The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-13

rSu il was therefore resolved III the aihr-
native
Every State present voted 10 retain Inc ar
ticle. There was hut one vole against u,
nad that was from the State of New 1ork.
This ordinance repealed the ordinance Of
1884, and forever prohibited slavery III all
the territories then belonged 10 the Cohleu-
eracy. The slave States, al that Time, had
no desire TO see slavery established IN any
part of the country where il did not then ex-
Isl. Universal emancipation was the wish
and the prayer ofihe ablest and the wlsesl
statesman of Confederacy.
Hear the Father of his Country upon the
subject General Washington, in his letter
10 Robert Morris, speaking oil slavery
says:
Il can only say. that there is not man
living who wishes more sincerely than do,
10 see plan adopted for the abolition OF 1t,
(Saverv.l but there is only one proper and
ffcciual mode by which il can be accom-
plished, and thai is, by the legislative an
thorily; and Il is, as fur as my suffrage VIII
20. shall moi be wanting"
Sir, this subject Of slavery was an excl
ling topic in the Federal Convention OF 1857.
After the convention had settled the scheme
of making numbers the basis of representa-
ton The Union. difficulty Of a very serI
Gus nature arose. The controversy was IN
regard TO slaves: Whether they should be
included in Tie remuneration or moi. On
the one hand it was commended. says Judge
Story in his Commentaries on The Conftitu-
ton that slaves we're treated, ia the States
which tolerated slavery, as property, aud not
rs persons. They were bought and sold,
devised and transformed, like any other prop
erfy. They had no civil rigts or political
privileges. They had no will OF their own;
hut were bound TO absolute obedlence TO
their masters.
There was, then, no more reason Tor IN
cluding them in the census Of persons than
there would he for including any brute anl'
mails whatever II they were TO be repre-
scented rs property, the rule should be eX-
tended so as TO embrace all other property.
Ii would be gross inequality 10 allow rep
reservations for slaves 10 the southern States,
Tor that in effect, would be 10 allow 10 the
masters predominant right, founded on
mere property Thus, five thousand Tree
persons, in slave Stale, might possess the
same power TO choose a Representative as
iliriy thousand free persons in n-slave-
holding State. On the other hand, II was
r1Itended says the same authority, that
saves aredecmed persons az wen ds pup
crty. They partake Of The qualines of both
Inbe;ng compelled to labor, not for himself.
hut for his master; in being vendible by one
master 10 another; and in being subject, at
7ill times 10 be restrained in his liberty and
chasrsed in his body by the will of another.
she slave may appear 10 be degraded from
,he human rank, and classed with the IRA
i;onal animals. Bat, in being protected in
his life and limbs against the violence Of 9th
NTs-cvrn Of The master OF his labor and lib
crty, and in being punishable himself for all
violence committed against ohers-the Slave
as no less evidently regarded by law as a
member Of the society, and not as a part OF
The irrational creation, rs a moral person. &
not rs mere article ofproperty. The Fed
erai Constitution should. therefore. view them
III the mixed character of persons and prop
rrly, which is in fact their true character,
This reasoning. sir. is TO my mind. quite in
con -lusivc Blu, i: it is well founded, it
applies TO all property i'll all Of The Unitcd
States.
ITO be Conlinucd.)