Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-07-02
From the Libeiator.
The Constitution and Slaysry-Nir. Manns
Position Defined.

'Eoh ANk W hONt s'bN AOOD
WM. l.. GARRisoN, ESQ.,:
DEAN SrR,-' What obligations, if any, to
uphold slavery, does fair and slutesnanlike
construction Of our Constitutions, State and
National, impose upon the Office holder un-
der them p ! state the question, of course,
politically, aud not morally for, wherever
we encounter any claim or Implication re-
quring the violation of the law of God, all
huninn laws, mandates, treaties or constlu-
tons, nre us flax in the flame. My present
stand point il inside of the Constitutions, Ms
their supporter not outside, as their des-
trOyer.
Late discussions, on many of the points
involved in the above question, have been so
demonsrntive and exhaustive, that ] shall
study brevity by merely stating conclusions,
rather than to repeat the arguments and re-
produce the authorities by which they have
been established
The only obii' ction nm aware of, which
Is made against the Constitution of Massa-
c!,usetts, is that oflice-holding under il in
wolves an oath to support the Constitution of
the United Stntes.
The first provision in the Constitution of
the United States, claimed TO have a bearing
upon The question of slavery, relates 20 the
hnsis OF representaton,-the three. .fiths rule,
so called.
A. this provision hos been practically
construed, ever since the adoption OF the
Constitution, II is, as TO the slave States, n
rule Of disability. We're all their slaves to be
taken aud counted, as freemen, MS we sny
they ought to he, the States now holding
them would be immediately entitled to about
n'een more representatives IN the lower
House OF congress than they now clain.-
/
inough rtJolce ~ those laws OF God
winch must forever give free States nm as
ceh"ancy, ~ point OF wealth, aud Numbers,
over save o'"'es, YET ! should rtJoice all the
more ~ mat extension OF freedom which
woulu add 80 much 10 The relative power oi
"'e SCUM.
ihe next provision is that which says,
congress shall have power-io provide for
cainhg ior'n the 'n'iitla to suppress insif-
recuohs' IL nus peeh ciaiiiieh that, IN case
OF serVhe ihsurreciion, The oath OF MEM
ner oi congress wou'd ooiige INN 10 eNer-
c'se nus power. no proposition cou'u oe
more untena9'e' is power gwen, not a
u"v e'!o"'o"' oupPosc SUE" a" i"s"',eo-
"o'' W nave sprenu in!o iree o'n'e' hhu 10
endanger the lives oi It's inhabitants, II may
I've 'he hu'y OF congress 10 suppress ~ ms II
may De the duiy OF an executive magistrate
20 put "owh ii'oD' no n'n'ter now righteous
,oe 'emo,e c"nse III "nich u may hnVe orig
'nh'ed' Dut suppose 'lle slnVes 10 nave vs.
sued new ana real declaration oi indepehd,
ehce' "hd 10 nave instituted complete ahd
not partial iorm OF republican government
the question w'il he open to every member
OF congress- "nieh IS me nswgent parry ana
'ch,sh, me'9ore' me Pdrty 10 De suppressed
bu' 'he provision relating TO tugItves from
service or laoor Is suppose" 10 present wha'
Lord bacon called Tie erPsrunenfum cruc's,-
me 'eS''
NOW, Oh the i"ee OF ihis Provlslon' mere
IS NOT 'ie s,ghest mint or ihtinalion That
any 'eg's'h'ioi'' eItHer by Congress or by the
states was expected or required. In the
words, Jaw or regu'alion, II refers TO legs
'n"oh not however TO ehJolh, hut TO inter-
ulc'. ihe iueh OF iegislaiion' therefore, was
prcsen' 10 "'e minus OF inc trainers, ana yet
uey n'nne no i"yunc.oh on S'ate or nai'oh
W ac' upon W. ~" 'hey ue"handed was t'a',
'or ce''u'h PURPOSE u shou'd not pe ac'ed
upon;
All mus mas been SO many times deron-
sre'eu, u,at every student OF an'i'slavery
iog'C anu literature mas the arguments ana
"e illustrations py hean'
Wha', men, was The redress OF party
noW wnonl, person heid TO service or
'uooI nau osc"Ped' manliestiy, Tie courts,
anu ~, ,ne % cour'S alone. me cardinal words