The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-20
HOWELL, Mich, Fsbrndrv IS, Is

To the Editor ofthe National Era:
DEAR SIR In your comments, February 9th,
upon the " Ant-Slavery Movements in Illinois,
understand you to dissent from most of the res
olutions Of our Illinois friends. | fully concur in
your opinion, that there true and tried friends
Of Liberty remaining In tise ranks or she w hig
and Democratic parties. Our position In regard
to party organization, | conceive, Is to be deter
mined by the circumstances Of our various locali-
ties | can see no objection to casting our votes
for such candidates for office as profess our prin-
oiples, taking care TO mnrk those who prove
treacherous-the object sought being to act with
the greatest permanent efficiency. | am little
stumbled, however, at your effort to make il ap-
pear plain that slavery has an existence through
the Federal Constitution, inasmuch you admit
that "its principles and its main provisions are
Anti-Slavery, with single exceptional provision
against Liberty" Does the argument that sla-
very has constitutional existence rest upon this
single exception, the phraseology of which would
be needed in that instrument, though slavery did
not exist at all, so long as there may be persons
under contract rs apprentices nc Tor upon that
other admitted alluson to slavery, fixing the ratio
of representation, the language Of which would
also be needed, 80 long as there should be other
persons" to whom it might be applicable? Now,
il seems to me that IL slavery has no other ma
tional existence than these doubtful illusions its
foundation is too fral to build obligatory national
laws upon. Without further light, then, must
agree with the Illinois resolution, that slavery
has no constitutional existence" and also that an
oath to support the Constitution does not imply
an obligation to obey single exceptional provi-
sion, which provision, 1t is admitted, conflicts with
the principles Of that Constitution, and also con-
ficts with right, and which provision Is an admit
ted wrong On the subject of the legality of sla-
very, do not understand our Illinois friends to
say that there are no laws framing inquty, but
] suppose they mean that there is no binding
force TO laws enscting wrong do not mean in
expedient or injudicious laws, or laws which might
or might not be expedient to enact, according to
circumstances, obedience to which would have NO
moral character except as connected with such
laws, but mean inherent wrong, abstract wrong.
Nature teaches me q know nothing Of Black
stone) that law cannot make wrong right, and that
all laws enacting iniquity are nugatory and void.
The contrary sentiment, 1t appears to me, would
only require that vice, Of whatever name be sane
toned by law, and it might be perpetrsted with
out responsibility and without turpitude, and
would destroy or institute a new standard of
moral character.
You are right in not understanding the morali-
ty that finds in obedience to God warrant for
bad faith to man. Obedience to God never con-
fiicts with duty to man and while we would COM
mend good faith TO man, we suggest at the same
time that the term man be understood in its most
comprehensive sense, ! am aware that the lati-
tude Of Michigan and Illinois varies from that Of
Washington; therefore you will suppress the
above expression Of sentiment If you choose.
Yours for the right L. +, GAY.
The latitude Of Washington is not that of
Michigan or Illinois, but our friend will recollect
that though mob law triumphed at Alton and
Nauvoo, and has not always been successfully re-
sisted in Michigan, 1t was effectually put down
on the first attempt to execute it against the Ma
tipnal Era. The freedom of speech and Of the
press is fixed fact y in Washington, and If we
exercise IL at times with more moderation than
suits some ardent temperaments, II is from the
fear not of suffering, but Of doing, harm.
We have never said that Slavery has "an ex-
istcnce through the Federal Constitution" Sla-
very in this country is the creature oftoree sane
TONED by State Law, by virtue Of which it now
exists Its existence was anterior to the Federal
Constitution, as 1t Is now independent of
We agree with Mr.. Gay in the sentiment, that
F" Nature teaches that Law cannot make wrong
right" Wherein, then, do we difer1 The truth
is, whenever popular conventions begin TO pass
resolutions affirming metaphysical distractions,
we may expect want Of precision IN the terms
employed, leading TO needless and prohtless con-
troversies.