The republic., 1851-09-12
FFom the Boston Transcript
The Peace and Dignity OF the Common
xyeuI&Is-Na

earnest predictions and admOnitlons of such
grave men as Frelinghuysen, Walworth, and
Ogden were altogether groundless; that, al
though he admits, in the outset, that evil means
may be sometimes employed for the attainment
of good objects, he proceeds to show that abo-
litionism is entirely free from this objection.
ITO prevent any misapprehensions," says
this worthy gentleman, in 1885, and, have
not doubt, in perfectly good faith, "of the
real design of the society, the constitution ex-
pressly declares that the society will never in
any tUay co1ntenance the oppressed In oindi-
eating their rights by res0rting to physical
force" The constitution expressly declares
Dear, good MIR. William Jay, what abolition
ist, of the Garrison stamp, cares fig for the
constitution of petty society, at the present
day, when the most prominent members get up
in their places and urge their associates and the
people to trample even the Constitution of the
United States under foot?
1t is, at this day, perfectly well known that
members of abolition societies have publicly
and without interruption or rebuke from the
officers thereof, advocated the propriety of en-
ploying force. Slaves have been urged, by
these orators, to steal the property and seize
the fieetest horses of their masters, and take
the lives of all who oppose their flight.
But these are the outPourings Of individual
members only, followed by ''cheers Of applause"
and ''inlnlense sensation" The society has is
sued no edict to this effect; and, therefore, what
harm can be done! Sure enough, good Mr.
William Jay! | do certainly find, in the third
article of the first chapter of the American
Anti-savery Society, the very words quoted
above, and they must prove great comfort to
the relatives of such as may have their throats
cut by their slaves, under the excitement of alb
clifton oratory A letter of coincidence from the
president of the society, with copy of the
third article of the constitution, must be great
solace to the bereaved!
Mr. Jay, in 1885, arrayed power of evil
dence to prove how unjust were the predictions
and how unfounded the fears in regard to abo-
ltionists. This worthy gentleman seemed to
apprehend no mischief from the language
and conduct of individual members, so long as
the principles of the Constitution, and the SEN
timents of sundry resolutions, were such as they
ought to be. The compass was right; nothing,
Of course, was to be allowed for the drowsiness
or the deviltry of those to whom the helm was
to be entrusted.
Mr.. Jay proceeds to present the sofficial de-
clarations of abolitionists," to prove how very
groundless were the fears and predictions of all
wise and good men,
"The national compact was framed as to
guaranty the legal possession of saves; and physi
cal reference would be violation of christian
principles. Rep of N. E. Anti-Slavery Society"
We do not aim at any interference with the
constitutional rights of slaveholding States; for
Congress, as is we'll understood, has no power to
abolish slavery in the several States.-Address of
the New York City Anti Slavery Society,"
We freely and unanimously recognise the
sovereignty of each State to legslate erchtsipely
on the subject of slavery, which is tolerated
within its limits; we consider that Congress
has no right to interfere with any of the slave
States in relation to this subject Declaration
of Anti-Slavery Convention al Philadelphia.
4th December, 1888
In December, 1888, the abolitionists of New
York, in petition to Congress, said: "What-
ever views they may entertain of the evils of
slavery as it exists in certain States of the
Federal Union, they are fully aware that these
evils are beyond the constitutional control of the
Federal Government; and, so far from solicit
ing your interposition for their removal, they
would deprecate the Interference of Congress on
this subject as vlotation Of the National Com
pact"
And, after an exhibition of these passages,
Mr.. William Jay most honestly and innocently
inquiries: ".4nd noU zoe ask, is there any thing
IN the ertracts zoe hare gioen to justify, encuse,
on palliate the heary accusations made against
the abolitionists?"
Certainly not But Mr.. Jay must not forget
that there were some other matters beside ac-
cusatiOns de presenti-there were forebodngs
and predictions. Again, Mr.. Jay cannot be
Ignorant of the fact that even then the intem-
perate abuse of shareholders, the bitter male
dctions against the South, the exciting appeals
to the people, the ncendiary suggestions as to
the rights of the slaves to break their bonds,
were utterly at variance with the very quiet
and well-balanced sentiments contained in these
extracts from the constitutions, resolutions, and
petitions of the abolition societies.
1t amounts to no more than this--the society,
in the concrete, passes excellent resolutions,
and individually violates the spirit of those re-
solutions in the most outrageous and impudent
manner. The societies, officially, deprecated
the interference of Congress; but the indiridual
members, by their tongues and pens at that very
time, as Mr.. Jay perfectly well knows, were
pouring upon shareholders contumely and re-
proach in every offensive form--by their Ian
guage exciting the animosity of southern men,
and thereby weakening the ties of the Union;
and all this, upon many occasions, under the nose
Of some president of the very abolition society
that had passed those most staid and ercellent
resolutions 1t is not particularly easy to de-
scribe case of more impudent and brazen-
faced hypocrisy,
! am now speaking of things as they were
when good Mr.. Jay wrote his book, in 1885.
Mr.. Jay produces Mr.. Webster's letter to
Mr.. Bolton, Of May II, 1883 Let us do the
same thing. Here is Mr.. Webster's letter;
'In my opinion, t c domestic slavery of the
southern States is q subject within the exclusive
control of the States themselves; and This am sure
is the opinion Of the tohoIe North. Congress has no
authority to interfere in the emancipation Of slaves
in the treatment of them in any Of the States
This was so resolved in the House of Representa-
tives. in $780, the report of committee, consist
ing almost entirely of northern members; and | do
not know an instance of the expression of differ
ent opinion in either House Of Congress since. ]
cannot say thaparticular indvduals mi ght not pos
sibly be foupd we suppose, that Congress may have
some power over the subject, but do NOT kno,c any
such per sons, and. if there be any, am sure they
are very few. The servitude of so great portion
of the population of the South is undoubtedly re-
garded at the North a great evil, moral and po-
litica, and the discussions upon il which have
Gently taken place in the Legislatures of the slave
holding States have been read with very deep in
terest. But it is regarded nevertheless an evil,
the remedy for which lies toiM those Legislatures
henseires, 10 be proUided and applied according TO