The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-23


ms Mon aceod'ng TO heir respective hunters which
sna De determined by adding TO The whole number OF m
persons incuuns those bound 10 service for term OF
years and excluding Indians not taxed. three ihs OF all
other persons"
A further concession was yielded by the convention TO
this great interest for valuable equivalent. IL
vitality essential that the power o regulate
with foreign nations" should be conferred upon the
national government neither internal peace and har
moDy external quiet and prosperity, could be
ably hoped be secured without this grant The appe-
tensions of the sayehoding interest formed strong
pediment 10 success aud compromise with that interest
was effected in the following provisions
.sTbe migration postatoa Of such persons as any Of
the States now existing shan think proper admit shall
not be prohibited by The Congress prior to the year
thousand eight hundred and eight; but duty may
De imposed on such Importation, not exceeding dollars
Tor each person."
Here, again. il will be that the power of taxation
to limited extent. was given for The temporary pryi.
eges conferred limiting the force and effect OF The clause
to the strict letters of its terms. Butt is now matter OF
history, and universally conceded, that the fair consuc-
the time limited, sos) prohibit the Importation of per-
sons and thus TO cut the foreign slave trade altogether
without being compelled 10 resort. for that important
power. to the general grant Of power to regulate com
merce with foreign naiions" The practice OF our gov
eminent under the clause has BEEN since the expiration
Of The period OF limitation, IN conformity with the
strucon here declared and II is gratifying to be able to
state that this practice has been strongly record
ed by the representatives of any portion of the American
people than by The representatives OF the slayehodng
States Was not here compromise entered into upon
sufficient equivalents And has il not already resulted
in immense alienation OF that evil in favor of which
il purpored To be made
single other provision of the constitution touches
this delicate question, and it's justice shall be plainly sub
mted II is in these words
person held service labor In ono State under
the laws thereof escaping into another, sha in
quence OF any law regulation therein, be discharged
from such service labor, but shalt be delivered up
claim OF the party 10 whom such service labor may be
due"
That this clause of the constitution is applicable 10
the fugitive slave unqueslionaby true he held TO
service in the slave State under The laws thereof y and
that il is applicable to the legally bound apprentice and
servant OF the free States is equally plain and true
Does the fact That the provision broad enough
brace the slave yate i, and make wrong lis insertion
as part OF that sacred instrument? Is il not just and
proper IN itself and ought not the friendly relation
Isl and be perpetual among the States of the Union AS
applicable TO the slaves is not due to the previous pro-
visions. which recognise and tolerate the institution Of
slavery and respect the rights and interests OF the slave
holding States Could the fair faith implied by these
provisions be carried out without this and they
now be available, ~ the true spirit OF the compact be-
tween The States, without faithful observance of this
covenant also 1?
Are there any who will blame our venerable fathers
the Delegates in the convention OF l7s7 for giving their
usstnt TO this clause OF our constitution! All the old
thirteen States assented TO it, and to all The other
sions and compromises which have been mentioned as
connected with the subject OF domestic slavery The
people OF all the States assented 10 them and fifty years Of
internal peace and abundant prosperity have attested the
wisdom OF the convention the patriotism and devotion Of
the federal Unon and the intelligence and Justice, and
faith OF the people. What American citizen will now
rise, and claiming 10 be purer than Washington, the
president OF that and more patriotic than
the sages who supported him in the great work OF form
ing our constitution, they had previously in the
achievement OF our ndependencewill cast the first
at that temple Of human liberty which they erected
Who that loves his country will open again the delicate
and troublesome compromises thus soemnly formed,
thus settled, and now consecated by time and happy ex
perence with the hope of reaching better results from
the present temper and feeling OF the country Who
will cas-, upon the of time and chance the invalu
able blessings we have gained, the triumph 10 human lib
erty have secured for The dark and stormy prospect
which presents itself of perfect success in new
effort Who will wan.only tIampe upon the faith we
have solemny pledged 10 brethren of the other
States upon entering the conederacy, means Of
moulding them TO yielding disposition in some fu-
ture compact Who will boldly strike a, the Union
SELF and stake its fate against his sympahies for the
slavel
But Mr. Wright vindcaes successfully not merely the
provisions OF constitution founded upon concess ons
which complained OF by MIR. Seward and his
abolition associates but he carries the argument It's
limits. and shows that the only amendments that sacred
instrument, thought of by fathers originated from no
desire to change the original adjustment Of the slavery
question, The object OF fathers, in making the
amendments which they did in the constitution was to
restrict still further The sphere OF the federal government,
and TO sanction broadly the reserved rights of the
States and the peopleor in other words the doctrine Of
the great Saterghls party 10 which democracy has uni
versay adhered. lie dwes with great force upon the
fact that not amendment ever insisted on whose
object to unseltle any compromise which had been
originally made of conflicting and delicate local interests
but protect in reality and surround such compro.
misses with new guarantees-such guarantees could
never be withdrawn weakened.
That such is the fact, the reaer will see from the fol.
lowing extracts:
Still the public mind not at rest. Apprehensons
were extensively entertained that The powers granted 10
the federal government broad, and that they
would be made yet broader by unforeseen and unnended
constructions. To prevent these evils if they should be
real and 10 allay apprehension, II they not, the
Congress organized under the constitution at its first
soD caused amendments 10 be prepared, taken from the
suggestions and recommendations OF the several State
conventions consisting OF twelve articles which were,
according the provisions Of the constitution, submitted
TO the several Stale legislatures for their ratification
lection. These amendments acted upon with
sonabe prompiiude by the requisite number OF the egs
laures and of the twelve articles were adopted and
made part OF the constitution while the two hrst did not
receive the ratification oil the requisite number OF the
legislatures of the States and were rejected or The ten
articles adopted il is worthy OF remark TO notice that ev
cry restrictive OF the federal powers, or declara
tive OF the rights OF the people OF the States or both
and that word relating directly or indirectly, 10
the sutjsd Of domestic siduery il found cher IN The ar
tces themselves or in the expositons and recommends
lions OF the State conventions which gave rise 10 them
But two other amendments have been made to the con
stinton OF the United States up 10 this daythe htsl oil
which relates 10 the stability OF the States, and was
adopted in January, 1898 and the other relates 10 the
manner in which the presidential electors shall give
their for President ard Vice President and was
adopted in September. 1901
Such and 80 few have been the amendments 10 that
constitutions adopted and recommended 10 the people and