The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-03

promises and equivalents, is historical fact de-
MED by none la terms, but virtually and practi-
cally, by many who believe themselves To be
statesmen, but who are, nevertheless, politicians
merely. But the vital importance of this historl-
cal fact justifes, if does not demand, exhibit
ton OF the evidence IN part, at least, by which IT
is sustained. Amidst the aiauence of material,
selection is the only difficulty. None could be
more conclusive than the following statement
made by Alexander Hamilton TO the New York
convention, assembled at Poughkeepse in June,
1888, To pass on the new Constitution submitted
to the States by the general convention assembled
at Philadelphia. 1t is extracted from Elliot's De-
bates, p. 2l2: otao
clearly the principles on which the general con
venlion acted, | think it necessary TO explain
some preliminary circumstances
"Sir the natural situation Of this country seems to
divide it's interests into different classes. There are
navigating and non-navigating States--the North
ern are properly the navigating Safes; the South
| ern appear to possess neither the means nor the
spirit Of navigation. This difference of situation
naturally produces dissmllarity of interests and
views respecting foreign commerce. II was the
interest OF the Noihe, States that there should be
| no restraints on their navig alton, and that they
should have full power, by a majority in Con-
gress to make commercial regulations in favor of
| their own, and in restraint Of the navigation of
| foreigners. The Southern States wished to i'm
| pose a restraint on the Northern, by requiring
that t,uo-thirdS in Congress should be requisite to
pass an act in regulation of commerce; they were
apprehensive that the restraints Of navigation
law would discourage foreigners, and by obllging
| them to employ the shipping or the Northern
States, would probably enhance their freight
This being the case, they insisted strenuousy on
having this provision engrafted IN the Constitu-
ton; and the Northern States were as anxious in
(! opposing it,"
/ Again: " Much has been said Of the impro-
priety of representing men who have no will of
their own: whether this be reasoning or declama-
ton will not presume to say. IT Is the unfortu-
nate situation of the Southern States to have
great part of their population as well as property
in blacks. The regulation complained of was one
result of the spirit OF accommodation which
governed the convention; and without this indul-
gence no union could possibly have been formed.
And, sir, considering some peculiar advantages
which we Derive is entirely just that they should
be gratifed The Southern States posses certain
staples, tobacco, rice, indigo, &C., land now,
above all, cotton which must now be capital OBJ
jects in treaties of commerce with foreign nauons'
and the advantages which they necessarily pro-
cure i'm these treaties, will be felt throughout all
| the States"
cit became necessary, therefore, to compro-
mise, or the convention would have dissolved
| without effecting any thing. Would 1t have been
wise and prudent in that body, IN this critical
situation, to have deserted their country No..
Eyery men who hears me--every wise man In the
United States would have condemned them. The
convention were obliged TO appoint a committee for
| accommodation. In this committee the arrange
ment was formed as 1t now stands, ana their re-
port was accepted 1t was delicate point, and
it was necessary that all parties should be IN
dulged."
| So much for the testimony Of distinguished
Northern statesman to the fact that the Consttn-
| ton was a deliberately concocted system OF COM
promses-the work of ga committee for acconmo-
dation,' specially appointed for the purpose, and
in which committee the rights OF the STAKEHOLDER
| were distinctly recognized and guaranteed And
stronger still his evidence, as the representative
of a great navigating and commercial State, as to
the value and importance of the equivalents given
by the South for all the concessions made in Con-
vention, by the North, connected with the subject
Of slavery.
EQUALLY conclusive is the evidence Of the elo-
ouent and patriotic FISHER AMEs, whose fate it
was like Hamilton, to be cut off in the full bloom
of his intellectual powers. Urging the acceptance
| of the new Constitution in the convention OF Mas
sachusetis he exclaims with the honest fervour
| of strong conviction:
"Shall we put every thing that we hold pre-
cious to the hazard, by rejecting this Constitu-
ton We hare great advantages by 1t IN respect OF
navigation, and it is the general interest OF the
| States tina, we should have them. But If we re-
| iect it, what security have we that we shall oo-
tain them second time, against the local inter-
| ests and preiudices of the other States :"
| The fears Of the eloquent Ames were groundess,
/ and the new Constitution, with all its compromises
and equivalents, adopted by all the States.
Under the protection of that Constitution, and of
| the great name and power of the Union, the navl-
| eating and commercial States (now become great
| manufacturing communities, also, by the help Of a
| free market in the South have prospered in
| manner with rapidity, and to an extent, unpar-
aeled in the history of the human race. The
New England States especially, Notwithstanding
the admitted, nay boosted sterty of their SOIL
= H. iol CHI ctnrp ft heir
in view of the extent of their population, become
the most prosperous and wealthy communities in
the world. Whilst we Of the South, as was fore
seen by the sagacity of the far-reaching men of
that period, have witnessed our commerce and
| NAVIGATION transferred from own harbors to
enrich the commercial emporums Of the North
the disbursements of the National Government
yearly poured out in partial and reckless profu-
sion TO add to the advantages which they already
possess in their OVERLOOKING capital and numerous
and capacous harbors--and the profits of our
AGRICULTURAL toll and slave labor daily passing
| from ourselves TO stimulate and reward the enter
| prise and industry of that section of the Union.
| Yet we have never for moment repined at
their prosperity, nor sought by any illegal or i'm
proper means to check their rapid and onward
advancement. But is it not cause Of just complaint
! on our part to find that the very power which
they now enioy-that power which results from
those concessions made by us as an equivalent for
full protection to slave property--is now habit
ually perverted to the injury and destruction of
that interest which they then so solemnly coven-
anted to guarantee.
| IT was not in human nature that our Northern
| brethren of that generation, when the objects of
| this compromise were fresh before their eyes,
| should be forgetful of the abyss from which they
| had been rescued by the great national compact
of 1888, and should begin to cavil at the price
they had agreed to give for the nappreciable ben
| fits of the Union. Least OF all was 1t TO be ex
pected that they would impede the execution OF
the clause, by which they had recognized the right
OF the STAKEHOLDER to seize his fugitive slave within
their borders, and bound themselves to surrender
him to the owner, when the violation of such sol
emn compact on their part, would inhct on them
selves perpetual and incurable evil. For 1t was
to be expected that the enlightened and sagacous
| people Of the North would see at glance. that
the violation OF that compact would create, and
continually recruit their soil, class Of paupers
like the Parias of Hindostan--of outcasts from
society-of men who neither slaves nor cti-
| zens-a wen on the body politician anomaly on
their institutions, and pestilent curse to them
and their posterity.
1t cannot be doubted that prudential coneidera-