all wis
dom all patriotism, and strict adherence to the con-
sttunon, It Is this question OF slavery; this dangerous
rock upon which wise and good have goomly FORE
BODIED that our ship OF state would day be wrecked
and the world be called sadly gaze upon the sunered
and bleeding fragments OF our glorious and happy
Union.
But If upon this occasion to ourselves, true
TO that constitution the sheet anchor of our safety this
storm cloud that now darkens our political horizon and
threatens to break IN ITS fury and scatter desolaon and
dismay through widespread republic, will pass off in
harmless silence, and leave behind it clearer sky and
more genial sunshine Sir however exalted may be the
patriotism, however honest the motives however disin-
eresicd the philanthropy of the gentlemen who have
originated this scheme do not hesitate, here in my
place, upon the solemn responsibilities of a and a
representative TO contend that in my opnion it violates
that written constitution which we have sworn to sup
port that is pregnant with mischief TO the peace and
harmony and IN the estimation of many wise men, with
the ultimate destruction of this Union
Mr.. Chairman, do not propose TO decaim about this,
but TO discuss IT. scon 10 indulge in elimination and
ecrminaon and exciting this topic is still indulge
the belief that there good enough left that there
is patriotism enough left IN this House enable us 'to
reason together about 1t, and TO remember that this
not noisy debating society, gotten up for amusement
but the House OF Representatives OF great and proud
public Sir, distinctly take the position that aapes are
recognised as property under our constitution that
that constitution safeguards 10 protect M peculiar prop
erty expressly oonained and that tc,uo the moor
pord'on Of te~ safeguards, his glorious Union could
not hare been eonsunmated. This federal government
exists under the constitution II derives all its power
from the constitution II must be administered by rules
prescribed solely 6y that constitution and possesses
powers but those expressly delegated TO it," And
contend, sir that any act of Congress which pro-
hibits the citizens OF the southern States from car
rylng their slave property with them into territory
the common property OF the United States, violates
most papaby the faith and compromises the constitution;
is unwananted by any clause contained in that nstu-
ment; is sectional unequal. oppressive; because while
announces 10 the citizens OF section of the Union
that they may 60 and enjoy this territory with all their
property IN the same breath 1t notifies the citizens OF
other section they go and settle there they leave
their slave property behind them, in which property they
have invested millions OF money under the sacred guaran-
tees of the constitution.
And here met at the very threshold by gentlemen
who only deny that slaves recognised property
but repel the charge with eloquent indignation, SLAM
der upon that free constitutions and libel upon the wise
and good men who framed it. Here take issue with
them And they make this charge, some OF them not
wthsandng the debates of the convention in which the
constitution framed show, that of all questions that
were agated, slavery sdrery was the that excited
most their alarm and their hopes. We find, read
here yesterday that there fanatics in that
ton, who denounced slavery curse and SIM They
were from the north We find, Also that other gentle
men, grave and wise men, indicated slavery inds
pensabe requisite in this coun.rywe find that represent
atives from the south, particularly from Georgia and
South Carolina, solemnly declared that if the attempt
made to infringe upon their slave property, they
would not come into this Union; and that northern men,
equally wise and patriotic expressed their opinion that
if slavery recognised in the constitution, the north
| hout t,to H.. -
find further that these good and men, burning with
desire TO consummate this Union, compromised their per-
sonal opinions on the altar of patriotism. We read in
this very constitution clause which protects the slave
holder, and enables him to the slave which
capes into another State another clause establishes the
basis of representation by which negroes not to be
counted merely persons but to the mixed char
acter OF persons and propertyre slaves being consd
cred as three PERSONS another clause, by which tax
was authorized to be laid upon the importation Of slaves
chama wha ese DO 1 nd W. S hai these
good and wise not only did this, but they permitted
the constitution tolerate and counenance the idea of
people employing their vessels manning their ships,
and embarkng in what is denounced 'the nefarious
traffic in human flesh" We find these good and wise men
expressly providing for the importation Of siare for tcan
~ years And yet gentlemen, learned in constitutional
law, acquainted with the history of the convention, sol
EMMY announced their opinions that slaves not
ognised property in this constitution And who
the men who framed this instrument Who the
men who Incorporated into it this doctrine, and recog
the importation of slaves for twenty years Sir, they
were just "fresh from the battleeds of liberty their
mnistraons upon the hottest affairs of the in
nemost sanctuary of freedom; while the degenerate pa
rots OF modern times scarcely entitled "o enter the
porch of the temple
Sir. we do not ask the privileges which fathers
granted, of importing slaves from abroad do not
ask you to receive into the Union territory with slavery
now in 1T but ask you not to interfere with the slave
property already have, and which, the constitution,
you have agreed TO protect. Here would remark that
the of the venerated Madison is invoked. He has
been called to the stand as witness, BY the gentleman
from New York, Mr.. WooD.] And allow me to say,
that my friend little ingenious in this matter and
acted the cautious accan for he prefaced it with quite
air OF great candor and fairness, by saying that he
would not read from Mr.. Sherman, northern authority,
but he would read from MIR. Madison. Mr.. Chairman,
why did not the gentleman read from Mr. Sherman ! As
he took the liberty OF reading from Mr. Madison will he
permit me 10 read from Mr. Sherman When the ques-
ton discussed in the convention to the propret
of allowing TO be levied upon imported slaves Mr.
Sherman conended that if you Incorporated the doctrine
OF taxing slaves imported you admitted in the consttu
ton that they property Hear Mr. Sherman take
the extract from the Madison Papers:
" Mr. Sherman said better to lei the southern States
import slaves than TO part with them, if they made that a
qua He opposed to tax on slaves imported
because 1t implied they were property"
Does not this extract explain the true reason why the
honorable gentleman declined reading from the speeches
OF Mr. Sherman, a member of the federal convention
IRON Connecticut For if the gentleman had read Mr..
sherman, he would have that he distinctly admitted
IN the debates that the article of the constitutions author
nng tax on imported slaves, to which | have alluded,
recognised by implication, that these slaves were, and
should De, considered as PROPERTY Sir the proceedings
Oh tne convention IN regard 10 that matter
entertaining, and instructive They show that there
compromise even as TO the word used The matter was
referred to committee of eleven; the word slaves
or,ol f,v than,