Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-25


1t speaks of them as persons.p
Thus distinctly aud constantly, from the
very lips of the trainers OF the Constitution,
we lcnrn the lnlsehood of the recent assuinp-
tions in iayVr Of Slavery aud 10 derogaton OF
Freedom.
Thirdly According to familiar rule OF
Interpretation, all laws concerning tile same
matter, IN pari maicrid, are to be construed
together. by the same reason, the grand
political acts OF the Nation are TO he con
strlied together, giving md receiving light
tom each other. Earlier than the COnstitu-
lion was tlie Declaration of Independence,
embodying, IN immortal words, those primal
truths TO which our country pledged itself
with its bnpiisinal VOWS us Nation. ave
bold these truths to be scil-eyidcut," says the
Nation, that all incn ARE created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with GER
ialn unalieDable rights; that among them urc
HE, libcrty, and tie pursuit OF Happiness; TO
secure these rights governments are inslllu-
led among men, deriving their just powers
fom the c0nseht OF illc governed" hut this
does uot siund ulOne. 1hurc is another ma
| lonul act Of similar import. On the SUCCESS
tal close of The Revolution, the Continental
CoDgress,in AN ndircss 10 tho people,repealed
thc saine loily uulh. "l.el ii be reuleliber-
ed" said the Nation again, "llui il has ever
been tie pride aud the loast OF Aniericu,tbat
tie rights for which she las conteuded were
lhe rights OF human nature. By the blessing
o. ile Author OF these rights, they llnvo pre-
vailed over all opposition, and FORM THE
BASIS OF thirteen independent States" Such
were tue acts of the Nation in its united ca
| pociiy. Whatever may be tbs privileges OF
Suites in their individual capacities, within
tler several local jufsdiciions no power
can be attributed to tie Nation, in tue ub-
scace Of positive, unequiyocal grant, incon-
sistent with these two nuiionnl declarations.
Here, sir il is the national heart, the national
soul, the national will, tie nntionui voice.
which must inspire our Interpretation OF the
Constitution, aud enter into aud diffnse it.
sell through all the national legislation.--
Tins again is Freedom NATIONAL.
toiTihy. Beyond these is u principle Of
| the common law, clear aud indlsputable, a
supreme rule OF interpretation from which
! ia this cuse there can be no appeal. In any
question under lIie Constitution euery rord IS
10 De construed IN favor oftiberiy 1nis rule,
which commends itself to the national reason
is sustained by time liouorcd maxims OF our
curly Jurisprudence. blackstone npliy ex-
EXPRESSES il, when he says, tint 'thc law is
always ready 90 catch at anything ~ favor ol
libe,Iy" u, Black. Cum, Sl.l The rulc il
krep-4-'-s.s i,s sssrtsns tostnf. tdvosts nfnpli-
and sunt; odia reStringiendd. Favors are to
be anpliied hnleluI things TO be restrained.
Ltr .4ngiiG est ier miSericordie. Tho law ol
England is a law Of mercy. .7ngiiG jtUd in
omni caSW G5eriaii dani JdUoyem. The laws OF
England la every cusc slIew favor 10 liberty.
Aud this sentiment breaks forth in natural,
| III, IN, Ian
Il cruedeiis juhcdRdus est qui hberLGti non JdUei.
lie is 10 he udjudsed implus aud cruel who
does not favor liberty. Reading the ConsIi-
tuition in tic adnoniton Ut these rules,ugun
say Freedom is national.
finhly. From learned Judge Of the ST.
prene Court of The United SidieS, in an opin.
ion of the Court, we derive tie sulne lesson.
Ia considering tie question whether State
can prohibit the importation Of slaves us
merchandise, aud whether Congress, in the
exercise OF its power TO regulate commerce
among the Suites, can Interfere with the slave
trade between the Stales, a principle has
been cnunciuled, which, while protecting the
trade from any Intervention oi Congress, de-
clures openly that the Constitution acts upon
no man MS property. Mr.. Justice Mclean
says: If slaves nrc considered in some OF
The States us merchandise, that cannot di-
vest them Of the leading aud controlling
quality of persons hy winch they are dess-
mated in tho Constitution. The character ol
property is given them by the local law
This law is respected and all rights under II
are respected by the Federal authorities; but
hie Constitution acts upon SidueS as PERSONS,
and not as property" F" The power over Sla-
very belongs To the States respectively. Ii
is local in It's character, and in lis effects
Groves VS.. Slaughter, Is Peters r., 5U7(-
liere again Slavery is sectional, while Free
dom is national.
Sir, such briefly are the rules of interpre.
tation, us applied TO the Constitution, ill il
with the breath OF Freedom,
Driving far Off each thing OF sin and guilt.
To the histoy aud prevailing sentiments ol
the times we may turn Tor further assurance
In the spirit OF Freedom the Constitution was
formed. In this spirit our Fathers always
spoke and acted. In this spirit the National
Government was first organized under wash
lngIOn. And here recall a scene, in itselI
u Iouchstone of the period, and an example
for us, upon which we may look with pure
national pride, while we learn anew the re.
lations OF the National Government 10 Slu.
very.
The Revolution had been accomplished
The feeble Government Of the Confederation
had passed away. The Constitution, slowly
mntured in national CoIiyention, discussed
before the people, defended by mastery pens
had been already adopted. The thirteen
States stood forth u nation, wherein was
unity without consolidation, aud diversity
without discord. The hopes of all were anx-
iously hanging upon the new order Of things
Ond HE mighty procession of events. Viii
signal uuaniunily Washington was chosen
President. Leaving his home at Moun
Vernon, he repaired to New York, where
the first Congress had already commenced
It's session, 10 assume his place rs elected
Chiefof the Republic. On the thirlielh o
April, 1889, the organization OF the Govern