The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-22

eminent would 20 ovsf h center. (this age Of
steam will pardon the Aguse.) this question OF
slavery was again the subisct, not - now, Of
angry debate and cosrss alteration, but of hon.
orable controversy among the distinguished
| members Of that convention, and was At last
settled by the most liberal concessions on the
part Of the Northern Ststes-libersl far beyond
the most extreme demands Of justice.
The second section of the first article Of the
Constitution provides
Representatives and direct taxes shall be ap-
portioned among tho several States which may
be included within this Union, according 10
their respective numbers, which shall b. deter
mined by adding TO the whole number Of free
persons, including those bound to service for a
term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
three, ftths of all other persons"
In other words, three free white men are
equal to five slaves, and each free white man
equal to one negro slave and two thirds of
another.
This clause Of the Constitution was inserted
on the motion-of James Wilson, a member of
tho convention from the State of Pennsylvania.
After the Constitution wac formed and SUBJ
mitted to the several States for ratification, the
same distinguished person member Of the
convention of the State Of Pcnnsy lvania, called
for that purpose, and in that convention, speak
ing of the tax which might be levied upon the
Importation OF slaves, and in reference to the
power of Congress, under the Constitution, to
prevent the spread Of slavery beyond the bounds
Of the then confederacy, he said:
~ am sorry it (ths tax) was no more, but
from this think there is reason to hope that
yet few years and it will be prohibited alto
gether, and IN The mean nme the NEW STATES
ohich are TO be formed ,oiH be under the control
Of Congress in this particular, and siaues ,oiH
neper be introduced amongst Them"
And again:
IF there was no other lovely feature in the
Constitution but this one, it would dffuse
beauty over its whole countenance Yet the
lapse Of few years, and Congress will have
power TO extcrminate slavery from within our
borders"
1t is not intended to go further into the his
tory of the origin Of this clause of the Consti-
tuition, or of the construction placed upon it but
it may be asked whether it is to be supposed that
any man knew its meaning better than he who
wrote it? And it should DO remembered, too;
that laws prohibiting the introduction Of slaves
into the territories have been approved by every
President of the United States, except Presidents
Taylor and Fillmore, to whom the question has
never been presented.
1t is most true that new slave States have
been admitted into the Union and if the action
of Congress permitting slavery in some new
States and prohibiting it in others, is to be con-
sdered settled practical construction Of the
Constitution, the question ia merely changed
from constitutional one to one of Legislative
expedency. But the question, in all its vital
BEARINGS remuins. 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 the
East, the Pacific on the West, the Equator on
the South, and the Aurora Borcalis on the North.
Nor is this a mere matter of abstract right,
but one Of immense practical Importance both
to the North and to the Soutt--to tho 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 deny.
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 a most offensive
character.
Has the compromise produced unanimity of
sentiment between the North and South on this
question? If a new territory is to be organized
to. morrow, is there Southern man here who
considers the compromise as prohibiting slavery
in it, or Northern man who considers the com.
promise as authorizing it?
Is there a 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 tho right of repre-.
sentaton in Congress, which is, by the Const-
tuition assured to the old States!
Is there Northern man here who will vote
to day to reduce every three of lis free, white,
intelligent constituents TO the level Infamous
and degraded beyond all power of language to
express--of FIVE miserable negro slaves in new
territory! Who dare look any free white man
Of his constituents in the face, and say to him
"Sir, upon all questions Of taxation, where you
must pay upon all questions of liberty where
you may suffer; upon all questions of war
where you must fight, you are, and are only fit
to be, balanced by one negro slave and two
thirds of another"
Sir, the moro degraded in intellect the negro
slaves are considered; the mere ignorant, the
more bestial in morals, tho more unfit to part.
cipate in matters of government--iu a word, the
more nearly they approach to other live proper
ty, 80 much the more abhorrent and unjust is
the proposition to extend the slave representa-
ton.
But to return, let me ask is this question
settled? is it touched by the compromise and
if not, is it not piece of political charlatanry
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 jugger, more egregous sham has
never been offered to human credulity, than the
so called compromise, as final determination
of the slavery question.
How, then, can this, the trouble arising from
slavery, ever be allayed! Certainly not by
legislative attempt to reach beyond legislative
jurisdiction, because any subsequent Congress
has the same power to repeal that we have to
enact. Certainly not by making it a political
question, to be banded by politicians, and to be
determined one way or the other, az may best
suit the purposes of the hour, or be made a
fucrum to hoist third rate politicians into notice;