New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-06
The Liberty Party Convention.


| Correspondence Of The Tribune.
SYRACUSE, We lnesday, July
This Convention assembled in the City Hall, this
morning, at 10 o'clock, and was called to order by
]. Thomas. and DR.. II. JosLYN Of Syracuse was
elected temporary Chairman, and H. Smith OF JEFF
ferson, as Secretary A Committee on Organiza-
ton reported for
P,aident. .WILLIAM L. CHAFLIT,
Tiee-P,eFn. Ellis Csbee, DR.. ii Josyn
Seeyetdries. u. X johnson, II Smith,
who were duly elected permanent officers of the
Convention A Committee on business was then
appointed, consisting of
Genn Smith. J. C. Jackson, d. Plumb,
j. Humaf, A. Pruyn
After an hours absence the Committee returned
and reported series ofresolutions and an address
which being read and accepted, the Convention ad'
iourned, to meet at half past one.
Thi. afternoon quite full Delegation have been
in attendance and the resolutions have been under
discussion seriGtim.
l. Resored That passing events do but deepen our con-
vction secisrsn religion is the greatest hndrsnce 10
The deiveBnce OF the slave
In the discussion of this resolution, there was
very general adherence of Sectaranism mani
tested, though there was some difference Of
opinion as to what constitutes Sectaiasism. One
Delegate, however, gave a very clear definition TO
wit: that Sectarianism results from the substitu-
ton Of the merely incidental for the really substan-
tial Many examples were given Of the despotsm
which Sectarianism wieds over the Church. Ger
rift Smith called all tho sects, man-made
Churches > the Wesleyan, from its very name ndi-
Gates it as c man made Church; and so of the Cal
| whistle, the Lutheran and other Churches. There
is no true Church except that Of God and any ndi-
vidual has the right OF selfiudgment as 10 the doc
| trines of the true Church. This resolution was
unanimously adopted
2 ResOred That every sleveholdnE Government IL but
piracy and that hence II pirates invade Cuba South
Carolina Brazil or Georgia there IL no more reason why
Aboi,ionits aud believers In righteous Ciyl Govern
should smpathze with the Invaded than the invad'
Ing pirates
The main question discussed under this resol1.
ton was whether the United States Constitution
be an Anti.slavery document.
Rev Samuel ]. May of Syracuse, contended that
it is proSavery document, and the only way
to free the Government from such wicked Consti-
tuition is to disregard it altogether. He had con-
tended in 1885 that it was anti-Slavery, being
Of the first that took this ground. But he had since
become convinced from careful review Of history
and all precedents, that he was in error-that the
trainers, though fresh from the conflicts Of Liberty,
really intended to sanction Slavery, by secretly do.
| ing that which they were ashamed openly 10 avOw.
He heard Garrison this subject, and his feelings
were so changed that when he went homs and
looked over bis sermons, he could find no fit to
presch, except one on prejudice, which he readily
adapted TO his feelings by appending some para
| graphs on Slavery and the Constitution He then
| asserted that Governments which cannot stand
without sacrificing the liberty OF single individual,
! ought not TO stand.
Gerrit Smith contended for the Constitution As
| an Anti Slavery document. He said that under
the well understood rules OF Interpretation there
was not a clause Of the Constitution which could be
| construed against the slave. All law must be con.
strued strictly against wrong, and literally in favor
| of right The culprit has the benefit Of the least
doubt, and so do ali the Courts instruct the Jary-
Now there is nothing in the letter of the Constitu.
ton that can be construed to support Slavery with
out reversing this rule, which is old the Com.
| mon Law itself The fault is not in the Constitn-
ton but in the Courts which wickedly interpret it
and still back Of the Judges, the fault rests with
the People, whose sentiments control the opinions
| of the Courts. If we can so elevate the feelings
and correctt the the thoughts the people, that they
will construe the Constitution in accordance with
truth, we shall, through the People, reach the
| Judges and our fundamental law will be under.
stood as it should be, as free Constitution. Mr..
| Smith referred TO the decision OF Judge Mclean,
at Detroit in the case OF the prosecution Of some
| benevolent men Of Marshall Mich. for assisting a
family to the possession OF liberty. Mr.. Mclean is
strong Methodist and yet he brought all his iniu
ence to bear against the defendants who had been
| true 10 their Own consciences. He instructed the
| Jury most strenuously against them but he was
defeated IN bis wicked intention Of wronging these
| friends Of treedom-he was defeated by woman
Lucreta Mott passed that way, and sought the &C.
| quaintance OF the Foreman and others OF the Jury
and placed in his hands book proving the Consti.
| tuition TO be an Anti Slavery document. The Fore
man read that work, and was so fnlly convinced.
| that let the facts be what they may he would not
render a verdict against the defendants. In this
case Mrs. Mott outw eigked the Judge. This is the
secret Of our success continued Mr. Smith il il 20
get the People right, and the Constitution will
| prove itself capable Of saving man from the chains
that now bind him in slavery.
| Mr.. May thought that we could so elevate the
| People as to get new and more explicit Consti-
tuition as soon as we could induce the Courts TO
construe the old one in behalf Of Freedom
Mr.. Smith acknowledged that the Constitution
could be much improved If the right men could be
elected to revise it; but that we should obtain all
the benefit can for the slave from the law AZ il
is There is law above constitutions and statutes
| and all human laws must be construed in accord
ance herewith, by every man who recognizes this
| law. With regard 70 precedents, il was argued
that Courts have the right to override them, that
this right is recognized In England, and any Judge
who is convinced precedent is against truth and
God, is bound to disregard il.
The resolution Was unanimously adopted.
hesetred Thai the Government IL deeply unjust which
DIST snehises woman which subjects The rSh 10
buy and sell freely What they please which permits he