The Delaware abolitionist. (Wilmington, Del.) 1847-18??, 1848-12-31

WILMINGTON, DEL, DECEMBER 81, 1913.

Valuable. The day of our own oppression
was more distant and forgotten. So in 1902,
when Congress purchased from Georgia the
western part of her territory, it was easy for
the South to extend Slavery over that virgin
soil. In 1903, Louisiana was purchased from
France; then, or in 1904, when it was oIgani-
zed into two territories, il would have been
easy 10 apply the Ordinance of 1887, and pre-
vent Slavery from extending beyond the origi-
nal thirteen States. But though some provis-
ions restricting Slavery were made, the ideas
of that Ordinance were forgotten. Since that
time five new States have been formed out OF
territory acquired since the revolution =
Louisiana Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Texas,
all Slave Siates,--the last two with constiiu-
tons aiming to make Slavery perpetual. The
last OF these was added to the Union on the
22d of December, 1S45, two hundred and
twenty-five years after The day when The Fore
fathers first set foot on Plymouth Rock while
The sons of the Pilgrims were eating and
drinking and making merry, the deed of An
nexation was completed, and Slavery extended
over nearly 100000 square miles of new terri
tory, whence the semi barbarous Mexcans had
driven il out
Slavery might easily have been abolished at
the time of The Declaration of Independence.
Indeed in 1774 the Continental Congress, in
their celebrated ''non importation Agreement
resolved never TO import or purchase any
slaves after the last of December in that year.
In l775, they declare in Reporln that it is
not possible for men who exercise their
reason 10 believe that the divine Author of our
existence intended a part of the human race
TO hold an absolute property in and unbounded
Ovo nil bo tim
itself is a denial of the national right to allow
the existence of Slavery: We hold these
truths 10 be selfevdsnt, that ALI aseo ore ess
ated equal; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalenabe rights, that
among these are the right 10 life, liberty, and
the pursuit OF happiness that To secure these
| rights governments are instituted among men
deriving their Just powers from the consent of
the governed"
But The original draft Of tits paper contained
a condemnation yet more explicit: He The
king Of Englandl has waged cruel war against
human nature itself; violating its most sacred
rights of life and liberty in the persons of a
distant people who never offended him capt-
waiting and carrying them into slavery. Deter
mined to keep open a market where men
should be bought and sold, he has prosttuled
his negative for snppressing every legislative
attempt 10 prohibit or restrain this execrable
commerce.o This clause, says lis author him
self, "was struck ont in compliance TO South
Carolina and Georgia, who had never attempt
ed TO restrain the importation OF slaves, and
who. on the contrary, still wished 10 continue
il. Our northern brethren also, believe, felt
La little tender under these censures; for though
their people have very few slaves themselves,
yet they had been pretty considerable carriers
of them TO others.o
These were not the sentiments of single
enthusiastic young Republican, DR.. Rush, in
the Continental Congress, wished "the Colo
MES TO discourage Slavery and encourage the
increase of the free inhabitants" Another
member of the American congress declared, in
Ll779, Men are by nature free y the right
A 10 be free can never be alternately In l776,
DR.. Hopkins the head Of the New England
divines, declared that slavery is, in every
instance, wrong, unrighteous and oppressive
\ "a very great and crying SIM"
In the articles of Confederation, adopted in
177s, no provision is made for the support oil
Slavery none for the delivery of fugitives.-
Slavery is moi once referred to in that docu-
lment. The General Government had nothing
Pc do with it. " If any slave elopes to those
II states where slaves are free,n said Mr.. Madi
son in 1887, che becomes emancIpated BY
1 their laws.o
I In the Conyention of 1887, which drafted
1.-THE present Constitution of the United States
this matter of Slavery was abundanlly discuss
ed it was the great obstacle IN the way Of
forming the Union, as now of keeping it. Blu
for the efforts of South Carolina, il is probable
Slavery would have been abolished by thu
Constitution The South claimed the right o
sending Representatives to Congress on accoun
of their Slaves. Mr.. Patterson, OF New Jer
sey commended that as the slaves had no rep
resentative or vote at home, their master
could not claim additional votes in Congress
on account of the slaves. Nearly all TIT
speakers in that Convention, except the mem
bers from South Carolina and Georgia, referred
10 the slave-trade with horror. Mr.. Gerry, o
, Massachusetts, declared in the Convention