The southern press., 1852-05-22


eminent would 90 over Its center, (this age O
steam will pardon the fgure,) this question o
slavery was again the subject, not as now, O
angry debate and coarse alteration, but of hon
orable controversy among the distinguished
members of that convention, and was at las
settled by the most liberal concessions on tn,
part of the Northern States--liberal far beyons
the most extreme demands of justice.
The second section of the first article of tht
Constitution provides
Representatives and direct taxes shall be ap
portioned among the several States which may
be included within this Union, according Il
their respective numbers, which shall be deter
mined by adding to the whole number of free
persons, including those bound to service for
term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed
three. .tJths of all other persons"
| In other words, three free white men are
equal to five slaves, and each free white mar
equal to one negro slave and two thirds Of
another
This clause of the Constitution was inserted
on the motion of James Wilson, member ol
the convention from the State Of Pennsylvania
| After the Constitution was formed and sub
mitted to the several States for ratification, the
same distinguished person was member of the
convention Of the State of Pennsy lvania, called
| for that purpose, and in that convention, speak
ing Of the tax which might be levied upon III,
importation of slaves, and in reference TO the
power of Congress, under the Constitution, to
prevent the spread ofslavery beyond the bounds
of the then confederacy, he said:
81 am sorry it (the tax) was no more, bu
| from this think there is reason to hope tha
yet few years and it will be prohibited alto
ge,her and in the mean time the NEW STATE,
ehich are 10 be formed wiH be under The contro
Of Congress in This particular, and slaves ,oil
neoer be introduced amongst them"
And again:
"If there was no other lovely feature in the
Constitution but this one, it would diffuse
beauty over its whole countenance Yet the
lapse of few years, and Congress will have
power TO ,exterminate slavery from within oul
borders"
| 1t is not intended to 60 further into the his
tory of the origin Of this clause of the Const
tuition, or of the construction placed upon it; but
it may be asked whether it is to be supposed tha,
any man knew its meaning better than he who
wrote it! And it should be remembered, too
that laws prohibiting the introduction of slaves
into tho territories have been approved by every
President of the United States, except Presidents
| Taylor and Fillmore, 10 whom the question has
never been presented,
Ii is most rue that new slave States have
been admitted into the Union and il the action
of Congress permitting slavery in some new
States and prohibiting it in others, is 10 be con
| sidered settled practical construction of the
Constitution, the question is merely changed
! from constitutional one TO one of Legislative
expedency. But the question, ia all its vital
bearings, remains. Such IS the question under
the Constitution. Such the practical question
as it has ever existed between the North and
the South. Such the question which ever must
exist until organized States shall extend to the
natural boundaries of this republic, which have
lately been defined TO be the Atlantic on tie
East, the Pacific on the West, the Equator on
the South, and the Aurora Bortals on the North
Nor is this mere matter Of abstract right
but one of immense practical Importance both
TO the North and to the South--to the South
as allowing or prohibiting an unlimited demand
for the increase of its slave property, and such
an augmented representation upon this floor as
may control the Legislation of the country; to
the North important as acknowledging or derry
ing that the free men Of the North shall be re-
duced in political importance TO most degrading
approximation to the ignorant, debased, semi
british slaves of the South and that their agents
here representing MEN shall be balanced or over.
balanced by Southern representation based
upon PROPERTY, and that of most offensive
character.
Has the compromise produced unanimity of
sentiment between the North and South on this
question! If new territory is 10 be organized
tomorrow, is there Southern man here who
considers the compromise as prohibiting slavery
in II, or a Northern man who considers the com.
promise as authorizing itl
Is there Southern man upon this floor who
would vote for such an amendment Of the Con
stitution as will allow slavery TO be established
in new States. but without the right Of repre-.
sentation in.Congress, which is, by the Consti.
tution, assured to the old States!
Is there a Northern man here who will vote
10 day to reduce every three Of lis free, white,
intelligent constituents 10 the level Infamous
and degraded beyond all power Of language TO
express--of five miserable negro slaves in new
territorYl Who dare look any free white man
Of his constituents in the face, and say 10 him
"Sir, upon all questions Of taxation, where Won
must pay upon all questions Of liberty where
you msy sufsr; upon all questions Of wcr
where you must fight, you are, and are only fl
TO be, balanced by one negro slave and two.
thirds OF another
Sir, the more degraded in intellect the negro
slaves are considered; the more ignorant, the
more bestiaI in morals, the more unfit TO parti.
eipate in matters Of government-in word, The
more nearly they approach to other live proper.
ty, 80 much the more abhorrent and unjust is
the proposition 10 extend the slave representa-.
ton.
Bot 10 return, let me ask il this question
settled is il touched by the compromise and
IL not, is II not piece Of political charlstanry
to tell the people either Of the North or South
that this vexed question is fully, satisfactorily
totally, and finally adjusted! In my humble
opinion, from the golden calf which Aaron rails
ed in the wilderness, TO the wooden snake OF
your street juggler, more egregious sham has
never been offered TO human credulity, than the
so called compromise, rs a final determination
Of the slavery question.
How, then, eAn this, the trouble arising from
slavery, ever be allayed? Certainly not by a
legislative attempt TO reach beyond legislative
jurisdiction, because any subsequent Congress
has the same power 10 repeal that we have 70
enact Certainly not by making il political
/ oueation to he hondiad hv noliticiana and % ho