Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-06-02
IAberty.

BY Mondays mail We received copy Of the
LosiaHa Stale RepsJlio0H. published at New
Orleans. As we had not seen q paper from
the extreme south, for number Of months. and
being beset with a strong desire to know What
editors in that region think about, and what
kind Of business the people are engaged in, we
very carefully read everything printed upon the
sheet, including editorials, correspondence, Sc
lecliOns, advertisements and notices. We con-
fess ourselves little disappointed in not find
ing what we expected 10 find.
Strange as it may seem. there is not one word
Of nvectIye TO be found in its columns. In
these times Of elimination and recrimination be-
tween the journals Of different sections, grow
ing out Of the subject Of slavery, We were glad
TO sit down and read what had been written in
calm mood, at the very metropolis Of slavery.
From the tone of the editorial portion Of the
paper we cannot but infer that the editor does
not include the negro as a portion Of the hu-
man race. This, under the circumstances, is
sensible for il he admits that proposition, all
defence Of the system is cut off. He quietly
Acquiesces in the general southern belief that
slavery is right, and, suppOsing that the right
to hold the black part of the human race in
bondage is SO clear and unquestionable that no
argument is needed in its defence, he is silent
as the grave upon the subject. He is the most
consistent adherent Of the Baltimore ocofoco
platform that we have heard Of. lie entirely
repudiates agitation. And more, he sets an ex-
ample to others by his editorial course.
The "leader" in the number before us, is un-
der the caption Of LIBERTY" The object
Of the article seems to be to set before bis read
Gs the true meaning Of the word or to ex-
plain to them what civil liberty'i is. In his def
nitiOn he is unquestiOnably right, He quotes
Judge Blackstone definition, together with the
opinion Of Locke on the same subject. He is
all right so far as he goes but be stops too
soon. One part Of his article contains this terse
sentence: Personal liberty consists in the
power Of locomotion, or moving ones own per-
son to whatever place ones own inclination
may direct, without imprisonment or restraint,
unless by due course Of law" Now, il we had
been looking over his shoulder when he was
extracting that sentence from Blackstone's 8
Commentaries. we would have quietly and
good humOredly asked him why. il that rule
be orthodox in Louisiana, are not slaves, who
desire another location permitted to exercise
the power Of locomotiOn To which inquiry
he would doubtless reply that they are not con
sdered persons in louisiana, but chattels, ant
are very properly restrained when beset with
desire to migrate. Then we would have in
quired why it is that the laws Of louisiana pun
ish these chattls for breaches Of the peace,
larcenies, felonies &C., II they are mere chat
tells? Why do they not punish their horses in
the same manner? Here we must stop, for we
cannot imagine what answer could be made.
We do not wish it understood, by what we
have said, that we are an abolilionist We
were only talking little with this southern
friend on the subject. In common with most
persons at the north, We think slavery an evil
and that the sooner we can get rid Of it the bet.
ter. But by what means is the question.
We were amused with the audacity of the ed
ior Of the paper before us, when he could so
cooTy talk about liberty in the midst of the
most abject slavery. We would give anything
reasonable for such power of effrontery. He
certainly must have good face" il he could
have kept il straight at that time, and il ever
he should come this way we would be glad to
have cut Of bis phn to hang in our sanctum.