The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-09-30

spoken une9uivoca heart of the country. Slavery ab
he-red Like the slave trade
and by many it was supposed that they would both disap
the Christian the scholar the writer Wed in loyalty
| cause. All were Abolitionists
Glance the earliest Congress under the Constitu
ton From various quarters memorials were presented to
this body against Slavery Among these from the
only degradation outrageous violation
of the essential rights of human and
other of more important character came from the Abo
Society of Pennsylvania and was signed by Benjamin
Franklin, President venerable man, whose active
life had been oted to the welfare of mankind at home and
9osa as ana Sad nSp @
lightning from ths skies and the scepre from
member of the Continental Congress- had set his name
TO the Declaration ofIndependence and member OF the
National convention HI to the Consti
embodied spirit institutions, at
2ce practical and humlns-than whom one could be
more familiar with the purposes and aspirations of the found
ers-this veteran eyhyfour years Of within few
that whose powers he had helped to define and
establish This vas the last political act of his long life
| Listen to the prayer of Franklin:
Your memoralsts particularly engaged in attending to
the dsresses arising om Slavery believe it to be their
indispensable defy this subject notices
They have observed many mpor
tant and sautay vested in for promoting
United Staes and they that these bless
ings ought rgauly be administered, ,oitho Dustin :on
of COLOR all descriptions of people, they indulge them
done for the relief aapgy objects of their care
earnestly serious attention to the subject of
liberty unhappy man. alone this land of
Freedom are degraded into perpetual bondage, and who
amidst general joy surrounding freemen,
ing in serve subjecon you will promote mercy and
justice towards this distressed and that 1u step
to ne uery Ugs of s PotUsrs usstsd an y1u for
AGING euery species ra; in the persons Of our etoo
| men,"
Important words. In themselves keynote ofthe
From his grave Franklin still to call Congress to
SLAVERY and in this prayer he proclaims the
national policy of the Fathers Not encouragement but
| encouragement OF Slavery was their rule.
Sir, enough has been said show the sentiment which,
like vital air. surrounded the National Government as it
absence any sanction absurd suppose that
Slavery, which under the Confederation merely
tional, constituted national institution But
there is yet another link in the argument.
tons adoption of the Constitution sensitive desire
manifested surround all under the Constitu
the supposed inenteness of some of
National Government and also from the absence of
Bill of Rights Massachusetts, on raying the Constitution
proposed series of amendments the head of which
this, characterized by Samuel Ad!ms in the Convention
| "a summary of Bill of Rights !"
That be explicitly declared, that all powers not
delegated by the aforesaid Constitution are reserved
to the several States, to be by them exercised"
Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina, with minor
tiles Pennsylvania and Maryland united this PROPOSE
ton In pursuance of these recommendations, the first
Congress presented for adoption the following article which,
being ratified proper number of Sates became part
the Constitution as the 10th amendment
"The powers delegated the United States by the
Constitution prohibited by it to the Sates reserved
to the States respectively, or to the people"
Stronger words could be employed limit the power
under the and to protect the people from all
sumpons of the National particularly in dero
CATION Freedom guardian
the sagacous mind of Jefferson who said Il consider the
foundation of Constitution of the United
States be laid upon the tenth article of the amendmens
And Samuel Adams watchfu for Freedom, said at
doubt which many have entertained respecting the
matter, and gives assurance that if law made by the
Federal Government shall be extended beyond the power
granted the CONSTITUTE and inconsistent with the Con-
stituon of this State will be an error and audged by
the courts of law to bevoid."
