Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-01-15
For the Spy.
Union NO. s.

While we are obliged 10 allow that our repuh-
government has not been found, at home, on the
side of freedom, we may believe that the men who
framed it hoped and thought they saw good reasons
to expect far different result. But were the fact
otherwise; it true, as letter writer asserts
that in present Constitution " the pre-existirg
right of the master to his slave was recognised and
to secure that right completely certain pro-
visions inserted, the moral character of the
institution could not be changed. If slavery was
an outrage upon the rights of before, it washe
same afterwards; if sin then, it must be so now
If condemned by the humane principles Of the Com
mon law when we were cclonies our political indie
pendence has not removed that condemnation If it
were clear to all minds, after Lord Aansfeld's de-
cison, that man could be slave in England by
her law that truth could dot have been obscured by
Jeferson's subsequent declarations that g all men
are CREATED equal - if servitude was ever in
consistent with that fundamental rule of Christianity
&c that whatsoever ye would that men should do to
you do ye even so to them," it is al.oays rrecon-
cilable. How vain, then, to argue for its continu-
ance for any such reason. Our friends who wish to
strengthen the of the STAKEHOLDER must rest it
on other and older foundations. They should show
its justice, its repubicansm, its benefcence. When
these features are proved to be characteristic of
American Slavery their cause is won. So beautiful
a system will never need so lame defence as we
have just glanced it. 1t will stand ouAsrong in its
own just claims, without the need of support from
the political arrangements of any body of men and
beyond the reach Of aid from any human author
ity
1t IS, however, Of moment TO the character of the
trainers of our Constitution whether the nlputation
cast upon them in this letter be well founded. In
brief newspaper article this important question can
not be properly and fully discussed as it deserves
to be- few plain and incontrovertable facts, how
ever, of which even unettered men may be cogni-
zant compel to think better of the men and their
work.
When honest men put IN writing any agreements
into which they may enter they always express their
meaning in the plaincst term The framers of our
constitutions In the absence of positive evidence to
the contrary, may fairly be presumed to have been
honest In their purpose and to have fully stated if
Their purpose, told, was to secure the rigbt
of the master to his slave more compieteiu." and
an examination Of the instrument shows the word
Stare IS not in it, nor any phrase, fairly Interpreted
that describes person in his condition. Can the
fact be reconced with the assertion?
| Consider, also, the probability of n en-, who had
such an interest as is here imputed to Them stating
In the Constitution ITSELF that it was formed to
tabsh justice and to Secure the blessings Of In
erty" and who afterwards inserted SO many quar-
antees for personal freedom declaring among other
rights, that " the writ Of habeas col pus shall not be-
suspended, unless in cases of rebellion or nyas;o,
the public safety may require it.
Let those believe who can that these men did no,
mean what they 50 plainly expressed We on the
contrary, viii honor them that they did not. IN tho
language Of Mr.. Madison, admit "the idea thu,
man can hold property in man." and that, therefore
i is impossible they could have been actuated BY
the dabollcal purpose Of securing to the master II
perpetuiiy the right to bis slave more complete
y."
1
/ Wnfa