Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-07-21
THE u c. e.
Patrick Henry'S Opinion.

Inc Lynn (MdsS.) ItoHeeT, d oi''ei oP-
ponent of Disunion, and 4 warm admirer of
Spooner's wire-drawn distractions, quotes a
passage from Virginia's eloquent son, and
says, We would give something, if our
Disunionist friends, in their much talking
about the construction placed on the Constr
tuition by the fathers of our Government,
would take a little pains TO keep before the
people, the construction placed on that in
strument by Patrick Henry" Here is the
passage referred to, which forms part Of a
speech made by that statesman in the Virgin
ia Convention which ratified the U. S. Con-
stitution.
"Have they tCongress] not power TO pro-
vide for the general defence and welfare!-
Nav they not think, that this calls for the alb
clifton Of slaveryl May they not pronounce
all slaves free, and will they not be warrant
ed by that power7 There is no ambiguous
implication, or logical deduction. The paper
(the constitutional speaks TO the point. They
have the power in clear, unequivocal Terms;
and will clearly and certainly exercise it,"
Tissf tbe Dissnississs are nof nfraidstopub-
lish the opinions of Yirginia's great orator.
they have shown in the fact, that the whole
speech, from which the above is an extract,
occupies a conspicuous place in a pamphlet
issued by them, which they are taking some
little pains to keep before The people, and
which in fact they have done their best to
disseminate through the land. We think II
not unlikely that the Editor Of the Pioneer
himself is indebted TO that same Dlsunion
pamphlet for a copy of the passage above
quoted. Whether he is so indebted or not,
however, is of no consequence. That Pat
rick Henry did not think the Constitution
sufficiently pro.slavery, is a fact well known
to all intelligent Abolitionists, Of whatever
school but did he ever deny the positive
pro-slayery character Of those clauses OF The
instrument which Disunionists so often quote,
and which Spooner has vainly attempted &c
show are not pro-slaveryl Did he ever deny
that the phrases, 'three-ff,hs Of all other per
sons and persons held TO service or labor,
meant slaves! Did he ever doubt the obi
cation Of the National Government to protec
the Slave Trade previous to lsOS-to pu
down instructions, and return fugitives i
As to his opinion that Congress might abol
ish slavery, in the exercise of its power t
.~provide for the common defence and genera
welfare there is nc evidence, we believe
that any other prominent member OF The Vii
GINA Convention agreed with him I; and eve
he did not profess 10 believe that the Consti
tuition was intended to bear such a construc
ton. He was evidently Influenced by a fes
that the North, in process of time, woul
claim such power by Implication and h
would have guarded against this by an e'
press provision. Gov. RANDOLPH, in repl
to his objection, said
81 appeal to the candor of the HONORABLE
gentleman, and if he thinks it an impropt
appeal, | ask the gentlemen here, whethI
there be a general indefinite power Of prov
ding for the general welfarel The power /
"to lay and collect taxes, duties, impost
and excuses, to pay the debts and provide E
the common defence and general welfare !
So that they can only raise money by thes
means, in order TO provide for the general we
fare. No man who reads it can say 1t is gel
eral as the honorable gentleman represents
You must violate every rule of cons'ructio
and common sense, if you sever 1t from Il
power of raising money and annex 1t to an
Thing else, in order 10 make it that formid
BILE power which it is represented to be-"
Mr.. MADISON, moreover, who was a men
Der of the Convention that framed the instr
ment, and whose opinion is perhaps enti'l'
to more weight than that Of any other ma
ID said
B. a- ~ was struck with surprise when ! hea
him express himself alarmed with respect
the emancipation vi slaves. Let me ask,