The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-19
NO. 1873.

CINCINNATI CONVENTION IMPOSITION OF MR
LEWIS
On the evening Of the third day, as the hour
for adjournment arrived,
Mr. Lewis rose and said:
This is the last meeting Of our Convention.
Your humble servant has tried TO do his best
and be impartial to all who desired to speak
All could not speak, and it was due our strang-
or friend Mr.. Garrison that he should have
full and fair hearing, and that those who wish
ed to reply should have the opportunity. Now
[ want to occupy a few moments in defining
my position. ! would not occupy any time
were i; not that | may bo assaed, and through
me my friends and those interests deem i'm
portant Doubts were expressed whether |
would be willing to attend this Convention, il
VIM Lloyd Garrison were invited. Now, |
want it understood, that my feelings were hurt
by the hint | have always been in favor Of
free discussion. When | have been engaged
in the advocacy Of Temperance, Free Schools,
or Abolition, have always invited it. As evi-
dence that | am in favor Of u will mention
that at the discussions between Messrs. Camp
bell and Owen, Blanchard and Rice, Campbell
! and Purcell, was present, and tried to keep
order and do Justice to all love freedom OF
| debate Let no one think | lower my Chris
| hanty by entering into convention with that
/ man who has done more for liberty and right
| than hundreds Of those who denounce him as
I inGdel. You know | do not endorse him in all
| things, but in many do, especially when he
| speaks Of slavery. When he paints its horrors
| and sinfulnesss most strongly, tell him the
| half il not told. Though we differ on some
| things, wo agree on this
But we differ, and take the stand to say
| word about those matters. First, about Chris
| tanity think that here there is more differ
ence in words between us than in fact As
said before, if the words of the commentators
who have made the Bible sustain slavery, are
to DO taken rs the Bible, will go far as
any against IT, That the churches have done
wrong, admit and it has been a part of my
duty to stand up against those wrongs. When
| was boy, attached myself to u religious
| body, and TO some extent have since remained
| q member of that body, censuring and exposing
what doomed wrong in it; and believe the
| good done by that church greatly overbaances
| the evil done by her leaders. AS to the Bible
its truths existed before it, but the Bible is the
| revelation Of those truths. Take it away, and
many Of them would never have been known
by US revere the Bible; give it, | say send
it on the wings Of the wind let every down
troddcn slave read it, and his soul will grow
100 large lOr CHllIs, uHu eidNcTy Will CcitScs
Great applausel Shall hesitate to say this,
when look upon that man DR.. Brsbane) who,
under the inspiration of that word was taught
to liberate his slaves. and flee from the land Of
| his fathersl Shall hesitate about the value
| of the church, imperfect as it is, when look
upon Father Rankin, born and reared under
the influence of slavery, yet Taught by that
Fword the principles of liberty, and made light,
| set, as it were, on a hill? No; and tell you,
| my personal and political friends, whoever you
| are, | owe all have and am to the Bible and
its sacred teachings. Applause | have not
| a word of apology for what churches have said
! or men have done
| Now, about the Constitution. | shall mere
| ly state my views, 1 think, if we look at the
circumstances under which the Constitution
was formed we shall come to just conclusion.
Previously, the States or Colonies were all in
dependent of each other, and they came to-
gether and formed q compact by which they can
| act together for certain purposes.
My friend read from the opinions of Eng
lish courts to prove his position but you must
remember that rules of court, settling Parlia-
mentary law, are to be considered only as they
HIRE related to our law. 10 England, the King,
Losds, and Commons are the supreme power ;
here it is in the people look upon it tonight
When you send men to Congress you only send
them to write your decree. Congress has no
original power What glorious land we live
in, after all Oh, tell me not we will resolve it
into chaos, and see what VIC can make of its
| ruins.
| Before the Constitution was formed Con
gress had no power to interfere with slavery by
legislation. Everything in it granting that
power is 30 much gained. The power to abol-
sh the slave trade after twenty years was of this
sort and the very day Congress came into The
possession of this power it exercised it. The
| three-fifths clause is another
The South contended for full representa-.
ton of her slaves as persons. The North said
no, for you regard them as property and
when it was reduced to three-fftbs, it was con
sidered SO much gain as Encouragement to sla-
very. We must not send our fathers names
down to perdition, because they did not nj.
ways do just right They did what they thought
best. Slavery has been extended and will be
further extended, if you allow, not because or
the Constitution, but in violation of it, Men
commit all sorts Of crime in spite of the Con-
stitution. Now, about the Fugitive Lava
law worse than Nicholas of Russia would dare
enact. We must not say We will take law
according to the intention Of the legislator
Courts are not bound, except az the plain and
express Dords of the law declare. Construo
this law by legal rules, and you cannot mako
it mean fugitive slaves. Such rules require IA
construction in favor Of right and against
wrong. You are to presume nothing as to tho
intention. If two opposite constructions arc
possible, you are to take the one which favors
justice and reject the other. The law in ques-
ton might apply to child or apprentice, and
many other cases ; and Webster says the rca-
son Of the constitutional clause, was TO enable
those who were entitled TO the service of clni-
grants for a term of years in consideration OF
having paid their passage money, to secure
such service.
My friends will live 10 sac the day when tho
voters Of this country will put men in Office,
who will 70 construe the Constitution as to
make it wonderful it was ever supposed 70
mean slavery. Let us put men in to give tho
right construction, and slavery will DO abolish
Cd So it was abolished in England. Slavery
is, in the District Of Columbia, in violation Of
the Constitution, and in The Territories, too.
The Fugitive Law is not in the Constitution
either.
DIR. Brisbane Would you obey itifit was 4
No, sir; no. Applause
Mr.. Garrison Would you swear to support
the Constitution if you thought it wal. there q
No, sir; no. Great applause revere the
Constitution, bur show me that in subscribing
w ~ supsorioe W lhe cAtcnson ana support OF
slavery, and you render it odous to me- But
think it impracticable to take position out
side OF the Government. We cannot help tho
slave by it, and il might ruin us both. Ours ia
the practical position. We must vote for men
who will make righteous laws. II We abolish
slavery in the District and Territories, the
South will yet themselves about the work Of abol-
ishing slavery Their statesmen have said 20.
Il must be abolished by law when it is done.
Oh, long to see the day when it is done; you
will sec IT, you ladies who have called this
Convention | know you will will give the
Soufh all we hnye agreed 70 rive but we hayn