Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-03-29

The preamble to this act in strong and appro-
nr;.,a lapouspe expresses an abhorrence of That
condition of civil bondage TO which the arms
and tyranny of Great Britain were exerted 10
reduce acknowledge the ebeneicentagency
of the Supreme God, in our deliverance from
the threatened dangers, and admits the great IN
ustics, and wrong done to the servlle race, by
means whereof they had been /" deprived OF the
common blessings to which they were by nature
entitled :" and then in commemmoration OF our
own happy escape from tyrannlc and despohc
power, provides that all persons, as.weil ne
proes and mulattos as others, who shall be born
within this state, from and after the date OF the
said act, shall not be deemed and considered
servants for life, or slaves.
The further provisions of this humane law
relate to the registry OF sIaves-the service OF
their children their support when left INDECENT
their trial for offences; and whilst i, thus de-
clares. in most express terms, that no man or
wonlaa, Of any nation or color, except regis
tered slaves, shall at any time thereafter be
deemed, adjudged, or holden within the terrific
ries of this Commonwealth as slaves or servants
for life, bat as free men and free women, it
makes provision for the protection Of the pro-
petty Of non-residents in slaves or servants for
life, who may be sojourners for period OF six
months. On the 29th March, 1888, another act
intended to cure the defects of the acts OF lst
March, 1850, was passed, and Is hereto an
nexed.
These enactments made Pennsylvania a non-
slaveholding State, and III terms of the Clearest
and strongest character marked the determina-
lion of her people to abolish. for ever servile
labor within her borders. Whist the pream-
Bile to the first act recled ard embodied the
for ,I. hOii 4 nd har
feelings in relation to, the institution of slavery,
it furnished notice. Of the most authentic kind,
of her determined resistance to It's increase and
extension.
The Congress OF the States in session in New
York, Virginia. Georgia, and Pennsylvania,
being represented therein, on the 18th July,
l7c7, passed an ordinance with great unanlml-
ty, that slavery, orinvoiuntary servtu1c should
never be established, except tor crime, wlthla
the then territories of the confederated States.
There is no excepting or saving clause; no line
of compromise or designation OF degrees of
latitude to limit the area of freedom, bat an en-
tire, absolute, and unconditional prohibition Of
the institution in all the territories then under
the jurisdiction of the Congress.
The act of l780. had given notice 10 the
other States, Of the views entertained by Penn
sylvania, oa this important subject. The ordl-
nance Of the 18th July. i7S7, was conceived in
the same spirit, and gave an assurance, that the
evils Of human bondage should never be ex-
tended and would eventually cease TO exist
among free people. II was in this belief that
the citizens of Pennsylvania consented to a
constitution, which recognised TO sone extent
the institution qf slavery.
The constitution beng adopted vent into
operation on the I'd April, l7S9. 1t contains
the following provisions, directly or indirectly
connected with the seryItude vi The colored
race:
First. as regards representation, II provides,
A" that representatives and direct taxes shall be
apportioned among the several States which
may be included within this Union, according
TO their respective numbers, which shall be de-
termlned by adding to the whole number of free
persons, including those bound TO service for a
term OF years, and excluding Indians not taxed
three-fifths Of all other persons"
Second, "The migration or importation Of
such persons as any OF the States noD eristing
shall think proper to admit, shall not be pro-
hibited by congress prior to the year l90S; but
a tax or duty may be imposed on such importa
tlon not exceeding ten dollars for each person"
Third, No person held to service or labor
in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping
or regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but shall be delivered upon
the claim Of the party 10 whom such service
or labor may be due"
The provision in the Constitution limiting the
duration of the slave traffic; and the act of the
national Congress Immediately preceding its
adoption, in relation TO its extension to the
territories of the Union, would seem to leave no
doubt upon the mind, that it was the intention
and meaning Of the trainers Of the Constitu-
tlon TO prevent the extension and increase of
human slavery; and al an early period TO Sc
cure its entire abolition in the several States
The qualified representation of the servile
race, and the delivery of fugitives were con.
cessions made TO the people Of the saVehold-
ing States.
To this organic law, containing these provi-
sions, Pennsylvania gave her assent; and 1t is
therefore duty on her part TO respect with
religious fidelity, the rights therein guaranteed
to other States.
That this Commonwealth has been faithful
IN the discharge of all her federal obligations
it is believed can be made manifest. Ii is true
that her business pursuits have been frequently
interrupted--it Is true that her just weight IN
the national ceanclIs has been lessened by the
representation of the servile race--lt is true
that the representation of property instead of
people has been felt by our citizens as anti-re-
publican and wrong-nevertheless she has al
ways felt it duty faithfully 10 discharge her OBJ
legations as member of the national Union.
The institution of slavery has assumed new
position and importance by the successful at
tempt to extend II beyond its original limits.
In every instance of the kind this common
wealth has raised her voice in earnest protest.
In the written Constitution, TO the observance
of whose provisions her faith had been pledged
there was found no authority for its ntroduc-
tion into new, and after acquired territory.
With the knowledge that theframers Of the
Constitution had taken part in the dell bera-
tions of the Congress of 1871, and that the in
tention OF their ordinance was The preserva-
tion from the malign influences of slavery of
all the territory then belonging to the Union,