The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07

in the legislature whose business II shall he attenvely IA
observe the conduct Of touching this Association
and when II shall be made appear the satisfaction of
majority Of such committee that any person within the
limits Of their appointment has violated this Association that
such majority do forthwith the truth De
published in the gazette to the end that all such the
rights Of British America may he publicly known and uHi.
reTsdy condemned as The enemies If ier0H liberty; and
enceorth we respectively viii break of all dealings with
him or her"
IA And we do further agree and resolve that we will have
trade commerce. dealings intercourse whatever With
any colony province in North America which shall
accee TO- which shall hereafter violate this AssOcilOn
as iriDIioGl 10 The liberties Of Giis country"
"The foreqong Association being determined upon by
the ordered to be subscribed by the several
members thereof and hereupon have hereunto
respective names accordingly.
In Congress, Phiade phis, October ~ IVA
PEYToN RANDOLPH,
Presaieai.
Ne,r Ham,pslire-JOhn Sullivan, Nathaniel Folsom.
MassaehNSetts Bdy-Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams,
John Adams, Robert Treat Paine.
Rhode fstanf-Stephen Hopkins Samuel Ward.
Connectieut-Eliphaet Dyer, Roger Sherman, Silas
Nev Ypk-Isase Low, John Alsop, John Jay, James
Duane Philip Livingston, William Floyd Henry Wsner,
Simon Boerum
Nep Jersey-James Kinsey, William Livingston Stephen
Crane, Richard Smith, John De Hart.
PsHrsyirdRiaJOseph Galloway John Dickinson Charles
Humphreys Thomas Minin. Edward Bidde John Morton,
George Ross
Tzs .se. eou.is.. M.'oes'a', se-c~'ar Rodney,
.Mrryiasi-sla,tbs~ rriShmss Thomas johnson, u,
William Pea, SAmssi CAass
SDriaaa.-Riehsd k,ss.,Is4. rss Washington, Pat
Pendlstsn
North Carolsa-Niiam Hooper, Joseph Hewes, Richard
CasEell
Sos Carolina -Henry Miiiissoa, Thomas Lynch Chris
TOPPER Gadsdsn John Rutl.ass, Edward Rute' &c.
MIR. BOwDoN | would inquire of the gen.
tlemsn from Ohio whether he calls that the Con-
stitution Of the Union
NJ n Ixrsn ~ IL =
the honorable gentleman from Alabama. IL is not
the last Constitution Of the Union, but higher ev-
idepce to prove the point make, which is, that
the Propmces formed their FIRST Uaion, among other
things to cheek the progress of Slar1y! The gentle
man from Alabama, on the other side of the Hall,
Mr. lNaE, the other day spoke of the Continental
Congress, and of the Declaration of Independence,
as production from that august body Of patriots,
called for by the pressure of public opinion from
without. So with this document which is a dec
lara,ion two years older than the Declaration of
Independence itself The outside pressure Of pub
lie opinion the subject of slavery expressed at
the various primary meetings of the people them
selves, some of which have referred to, required
as preliminary step to the contemplated resist
ance, solemn pledge that slavery should 90 no
further and it must be borne in mind that these
fathers carried with them the same spirit and the
same design when they subsequently entered into
more formal articles, passed the Ordinance 1884,
and formed our present Constitution.
Georgia was not represented in the Continental
Congress, as you will observe. The reasons which
prevented representation need not detail. Still
che patriots Of that province in that good old time
unlike her misguided but no doubt sincere Repre-
sentatives on this floor, were determined not to be
behind the other colonies in their efforts to secure
to themselves and to extend to those In slavery the
blessings of freedom.
