The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-07-11
people will acquiesce in the provisions Of
laws like this!

people Will dCquioSCo III luo pIoVislOuS Oi
laws like this!
Doubtless, fellow.citizens, doubtless,
this question of slavery must be settled.
But 10 make any settlement, final and
permanent, it must be founded On prin-
ciples just in themselves, and derived
from the nature of Governments and
States; not upon the imaginary equiva-
lents of bargain between slavery and
freedom. 1t must be effected, not by
legislative amendments or additions TO
the constitution, but by adherence to its
principles. In the view of The constitu-
ton, slavery is mere Stale concern. II
depends wholly upon State laws for its
existence and continuance. BY the con-
stitution the General Government is for
hidden to deprive any "person of life,
liberty or property, without due process
of law" All power 10 authorize or sus-
tain slavery, is thus carefully withheld
from the National Government. These
simple facts indicate the principles upon
which final and permanent settlement
can be effected. There must be no
slavery without State limits and within
exclusive ns,ional Jurisdiction, and no
legislation by Congress for the exiradi.
tion of fugitlves from service. Within
State limits slavery must be left TO the
disposition Of State legislation. When
these simple and obvious principles shall
be recognized and applied, the slavery
question will be settled. The whole
subject Of slavery and the extradition Of
fugtives, will be left where the constitu-
ton left it-with The States. The Gen
eral Government will maintain the natural
rights of every person within its exclusive
Jurisdiction, and take charge only Of those
matters Of general concern that the con-
stitution has conided 10 its care. This,
l repeat. is, in my judgment, the only
practicable settlement of the slavery ques.
ton in conformity with the principles oil
the constitution.
There is, indeed, another mode OF
settlement which would also be final,
mean emancipation by the authority of
the General Government, coupled with
compensation to masters, and, perhaps,
expalriation and colonization ofthe slaves,
This would involve the assumption of
undelegated power by Congress-the
creation of an enormous national debt
the perpetuation Of oppressive tariff and
credit systems: and can, therefore, meet
the appreciation Of no man TO whom the
principles Of Democracy are dear.
The constitutional Sc ttlement TO which
l have adverted, would not, of course,
secure the permanent continuance of
slavery. On the contrary, its final ex-
tinction would be effected through State
legislation as speedily as upon the other
plan through national legislation. The
plan of emancipation, compensation and
colonization, will doubtless be the plan of
Capital and Conservatism. The plan of
restriction within State limits, and leav-
ing the whole subject TO State disposition,
is the plan upon which our fathers in.
tended that the final extinction of slavery
should be accomplished. 1t is the plan
of the Constitution and Democracy.
Upon the former plan, the extinction Of
slavery will be indeed effected; Tut the
labor OF the country will be burdened
with an enormous debt, and suffer all the
evils which tariff systems and banking
systems-the offspring of debt-bring in
their train. Upon the latter plan, the
same great object will be accomplished
peacefully, cons:itutionally, by the volun-
tary action of the several States. without
the imposition Of any extra burdens upon
labor.
1t is vain TO think Of suppressing agita.
ton until a final settlement shall be
effected upon one or the other Of these
plans. 1t is Gods will that ali men shall
be free. Mans will must conform to
Gods will. You may as we'll attempt 70
arrest Niagara as it thunders in its fall,
as TO attempt 10 arres! the current of
opinion. You may as we'll attempt to
arrest the sun as he ascends from the
horizon to the zenith, as 10 arrest human
progress TO its destined consumma,ion in
equality and happiness incompatible with
slavery.
The departure Of the government from
the principles Of the constitution, in its
action upon slavery, has given rise 10
great diversity Of opinion in rels,ion TO
the merits Of slavery itself. There are
those wEo once condemned the institu.
ton who now justify it on principle.
These assert that States in which slavery
exists enjoy the bes. form Of society; that
slavery is the happiest relation Of labor
10 capital, and the mos, stable foundation
OF free institutions. I lately read an
article in the Southern Press, The organ
Of the Southern Rights Party in Washing
ton, which stated that Jefferson and other
statesmen Of his day, did indeed indulge
the expectation Of the advent Of a period
when equality aad justice, virtue and
truth, shhuld prevail among men. "Bu,
this bright Dream" said the writer, sis
no more" Is this indeed soi ls this
the final result 10 which the political
philosophy Of fslavery conducts us! Were
our fathers visionary dreamers when they