Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-27
For the Freeman.
The Unconstitutionality OF slave
ry and the Fugitive Law

49,
our Republic earnestly and actively desired &c
restrict the spread of slavery, and ultimately to
eradicate from the American soil, every germ
that gives life and vigor to that enemy OF hu-
man liberty, which has since waged a deadly
war upon the very principles that characterize
and animate that charter of our liberties. In
forming the Constitution that lays foundation
for future legislation, for the benefit of our COM
mon country,-aIthough slavery then existed in
many Of the States composing the Unlon' they
intended to lay a foundation that would by a
iudicious course Of legislation, wipe from our
extensive domain the evils OF slavery ana eX'
hibit a model Government sustaining the deciara-
tons contained in Dur Bill of Rights.
Such were the efforts of all Southern, as vel
as Northern members of that Convention, and
others. washington, the father OF his country
sald,-"there is nd a man living who wishes
more sincerely thatl do, to see a plan adop'ed
for the abolitioF c xIavery but there Is only
one proper am eaeesaaj mode by which it can be
accomplished, and that is by the legislative au-
thority and this, so far as my suffrage will go,
shall rot be wanting"
The Constitution of the United States aimed
to give the fullest extension of freedom to man,
that was. consistent with the actual and ineylta-
Bile condition of the country. While the COLI
vention was framing the Constitution, the old
Congress were engaged in the noble enterprise
OF excluding slavery from all the territories
which we've in the urdisputed possession of the
United States. We invite to our country the
~votaries of liberty from every cline, by holding
out to them the promise of unequal partlclpa'
ton in the blessings of free institutions. Mr.,
Jefferson e%xelted, at that time, an influence over
pubic opinion, scarcely second to Washington,
although both were planters and shareholders,
and united their efforts to lay a foundation for
the ultimate overthrow and humiliation Of that
great national evil. Patrick Henry said" |
believe a time will come when an opportunity
will be offered to abolish this lanentable evil
Everything we can do is to improve it fit hap
pen in our day if MOI, let us transmit to our
descendants, together with our slaves, a pity for
their unhappy lot, and our adherence of slave
ry."
Is not the time near at hand that will bring
about the abolition of that lamenabtle evil 1t
becomes our duty to do all in our power to &C
complish the object; but should we fail to sue
coed in our day, let us, Like the noble Henry,
transmit to our descendants, not only our pity,
but our consciousness on the subject, and
our determination not 10 yield the contest until
Slavery shall give place to Liberty.
The term Slave or Slavery is not used in the
Constitution. Mr.. Madison opposed the intro
duction Of these words into that instrument ; for
he said he did mot wish to see it recognized by
the Constitution of the United States eff Amer
ica, thar there could Improperly in mnn-" Mr.,
Muuroe said - We hive found that this evil
slavery has proved upon the very vitals of the
Union. and has been prejudicial to all the States
in which it has existed" There was a senti-
ment prevalent among these noble pioneers of
liberty at the close of the Revolution, as well in
Congress as in the Convention, with the venera-
Bile Franklin at the head, which manifested it.
self in excluding slavery from all the territories.
We are, in duty, bound to respect the memories
of those illustrlous men for their sense of Justice,
the magnanimity and good faith by which they
were prompted. Those who dissent from Ne
positions here assumed, do gross injustice to the
great and good men who made these provisions,
and to us who feel it to be our duty to abide by
the stipulations which these provisions contain.
| hat certain stipulntions were assented to by
the trainers of the Constitution, dictated by i'm
perlous necessity, acknowledging the existence
OF Slavery in The States, and giving them, In
their capacity, certain rights, is not to be denied,
Yet, their aversion to slavery was of the deepest
character, and was strongly manifested, look
ing with characteristic foresight to the future,
believing that Providence would, in accordance
W I'LL tIAClL ltlAilul COHtClllplullOtS III l5 OWI
good time, by methods and agencies conferred
upon them, relieve their beloved country from
the evils of ~slavery,-and the constitution which
they tondly hoped would be perpetual, should
contain no traces of an institution SO inconsist.
ent with the great principle Of human liberty
and natural right on which it WINS founded, or
that the words j." slave" or slavery or any term
recognizing the idea Of property in human be.
ings, should blacken the face OF that instrument.
We are called upon by the slavery propagan-
dists to admit that wherever the flag of our I'm
ion goes it carries slavery with it; n doctrine
nowhere found IN the Constitution, ~repugnant to
its spirit, and abhorrent to the principles and
convictions of the illIstnons men who formed it.
We are called npon 10 inlerpolate this new the
DRY upon the Constitution as a sort of mystical
common law not expressed, not implied in any
particular part, but inferred from the general
nature of that instrument. The Constitution of
the United States was formed, as described in
its preamble, for the purpose, tamong other e.
numerated things) of establishing justice, and
securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity. 1t contains no provisions for
Slavery, but is, in all its parts, a Constitution for
Freedom and Liberty.
Hon. Daniel Webster, in one of his recent
speeches delivered in the United States Senate,
says,-''at the time the Constitution was formed
and adopted, three things were quite clear as
historical truths. One is, that there was an ex-
pectation that on the ceasing of the importation
of slaves from Africa, slavery would begin to
run out" Another is, that as far as there was
any power in Congress to prevent the spread of
slavery in the United States, that power was ex-
ecuted in the most absolute manner, and to the
fullest extent. The other ard third historical
truth is, that the Convention meant to leave
slavery in the States as they found it, entirely
g. -