The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-02-26

interest has reVolyed
| might illustrate by comparison with the
movements OF the planets in their orbits around
the natural sun. The figure OF speech would not
be quite accurate and appropriate, because, when
we speak oil the natural sun, we convey to the
mind the idea of light and heat, warmth and life,
giving energy throughout the entire sphere OF its
influence while that central point of our politi-
cal action as black and dark as Egyptian dark
ness, as cold and heartess and unsypathizing as
the icebergs that roll in the Arctic ocean.
Mr., w. contemplated the beginning OF the
slave power of this country, and referred to the
fact that at the very time when the Pilgrim Fa-
theirs of New England were escaping from the
oppression which they had suffered in the Old
World, and landing upon Plymouth Rock-dur-
ing the very same year, Q62OD a Dutch ship
found It's way to our res, and put into the
mouth of James River, with three or four and
twenty Africans, who had been captured for
slaves. Such was the beginning of Slavery in
this country, which went on increasing with the
increase OF settlements in the Colonies-more
slaves being imported into the Southern than into
the Northern provinces, because the Northern
people were laboring people, willing to submit
themselves to any trial, in order that they might
enjoy, without molestation, the religion they pro-
essed, and worship according to the dictates Of
their own consciences
Here were facts in history, to which gentle.
men might look, and see how the country was
situated The old thirteen colonies were com.
munities with interests all separate and distinct
from each other. There was no contest between
them. England was pursuing towards them all
system OF policy which was calculated to con-
vert to her own advantage the commercial value
OF all the labor OF the country. 1t was the policy
| OF the mother country to increase the amount of
! that labor, by importing slaves. No matter what
was the character of that labor, England was de-
| irving benefit theretrom corresponding to its
amount his policy was carried on by the moth
er country, until the Revolution, in the wear
| I716, when 1t became so oppressive, that the
Colonies separated themselves from the power of
England, and threw off the yoke of her oppres-
sion. The result was to unite the interests of the
! Colonies for mutual defence. But alter the war
was over, when they found themselves without
| Government, then came the great trial of the
Colonies; and then 1t was that the conflicting in
terests upon this question OF slavery first showed
| themselves. The People of the United Colonies
had solemnly declared that all men are created
equal, were endowed by Nature with certain in
ahenable rights, among which were life and lib
| erty, and they could not safely renouhce that
declaration when they came to form a National
Compact Yet they did renounce it, and under.
took TO form a Government under Articles at
Confederation, basedupon the contract or agree.
ment OF thirteen independ INT sovereigntes. 1t
| ""9 tHN CAiotChNC VI slavery III the southern
States that led them into that fatal error. LAYING
at the foundation Of the Articles OF Confederation
OF coach State retaining its sovereignty'' Those
| Articles looked to the power of the States as SOW
ereign, overlooking and dIsregardng the para
mount truth, that sovereignty resided in the Peo
| pie.
From the experience which they had derived
! during the time intervening between the wears
| 1888 and 1897, it was found that the Naiional
| Government coul1 NOT ha al ;ni, =,
| Articles OF Contederation-a Constitution for the
united states was requisite. And he would ask
the special attention OF the Committee while he
proposed to go very briefly into the history ofthis
matter, which would show what was the state of
things upon this question when the Constitution
! was formed
First, there was not in the whole country anv.
where, at that time, any man who claimed to be
Perpetualst upon the subject Of slavery Every
man was ardently looking forward to the time
| "heh TINS was to become great country-the
| great nome oil Ireemen; and also to a time when
mere would be an end OF slavery in the country.
Ihere was not man amongst all those who met
| 10 the convention TO form a National Constitu
uoh' 10 whom there could justly be attributed the
character OF PerpetuaIist upon the subject OF
slavery. 10 sustain his view of this point of his.
tory, he referred to the first pu blished oninions
| upon THIS subject, by Thomas Jefferson. Asear.
! ~ as 100, that distinguished patriot in drawing
up the Declaration OF ndependence-the had
been specially careful IN making his reference
lor ne ana not wish to do injustice to any)-in the
original draught OF that Declaration, MIR. Jeffer.
son. among other reasons for dissolving the polit-
ical connection of the Colonies with Grea, Ri.
tain, held this language. The charge against
King George III is set forth in the following
words:
"He has waged cruel war against human ma.
ture itself, violating its most sacred rights of life
and liberty in the persons of distant people who
never offended him, captivating and CARVING
!hem INTO slavery in another hemisphere, or to
incur miserable deathin their transportation tbith
err This pratical warfare, the opprobrium Of
lnhdel powers, is the warfare OF the Christian
King of Great Britain. Determined to keen a
market where men should be bought and sold
he has prostituted his negative for suppressing
every Legislative attempt TO prohibit or to restrain
! THIS execrable commerce.
| Which charge he, at that time, considered wor.
thy 10 be given to the world as "a reason for the
separation between these colonies and the mother
country. Again, few days afterwards, the draft
OF the famous Ordinance apopted in 1857. came
from the same hand. [Since an attempt had been
made tc rob Mr. Jefferson OF The credit OF having
originated the draft of that Ordinance. he (MrW9
stated that he had gone to the trouble Of looking