New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-14
A FLAW IN THE NATIONAL LOGIC.

Senator Dixon is reported to have said in behalf Of
the Nebraska BILL that the Constitution protects prop
ery as well as persons 1t isa poor tool for the pur-
poses of the Shareholders if it does not do 10 better
Theyueed Constitution which will protect all property
and only those persons who are not claimed as proper
IT, Tie terminoloey of natural history, as well as
conn on sense and the natural instincts of shareholders,
bad so fixed the meaning Of the word persons, before
the Constitution was established, that it included a
vast amount Of articles Of property within certain
States IT. then the Constitution protects all property,
it follows by the laws OF logic that it don't protect
some persons. Or if it protects all persons then it
don't protect property. In the present state OF
terms and facts to protect one " as ~sA as the Other
is an absurdty Ii the trainers of the Constitution IN
tended that it should protect property universally and
persons only partially it is astonishing that they should
have been so careless in their language. The only help
for il now ana the only possible final settlement OF tde
Slavery question in national fundamental law, is one
OF two The Constitution must be amended 80 as to
protect persons universally equal terms, through
out its limited jurisdictiOr-n which case it will pro-
tect only that property which does not consist OF per-
sons as many people think it clearly does, or it
must be so amended to protect property universally
in which case it will be of manner of use for one
who is claimed property to show in court or else
where that lie is person. the Constitution being made
to protect the property Of his owner And in this lat
ter case too let there be no geographical sectional
lines Such lines always mischevous and agitating
Seriously, here s the seat of the difficulty. Why
should the Little Giant worry himself in tugging at
the Nebraska bll-sn entirely geographical sectional
enterprise when the whole question might be settled,
forever and aye, for all attitudes aud longtudss, by
little amentatory clause added 10 the Constitution,
thus:
I'm corfcs between he rights Of property and Of per
son which under the Jurisdiction of the Federal
Government limited in this instrument piece Of
properly shah be allowed to establish claim to any Of
the rights OF person guaranteed by this Constitution by
proving itself to be persOn
The oversight of the trainers of the Constitution in
lot inserting such clause as this to make their mean
ing plain, has done mischief enough. The 4" Little
sGisnt is the TO put stop 10 it. lie mas shown
himself able 70 modify and improve. The last few
weeks have proved him man OF notable progress
Let his next step be 70 substitute this amendment for
his Nebraska bill. If the amendment passes, il will
lot only make the first rational foundation for an argu
ment in behalf of the bi tut it viii entirely supersede
the necessity Of tie bill IS repeal OF the Missouri
Compromise, which now 10 be its only tangible
uoye the wants Of tie Territory having fallen oil
SIGHT The amendment is directly in the line of the
a1sus CasNetoson letter leaving to the States and
Territories in Legislative or Lynch Committee-squat
ter Sovereignty encePted-to legsate what proper
ty. This point decided, the duty OF Federal OH
GERS ard Courts will be plain under tie amended Con
stituiiOu, a ill parts Of the Union There viii theu