The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-06
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, d. c., MAY 6, 1852.

sanctioned by Mr.. Webster, in his 18th oil March
speech in 1850.
LIST. As to the absence of the recognition OF
chattel slavery by the Constitution, Mr. Web
ster held the following language
1t may not be improper here to allude TO
that had almost said acknowledgements
of Mr. Madison You observe, sir, that the
term slavery is not used in the Constitution
The Constitution does not require that tug'hre
,lares shalt be deiiUeTed up it requires that per-
sons bound to service in one State, and escaping
into another, shall be delivered up. Mr.. Madi-
son opposed the introduction OF the term slave
or slavery into the Constitution; for he SAID he
did not wish to see it recognised by the Con
stitution of the United States of America that
there could be property in men -Speeeh I"
L. s. Senate, March I, 1850.
2dly As to the absence of power in the Fed
eral Government to legslate for the extradl-
ton of fugitives from service or labor, he
said
This article of the Constitution which says
to these States they shall deliver up fugltives
from service, is as binding in honor and con-
science as any other article. No man tulhls
his duty in any Legislature who sets himself to
find excuses. eyasions escapes from this constl-
tutional duty haze Arrays thought that the
Constitution addressed itself 10 the Legislatures
of the States Themselves or 10 The States them
0iues. 1t says, that those persons escaping to
other States shall be delivered up and confess
hare ditrdys been of the opinion that 1t rds an
injuaction upon the States themselves. When
it is said that person escaping into another
State. and he coming therefore within the jul
riction of that State shall be delivered up. it
seems to me the import OF the passage Is, maj
the State ITSELF IN obedience 10 the Constitution
shall cause HIM to be dciiUered up. That as my
Judgment Ikdue Arrays entertained Il, and
entertain II nor
The opinions Mr. Webster held in 1850, and
which he declared he had always held, are our
opinions now and were they suffered to control
the legislation of the country, the question of
Slavery would be excluded from the sphere of
national politics So far as the North would
be concerned it would be resolved into a purely
moral question, to be treated by moral instru-
mentalities SO long as the citizens of the tree
States shall be forced i0to the support Of Sla-
very, by the action of the Federal Govern
ment, so long will those of them who are Anti
Slavery in their views seek by political means
10 correct this action, to relieve them from
this cocroed unconstitutional responsibility,
Place the Federal Government in relation 10
Slavery on the ground of strict Non Interven-
ton, and National politics would be freed from
this disturbing element from this constant
cause of sectional antagOnisms.
Poltico-economists would continue to argue
on the subject of slave-labor, philanthropists to
discuss it as question of humanity, religious
men to inquire into their denominational rela-
tions to it. and the Public Opinion of the North
would constantly bear against the system but
political agitation would cease with the re-
moval of political responsibility.
But the politicians of the South are nfatu-
ated They know that the North has the nu-
merical power that two-thirds of the whole
population reside within its limits that it has
maiorities in both branches of the Federal Le-
gisature that its relative political power in
creases and must increase with every census
that at this very time, if united it could spare
several votes, and yet hill the Presidential
chair - still, they insist upon dragging it
into the support of an Evil it detests they
force upon it odlous extra-constitutional re-
sponsibties, provoking an agitation danger
Gus to the institution they would perpetuate.
If they want peace, if they would retain the
right of settling the question of slavery for
themselves, let them cease to make it u subject
of Federal action, let them consent to the re-
peal of all Federal legislation concerning it,
let them take their position on the ground of
absolute Non Intervention in regard to it by
the Federal Government, and 50 place an Inn
passable gulf between them and that Northern
majority which will go on increasing until it
shall bear sway on whatevever questions may
be subjected to its action.