New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-05-14

r. We are Indebted 70 Mess-s. Goupu. Vibert
& CO. fora handsome co.ored A.iosraph q Niagara
Fall. after drawing made by Trohriand !, q very
.cces.ful rerrcscutaon q tho greatest 81 Natures
wonicrs
Debate on The Con-fitutOIalify of slavery.
4 numerous audience assembled at the Minerva
Rooms % listen 90 di-~u'-i'n upon the Constitution
slfv u slavery between Mc--rs. r r. WAsD and
FnyprRrCx pororAss: The former gentleman a.-
summed the position that Toe Constitution % the United
states ln letter .p.ni and design. j. essentially Anu
slavery Mr. Douglass argued IN favor OF the negative.
Thoma. Van Rensselaer, presided l'-.stcl ty hessrs
T. smith of Boston. and Geo T. Downing OF tbs
C.f, %. y.cc-Pre-lienis Mc--rs b II. Garnet and
WIN g. Ncn dictated al. Secretaries y iul report
OF Tire discussion would take zap fyc columns Of
our paper our reader. u.' be- content with synopsis
of b.
Nr Ward in support Of his position that the spirit
otter and design of the Constitution opposed T.
slavery. cited -cc o. AT prohibiting bile OF attain
der. ~cc. JOB making Ike prohibition soc D Art ~.
giving f1 fhc rtlcn- 90 each state tie puforc- 0i the
several states AMI Tho e. i'l. 9Th. and I'll Amend
uenf- a. being Alfl--lavcry. These Dor conteudci,
were directly opposed % Slavery and Slavery uu-f Hc
unconstitutional The Slave is not thing hr ID pcr-
son. ali - such comes under the provisions Of tho tou
-f.futon whcl save. nor small person uo deprived
.ffif. liberty Or property without lre process II aH
Now This clear n f mrarne and could not Do sns-
ccpbe o. misappreheusi0n 10 nsureito every nsn ais
rieht ~ Liberty and agreed with the Declaration %
Independence which declares that III mon are ere
oiel equal tha; they arc endowed with certain inacn
able .f- that among these are lc, liberty and the
pursuit I'd happiness" II WAS no mntier what were
The sentiments Of these men when writing That docu
rnsu, w. arc 20 20 by what written The Courts %
avs will NOT hold parole agreement binding upon me
parties concerned 10 must he written and interpreted
according % rs seuse. The night ~ hod property 10
HHfH. HuN HsfH DIff e.
uar az the Constitution for y would boz direct VIOLA
lion of the principles for which the hilcrs o ihe To-
public struggled he asserted that when fugitive
.l.rc had been returned Co.. bis master Dc was not ~
turned ,n compiafcc with any law calling him per
-0n and that human being entitled % nights under
tho Constitution, be- could not Dee seized upon a- chd
ie the Constitution allowed representation 10 persons
only and here direct Admission 20 iac -aNe ne-
A usr-on. NJ Ward. iu support 81 d.. validity oi
written agreement AMI The ability Of parole agree
mont fnate vorv happy illustration he said that n
Mr. Dandhcr lNr. " had entered into mere verbal
src.ue u Tor the sake of convenience % call horse
cow and -haf Mr ID. had signed written agreement
promising 20 nay $50 Tor cow, The parole agreement
a 80 null and VOID ln tie OF the law, and would
ma, he hiudnr nn IN lNr w II sad Nj w .n
accordance with the strict letter of our written agree
meui has n- been paid the money Tor the coz" snoa1
in reality give aim co" Tor the money 20 l|n, he
Mr. ID would have mo- redress from 'nurt OF law
Just so II H. said Mr. " with regard 90 slavery No
matter what the intentions nud sentiments oi the
.,,,,. ,f tho Constitution or what was the under
standing the savehoin- and non -laveholdng States
bad upon the matter that constitution n no portion ~
&C. know lodges the rights Of property IN human beings
admit said NJ Ward that there are some diihcu'tes
n tho wsv of perfect undertaking of that clause 81
the Constitution which relates o. representation and
t.xaon but t cannot be proved 10 clear understand
| ing of that it.sanciIons slavery
Mr. DOUGLASS rose and said
am glad that my friend coniesscs that there are
some difficulties in that clause of the Constitution re-
ins 10 and taxation that clause OF the
Constitution has already been read and shall not read
| il again II declares that representatives and direct
take. shall he suportoncd 20 the several states which
NAV be included within this Union according TO their
nlmhcrs which shall bc determined by hdlns 10 tAt
number Of free persons including ndlsns NOT taxed
| hrce-ffths of all other persons Mr. N~a saY' "al
some other persons beside slaves may be nculch IN
those he does not deny that the slaves Wcfe
intended by any he tells you that the term rec
m this clause j. not necessarily the correlsVe OF slave
affirm that SLAVES are included, were meant TO o." i
.Insed and ia proof viii read few remarks made 10
the Convention that framed the Constitution Tn Mon
day. June l. ll-f this very point when We are now
| discussing under discussion IL the ton.eNuou.
read from the Madison papers ~ was tn'u ily'
hv SIR RutIedge 70 add the words equitable rauo Oh
representation al the end Of the motion Just MADE
which was. the proportion % direct taNauoh -ha' uo
reyulated by the whole number OF lnhao,s on o',!
description m proportion 20 the number ~ Nhlts' -
SC Il d. cvideu; that This same clause OF the 'onsu'u
non reier- 90 the slaves the face OF u there Is Ill
| rect reference o. the slaves %.
ocs not support slavery FAR A. that take.irom
the Stakeholder two iths of his representative power
m the nation insicad Of comforting upon hln me "n!r
| nvc difh- Now THIS would be taking from MIN tA,
| three hfhs be already enjoys 10 was bonus onefed
| 70 slavery Every STAKEHOLDER was virtually toi o>
that Constitution virtually instructed by H. TO add a.
many % hs stock possible, FOR the more slaves ~,
possessed he would not only have more "eAH uul
more political power FOR every i've slaves ne H-nl
be. -nd ~ have three votes. think M case = s
out cannot flourish trumpct- much about H. out y
| I. plain and obvious not sure bat tna the SCUM
indeed am crisn that 10 would have an increase oi
rcprcssntaton IN the Legislature, were slavery ana
the slaves permitted 20 vote But u would not De Al
increase Of the slave power. You must remember iha'
Il was the slave power that demanded tnfee nIiA l'
r.senfafion Of their slaves som ~ the COCA peoPf
Of the North said We had well AK for representa-
ton for our cows our -heep and our horse' a. YOU 20
ask fDr if in your -lnve-" The answer was lhai a.
though the slave j. property ne l. person sni ~
service IL not worth than thrachiths % lAe 81
vice Of fre.ncn and therefore u Wa ar-lea tAs lns
| south had right 20 that representation Inc NORM
| bowed 10 inc mAndaie- 81 slavery.
Nr Douglass concluded with an eloquent aen.llli
ton of slavery and resumed his seat amid me cheei
of the audience After the discussion the mouse al
ourpcd according % previous agreement without "a
| lir.. q. ...... ON no. question.