Beyond all question the National Government, ordained
Constitution is not general UNIVERSAL but special
and particular. 1t is Government of limited powers 1t
power delegated. Especially
with institution like Slavery. The Constitution
With similar reasos it may De said that it contains power
to make slave or to support system Of Slavery The ab
all snch hardly more clear in one case than
At the risk of repetion but for the sake of cearnes
this argument, and gather together Consider
that Slavery is of such offensive character that it
find sanction only in positive law, and thatit has such
positive sanction Constitution Constitu
ton according to its Preamble ordained " to establish
justice" the blessings bery that, in
Convention framed and also elsewhere
declared sanction Slavery that, according
Declaration ofladependencs and the Address OF the Con
nenta Congress, the Nation dedicated to 'Iberty
and the rignts of human nature; that according to th
principles the law, the Constitution be il
terpreted openly actively and perpetuny for Freedom
6Pst orSanizaton Of Of be Saonai nder @ ~ sb
beneath the national flag the national territory
openly condemned by the Nation the Church, the Colleges
and Literature OF the time, and finally that according
Amendment of the Constitution, the National
only exercise powers delegated which Their
none to support Slavery considering these things sir
is impossible avoid the single conclusion that Slavery
national institution, and that the Constitution
; nowhere uphods property i'll man.
which this stage from its su
perior Importance, but because ty stand by ITSELF
This alone practically applied would carry Freedom
wthinit influence 1t is an amendment proposed by tn
first Congress- as follows:
mo prs shall be deprived of life, liberty, or propert,
tUittout due process Of LatU'
Under egs liberty of every person within the na
tiona jurisdiction is unequvocaIy placed. say of
person. Of this there can be question The word pe
son" in the Constitution embraces every human bein
within sphere, whether Caucassan Indian, African
from the Presdentto the slave Show person,
what his condition, race or color within the nations
The natural meaning clause is clear single
history pacest in the broad light of AS orig
nay recommended by North Carolina and Virginia.
restrained the freeman Its language was "No recma
ought deprived of his e liberty, property, by
law of the land" In rejecting this imitaon the author
of the amendment revealed their purpose that person.
der the National Government Of whatever character sba
deprived liberty without due process
without due Indictment other judicial
ceedngs Here by this Amendment is express guaran
of Personal Liberty express prohibition against
invasion at least within the national ursdico
Sir apply these principles and Slavery will again be
when Washington took his first President. TT
Union Flag of the Republic will become the fl.
Freedom and at all points within the national ursdictie
will lrefuse slave Beneath its benefcent fold
f wherever it is carried land or Slavery wldisappea
darkness under the arrows of the ascending sun-l
= = the Spirit of Evil before the Angel of the Lord
l. the high under the national flag, Slavery will
d impossible: 80 ,o,,,-,,, s,,,o., ~, ...,...-.
y Inspired by these principles, Congress give sanc
: to Slavery BY the admission of new Save States.
Nowhere under the Constitution the Nation, by
aton otherwise support Slavery, hunt Slaves no
:; property in man.
Constitution underestimate the light OF the Past and
principles, there is no other conclusion which is
y ona enabe which does defy the authoritative
Interpretation; which does falsy ndsputable
history which does aront the public opinion in wh
had BIRTH and which does not dshonor the
Fathers. And the convictions placed
formal ban by politicians of the hour The generous
which filled the early PATRIOTS and which impress
the Government they founded the they
e cuated the image and supernscrpon of LIBERTY, ha
lost their power. The slavemasers few in number
about 300 000 according the have
ceeded in debating the poby of the National GovernmeI
Il and have ritten SLAVERY its front. And
- giant and unrelenting is applied only
who themselves against Slavery but
who unwilling be the menal of Slavery novel
introduced which would have excluded all
Fathers of the Republc-even Washington, Jefferson
" franklin Yes, sir Startling be- but indispu
ble Could these revered demgods of history
descend the earth and mingle in affairs,
them could receive nomination from the National Conve
ton of either the old political parties Out of the
and the utterances of their lips agar
Of Slavery they would be condemned.
a single reveals the which the Nation
Government departed from its and its
T. For myself know better aim under the CG
stution bring the Government back prec
position this question which occupied the auspiciC
morning of its first organization under Washington:
u Cursus iterare
lie Relictos;
in that the sentiments Of the Fathers may again prevail
rulers that the National Flag nowhere shel
y Slavery.
"a To such count this aspiration unreasonable let
of commend renowned and lfe-gving precedent of Ell
,, lsh history As early the days off Queen EZabe