Georgia proclaimed her sentiments on the 10Th
of January, l77a, after the adjournment of the
Continental Congress, tpage 1867
"we therefore, the Representatives Of the extensive
District of Dare in the colony of Georgia, having
assembled In Congress- by authority and free choice
Inhabitants Of said District freed from their letters
resolve:
"5 To shoe The orld that are not Influenced by aqy
contracted interested 1lotires bu! general philanthropy
for MANKIND, Of haferer climate, language
ron hereby declare disapprobaon and d6torrecs
of the usnfurdl prdfe Of slavery in America (however
the state of country other spous argu
ments may plead for it, practice founded in injustice and
cruelty and highly dangerous TO liberties, Gas well
lives debdsag part Of feowcreatures below
corrupt the rrtue and morals of the rest and is laying
basis liberty (and which pray
the Almighty continue the latest poserity upon very
wrong foundation We therefore Rssolpe oil times Ia
u,. our utmost fer the of our shares
in this colony upon the most safe and equitable footing for
the master aud Themselves"
Such was the action-these were the sentiments
upon this question of moral and political right,
when the foundation of our great superstructure
was laid, and which was subsequently cemented
with the blood of our heroic ancestors.
Sir, have offered the testimony exclusively
Southern not of Northern provinces. would that
we could but summon here those veterans to give
us with living voice their opinions Just as they
are here recorded. Would Washington be secuted
from this Hall as recreant to the best interests
of his country? Would the Virginian denounce
Jefferson rs a traitor because he said slavery was
an execrable practice or Patrick Henry as o" IA
natic,n because he avowed his devotion to the
cause of human freedom, in that ever memorable
burst of eloquence in the Virginia Convention,
closing with " Give me liberty, or give me death :"
Suppose this Hall was now occupied by the old
Continental Congress-this question raised and
they unanimously declare slavery moral and po-
litical evil-would the honorable gentlemen from
Alabama, Mississippi North Carolina, and Geor-
gia, dcnounce them recreants to their country
Oh no. Why, then, do they disavow the prin-
ciples they proclaimed Does not the experience
Of the last half century prove that they truly fore
the bliehting effects of this evil of which they
desired to rid themselves The rapid increase Of
the States, where slavery does not exist in power
and strength, and everything calculated to render
life agreeable, establishes the wisdom of their de-
termination.
Some of the States who were parties to this OBJ
legation have redeemed their pledges. We now
propose to carry out far as we can, their orig-
nal purpose
MIR. STANLY. To abolish slavery in the
States
Mr. CAMPBELL. We will not do that where
under the Constitution it exists. We leave that
matter for you to attend to as you like; but we,
having power over the Territories, intend to fol-
low these wholesome counsels from the founders
Of the Government, and exclude slavery from
them forever by the power of public sentiment
by the power of the law-and, if necessary, In
maintaining the majesty Of the law, by the power
of the sword
Mr.. BOWDON. Will the gentleman from
Ohio show us the power in the Constitution to
pass such law?
Mr.. CAMPBELL. have much to say yet in
the little time that is left me J have spoken Dy
time before, and If regarded the constitutional
question as doubtful, would not now 20 into It.
Ii the honorable gentleman desires discussion ef
that question with me, | will meet him on any
stump, either in Alabama or Ohio, after &c Dgress
adjourns IL will save some money to discuss u
in that way. For the present. | cor. tent myseh
by saying that the question of power has been os-
cided in our favor by Congress, and by the va.
ous Administrations from the organization % 'he
Government TO the present time, and }, vii, s"Vn
he settled again, notwithstanding the tn,eAs
dissolution of the Union Ii the gentleman IN
tends to debate that question here, desire 10 De
Informed in what article Of the Constitution 'he
power found which enables you to stretch wire
on the line of 800 30', your proposed compro-
mise and leeislste TO establish siapoy on one SIDE 81
3 and oyohita Il on he other And on what prin-
cnle az ,olacol justice TO the North do you claim
that an Albanian may 20 with one hundred
slaves. settle on one side Of this wire, and come
into this hall with power Of siuy-one refe',
whilst the Ohioan, who takes property equal In
Lar