Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-02-16

further, and incorporate it as an important
element, in determining the relative weight
of the several States in the government of
the Union, and the respective burden they
should bear in laying capitaiion and direct
taxes. 1t was well understood at the time,
that, without them the constitution would not
have bsen adopted by the Southern States,
and, Of course. that they constituted elements
so essential 10 the system That IL neVer could
hare eristed ,ciLhOut them. The Northern
States, knowing all this, ratified the consti-
tuition, thereby pledging their faith, in the
most solemn manner, sacredly to observe
them. How that faith has been kept and
that pledge redeemed we shall next proceed
TO shew.
COMMENCEMENT OF DIr~FIcuLr1rs.
With few exceptions of no great impor-
lance, the South had no cause to complain
prior TO the year 1874 year, it is 10 be
feared, destined to mark IA train of events,
bringing with them many and great, and ia
tai disasters, on the country and lis ~institu-
tions. With it commenced the agitating de.
hate on the question Of the admission of
Missouri into the Union. We shall pass by
for The present this question, and others Of
the same kind, directly growing out of it,
and shall proceed to consider the effects of
that spirit nf discord which it reused up be-
tween the two sections. 1t FIRST disclosed
itself in the North, by hostility to that por-
tion of the constitution which provides for
the delivering up of fugitive slaves. In its
progress it led 20 the adoption Of hostile acts
intended to render it of non-effect, and with
so much success that it may be regarded
now as practically expunged from the con-
stliution. How this has been effected will
be next explained.
NORTHERN FAITH VIOLATED.
After a careful examination, truth con-
strains us to say, that it has been a clear and
palpable evasion of the constitution. II is
impossible Tor any provision TO be more free
from ambiguity or doubt. 1t is in the fol-
lowing words: No person held to service,
or labor, in one State. under the laws there
Of, escaping into another State, shall in con-
sequence Of any law or regulation therein,
be discharged from such service or labor, but
shall be, delivered up on claim of the parIy 10
whom such service or labor may be due."-
All is clear. There is net an uncertain mr.
eqnivocal word 10 be found in the whole pro-
vision. What shall not be done, and what
shall be done, are fully and explicitly set
forth. The former provides that the fugitive
slave shall not be discharged from his sorvi.
tude By any law or regulation Of the State
wherein he is found and the latter that he
shall be delivered up on claim Of his own.
er.
We DO not deem il necessary to undertake
TO reiute the sophistry and subterfuges by
which so plain a provision of the c%onstitn-
ton has been evaded, and, in effect, annul-
led. 1t constitutes an essential part of the
constitutions compact, and Of course of the
cpnramp laNy of tho land .,oI q. =, L..
ding on all the federal and State governments
the States and the individuals composing
them. This sacred obligation Of compact,
and the solemn injunction of the supreme
law, which Legislators and judges. both fed
eral and State. are bound bv oath to support,
all unite TO enforce its f%lflmpn,, according
10 Its plain meaning and true intent. What
that meaning and intent are. there was no
diversity Of opinion in the better DAYS Of the
republic, prior 10 1919. Congress, State leg
is%latures, State and federal Judges and mag
i~strates, and peop'e. all spontaneously placed
the same Interpretation on it. During that
period none intprposed impediments in the
way Of the owner seeking 70 recover his fu-
gitive slave; nor did any deny his right to
have every proper facility to enforce his claim
to have him delivered up. 1t was then near.
" as easy 10 recover one found in a northern
State. as one found in a neighhorIng south
ern State. But this has passed away, and
the provision is defunct, except perhaps in
two States.~
JUDICIAL OPINIONS.
When we take into consideration the i'm
por,ance and clearness Of this provision, the
evasion by which it has been set aside may
fairly be regarded as one Of the most fataI
, blows ever received by the South and the
I Union. This cannot be more concisely sta.
ted than it has been by two of the learned
Judges Of the Supreme Court of The United
States. In one of his decisions. Judge Sto.
ry said r. Historically it is well known that
! the object Of this clause was N secure to The
citizens Of the slaveholding States the rom
l plete right and title of ownership in thei
= slaves, as property, in every State in III,
Union, into which they might escape from
; the Stale wherein they were held in servi
. tude." 1.-The full recognition of this RICH
! and title was indispensable TO the security o
3 this species Of property in all the slavehold
; ing States and indeed, was SO vital 10 the pre-
, servation Of their interests and institutions
n that il cannot be doubted that it constituted
a fundamental article, without the adoption
. of which the Union would not have beer
= formed. Its true design was to guard agains
= iht uoClIlnts anu pilhIipleS pIeNdlfht iH III
non.slavehoIding States. by preventing then
3 from inlermeddling with. or restricting, o
; abolishing the rights Of the owners 0
3 slaves"
I Again. "The clause was therefore of III
! last Importance to the safety and security c
I the Southern States, and could not be sui
. rendered by them without en~dangering thei
whole property in slaves. The clause wa
accordingly adopted in the constitution b
! the unanimous consent OF the trainers Of it.
I a proof at once Of its intrinsic and ~practics
, necessity"
} Again. "The clause manifestly coniem
: = Indiana and Illinois.