Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-02

i've, thirteen ooiones. OF English origin planted OF dif
ierent times, and coming from different parta of Eng
land, bringing with them various habits and establish,
ing, each for itself, institutions entirely variant from the
institutions which they left. But they were OF English
origin. The English language was theirs Shakespeare
and Milton theirs and that which is as far above
Shakespeare and Milton as the Heavens are above the
earth, the Bible and the Christian religion was theirs
and these things united them together. The agrees
sions OF the parent State compelled them set up for
independence. They declared independence, and that
immortal act, pronounced the 4h of July seventeen
hundred and seventy--siv, made them ndependent.-
That was an Union by the United States in Congress
led But this act of itself did nothing to estab
llsh over them general government They had arti-
Giles OF confederation before to carry the They
mad Congress They had articles of confederation
afterwards TO prosecute the But thus far they
independent, each OF the other. They entered into
simple coniederacy, and nothing No State was
pound ny what 1t did not itself agree to. That the
state OF things, gentlemen at that time The war went
on-vlctory perched on the American eagles-our in
dependence was acknowledged The States then
united together under coniederacy oil very limited
powers 1t could levy taxes. 1t could not enforce
It's own DEGREES. 1t contederacy instead of being
united government. Experience showed that this was
insufficient and inefficient. And therefore, beginning
as tar back almost as the close of the war measures
were taken Tor the formation Of The united government
"a government IN the strict of the ternl-a gov
eminent that could pass laws binding upon the citizens
OF all the States, and which could enforce those laws
by executive powers, having them interpreted by
judical power belonging to the government.
Well, gentlemen, this led TO the formation ofthe Con-
/
framed on the idea OF limited government. 1t pro-
posed to leave and did leave, The different institutions
OF the several States to themselves. 1t did not pro-
pose consolidation. 1t did propose that the laws of
Virginia should be the laws OF New York or that the
laws of New York should be the laws OF Massachu.
SETS 1t proposed only that for certain purposes and
to certain extent, there should be united govern
ment, and that that government should have the pow
er OF executing s own laws All the rest was left TO
the several States. We now come, gentlemen TO the
very point OF the case. At that time slavery existed
sill hon, in tha,
OF the supremacy OF British laws us. There it
was. 1t was obnoxious TO the middle States and dis
ktd; and honestly and sincerely disliked, as the re-
lords OF the country will show, by the southern States
cthenselves. Now, how they to deal with it 3
Were the northern and middle States exclude from
the government those States OF the South which had
produced Washington a Laurens and other disn-
gulshed patriots OF that part of the country Were
they to be excluded from the government because
tey tolerated the institution OF slavery? Your ia her
and my fa.her did think So They did not see that
itwoud be OF the least advantage the slaves of the
southern States to cut ofthe South from all connection
with the North. Their views OF humanity led to no
soch result and, OF course, when the Constitution
named and established, and adopted by you here in
New York, and by your in New England, it
contained an express provision osecurity the persons
VINO lived in the southern States oftugves who owned
lhem serVce that is to say the fugitive from service
VI iaoor should be restored to his master ower--
well that had been the history of the country from its
III s. settlement i was matter of common practice
70 return ugltves before the Constitution formed
ugluVe slaves from Virginia to Massachusetts were
restored by the people OF Massachusetts,
AL mat DAY there was greatsystem Of apprentices
mp al tne Morrill, and many apprentices at the North
taking advantage of the circumstances, and of ves-
sells sailing to the South thereby escaped. That led
to clear, express, and weldefined provision in the
constitution OF the country on the subject. Now, |
know mat all these things OF common information
that they have been stated thousand times; but in
these days OF perpetual missatement and msrepresen
tation to state things thousand times is enough
for there are more than thousand persons whose con-
sciences one would think, led them to make duty to
deny, mIsepresent iasify, and cover up truths Now
here is the Constitution, fellow citizens and have ia
ken the pains 10 transcrbe heretrom these words so
that he who runs may read: mo person held
to service or labor in one State under the laws
thereof escaping into another shall in consequence OF
any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but shall be delivered up claim of
the party to whom such service labor may be DUE
Is there any mistake about that? Is there any forty
smiling attorney here-no, will not disgrace my pro-
lesion by supposng such thing. There is not iu or
out OF an attorneys office the county of Erie or else
where where one VINO could raise doubt, or particle of
DOUBT, about the meaning OF this provision of the Con-
sttullon; lie may act as witnesses do sometimes on |
the stand. He may wrggle and twist and say he can't
tell have seen many such exhibitions in my time on
the part OF Witnesses attempting iasy, and be-
Tray, and deny the truth. But there is man who |
can read these words of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States and say they are not clear and Imperative
person the Constitution says held to service or
labor IN enc State under the laws thereof escaping
no another, shall in consequence OF any law or reg
ulaon therein be discharged from any such service or
ty to whom such service or labor may be DUE"
Why, you are told by forty conventions in Massa- /
chusetts IN Ohio In New York, in Syracuse and else
where, that if ooloured man came here he came as |
freeman; that is Seguitur. If he came as a flu.
gitlve from labor, the Constitution says he is not |
freeman and that he shall be delivered up to his owners
VINO are entitled to his service. Now gentlemen that
is the Constitution OF the United States Gentlemen,
40 we, or do we not mean execute that part of the
Constitution US well as the rest OF it? suppose there
are, are eeiore me here members OF Congress suppose
ocers under the State government suppose there are
judicial magistrates of New York. executive officers
assessors supervisors justices othe peace and consta
bies before me. Allow to say gentlemen that |
there Is no-hat there cannot be- any one of these
officers In this assemblage, elsewhere who has not
according TO the form OF his obligation, bound himse
by solemn oath, before his God, 10 support the Con-
stltulon. They have taken their oaths on the holy
evangests OF Almighty God or by uplted hands, as
the Case may be- or by solemn asseveraion as is the
practice IN some cases. But one and all of them, |
there is not man who holds nor is there
any man who can hold any office in the
gt OF the United States or OF this State, of any
obligation OF an oath before God that he will support
The Constitution Of the United States Well Is he to
tamper with that! Is he to falter? Gentlemen our
political duties as much matters OF conscience an
eny other duties; our sacred domestic ties our most
endearlng social relations, the subject for
conscientious consideration and conscientious discharge
than The duties we enter into under the Constitution
Of the United States The bonds of political brother
hood are the bonds which hold us together romiMaue
lo.Georgia.
Now, gentlemen, that is the plain story of the Con.
stltuon OF the United States the question of slave
ry Gentlemen, contend, and have always commended
that alter The adoption OF the Constitution any measure
oil the government calculated to bring slave territory in
to the United States, beyond the power OF The Con
sttnon and against Its provisions. That is nv opinion
ana II mas always been my opinion. 1t was yery con
vehent or thought to be So for certain purposes in JEFF
iersons llme to attach Louisiana to the United States
treaty with France made for that purpose But
!efierson's opinion at that moment was that an alter
uoh OF me Constitution was necessary enable it to be
done. For considerations which will not now repeat
that opinion was abandoned and Louisiana was adj
med by law, without any provision or alteration in the
Constitution. AT tina, time | was too young to hold |
any office, or lake any share in political affairs of
the country. Louisiana admitted as slave State
and became entitled 10 her representation in Conrres,
on the principle OF mixed basis Florida was alter
wards admitted. Then, too was out of Congress. |