Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-11
TnunspAY, Arousr 20, 1862


being under consideration, the following amend
mcnt was moved by the Committee on Finance.
"That where tho ministerial officers Of the
United States have or shall incur extraordinary
expenses in executing the laws thereof, the
payment of which is not specifically provided
for, the President Of the United States is au-
thorizcd to allow tho payment thereof, under
the special taxation OF tho district or circuit
court of the district in which the said services
have been or shall be rendered, to be paid from
the appropriation for deiraying the expenses Of
the Judiciary"
Mr.. SUMNER moved the following amend
nent TO the amendment:
" Prorided, That no such allowance shall be
authorized for any expenses, incurred in cxccu-
dng the act of September lS, $780, for the sur
sender Of fugtives from service or labor; which
said act is hereby repealed"
This speech occupies eighteen columns Of
the National Fra. OF course we cant print It all
in the Bugle. After an introduction, in which
among other things, Mr.. Summer asserts his de-
termination to discuss the whole subject of
slavery, and his entire freedom from all pledges
and obligations to parties, he proceeds to expose
the absurdity Of the idea, that any legislation
can be final in this country. lie beautifully
says "Trtah alone is final"
He discusses the question under two general
heads, first, tho true relation Of the general
government to slavery, and second, the true
nature Of the provision for the rendition of fu-
sitives from labor, and the unconstitutional
legislation Of Congress for the purpose. We
commence our extract with his synopsis of the
Argument under the irst head.
AT the risk of reputation, but for the sake Of
slearness, review now this argument, and gath
or it together. Considering that Slavery is of
such an offensive character that il can find sane
ton only in "positvo law" and that is has no
such "positiyo' sanction in the Constitution (;
that the constitution, according to its Preamble
was ordained "to establish justice" and "se-
sure the blessings of liberty !" that, in the
Convention which framed it, and also elsewhere
ct the time, it was declared not to sanction sla-
very that, according to the Declaration of In
dependence and the address of the Continental
Congress, the Nation was dedicated to "liber-
ty' and the "rghts Of human nature" that
according to the principles of common law, the
Constitution must be interpreted openly, active
ly, and perpetually, for Freedom that accord
ing to the decision of the Supreme Court. it
acts upon slaves, not as properiy,but as PERSONS;
shat, at the first organization of the National
Government under Washington. Slavery had
no national favor, and existed nowhere under
the national flag or on the national territory,
but was openly condcmed by the Nation, the
Church, tho Colleges, and Literature of the
6me; and, finally, that, according to an Amend
nent Of the Constitution, the National Gov
srnment can only exercise powers delegated to
it, among which there is none to support Sla.
very; considering these things, sir, it is impos-
sible to avoid the single conclusion that Slavery
is In no respect a national institution, and that
the Constitution nowhere upholds property in
uan.
But there is another special provision of tho
Constitution, which l have reserved to thi,
stage, not so much from its superior import
snce, but because it may illy stand by itself
This alone, if practically applied, would carry,
Freedom to all within its influence. 1t is an
amendment proposed by the FIRST Congress, as
follows;
mo person shall be deprived of life, liberty,
property, rithom due process Of lalo."
Under this esis the liberty of every person
within tho national jurisdiction is unequivocal-
ly placed. ! say of every person. Of this
there can be no,qucstion. The word person"
in tho Constitution embraces every human be-
ing within its sphere, whether Caucasian. In
dian, or African, from the President to the
slSve. Show me person, no matter what hi
condition, OF race, or color, within the nationa
jurisdiction, and l confidently claim for him
this protection. Tho natural meaning of tn,
clause is clear, but single fact of its history
places il in the broad light Of noon. AS origi,
nRlly recommended by North Carolina and Vir.
snin, it was restrained to the freeman. It.
language was, "No freeman ought % be de-
prived Of his life, liberty or property, but by
che law of the land" In rejecting this liinita-
tion, the authors OF the amendment revealed
their purpose, that no person, under the Nationa
Government, of whatever character, shall b.
deprived of liberty without due process of law
shat is, without due prcsentment, indictment
or other judicial proceedings. Here by thi
Amendment is an express guaranty of Persona
Liberty, and an express prohibition against it
invasion anywhere. at least within the ma
tional jurisdiction.
Sir. apply these principles. and Slavery vii
again DO as when Washington took his frs
cath as PresidcntThe Union Flag of the Repub
he will become once more the flag of Freedom
and at all points within national jurisdiction
will refuse to cover a slave. Beneath its be-
rekcent folds, wherever it is carried. on land oil
sea, Slavery win disappear. like darkness undel
the arrows Of tho ascending sun--like the Spiri