Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-02-05

MASTER AND SLAvE.-On Wednesday
last, Mr.. JENIFER, Chairman Of Committee
No. IA, submitted in Convention an article
Tor the new Constitution, which reads as
follows:
"The Legislature shall not pass any law
TO abolish or change the relation Of Master
and Slave as il now exists in this State"
This was adopted by an unanimous vote.
1t is the first article that has received the
approval of the Convention. We conceive
it TO be one of great importance to the peo-
pie Of the Stale, and matter Of justice TO
her Slaveholding citizens. We regret to
see, however, that the Baltimore Sun is dis
posed TO find fault with the Convention for
This act, as will be seen as we proceed. That
paper, referring to the article above quoted,
says: 'This proposition originates in the
very spirit against which the people have
conended with respect to the old Consli-
tuition" How can that be, when the act of
the peoples representatives in the Legisla-
ture, au,horlsing the call of Convention,
(Which act the people approved by elec,ing
delegates in accordance with lis provsons,)
expressly forbade the Convention changing
She rights and relations existing between
master and slave?' This being a repre-
sentative government, ii seems clear TO our
min hat tbo 81 H.
have but done their duty in this respect, and
faithfully obeyed the instructions of their
constituents. We suspec. from the remarks
of the :Sun,'' that it desires no conslitu-
tional guard 10 protect the relation of mas
ter and slave, but would have it exposed to
the power Of bare maj ori.y in the Legis-
lature, and to the tender merces Of dema-
gogues.
If we have attributed wrong motives
TO the ''Sun" paper, what does it mean when
i. says: "l' 1.-The proposition in question
is an'i-republican, and directly in conflict
with the legislative rights which belong to
the people," Is it tin conflict with the
legislative rights which belong to the peo-
pie" TO protect a certain description of pro-
perty-recognized 10 be such by the
Constitution of the United States and by
our own State Constitution and Laws-from
the encroachmenls of Northern vandalism i!
Again, the "Sun" says: THE relation of
master and slave is entirely and exclusive
ly dependent upon legislation, and cut loose
therefrom il ceases to exist" There is no
thing in the article above, which the "Sun''
says sis designed to establish the eristing
relalion," Sc, that prohibits the Legislature
from regulating slavery by law as hereto
fore, and we presume the Convention have
no, intended "to cut loose'' from legislation
the RICH! to pass laws securing to masters
and slaves the usual benefits Of wholesome
and humane regulations.
There are powerful influences in opera
ton 10 deprive Shareholders of their pro-
perry. Foreign aid and every unhallowed
scheme is used 10 accomplish this object,
and it is no matter of surprise that the Con-
vention so readily evinced willingness to
throw around the slaveholding interest this
barrier to ward off encroachments.
We may not probably have understood
the sentiments of the ''Sun," and lest in
justice should be done that paper by our re-
marks we will give the whole paragraph,
from which we have already quoted, SO that
our readers may interpret for themselves
The following is the the paragraph:
"a proposition has been lately introduced,
which has changed its aspect once or twice,
but at present seems to require the appro-
pirate committee to repor, an article for the
new constitution, prohibiting the Legislature
from passing any law interfering with the
existing relation of master and slave.
''This proposition originates in the very
spirit against which the people have con-
tended with respect to the old Constitution.
1t is apti-repubIican, and directly in conflict
with the Legislative rights which belong
to the people. The relation of master and
slave is entirely and exclusively dependent
upon legislation, and cut loose lhereirom il,
ceases 10 exist There is nothing upon
which to base the chal.el right, apart from
the laws of the State. Blu. the order is de-
signed to establish the eristing relation of
master and slave. Thus, i, admits the ne
cessity of legislation TO produce certain
effect, and then make that effect unalterable
by constitutional provision. If legislation
has been necessary heretofore to regulate
the relation Of master and slave, j. is to be
presumed that it will be again. Yet if the
order in question should prevail in its pur-
pose, there can be no future legislation on
anything pertaining to sl.very, but by
amending the constitution. This is like
leaving hole for the fun Of patching it.'