Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11


And here sir bear with me in a brief recital - nm
facts AT the period Of the Declaration of
Independence there was upwards Of half million colored
persons In slavery throughout the United CoInn;ss
These unhappy people originally stolen from Africa
or were the children of those who had been stolen and
though distributed throughout the whole country were
De found IN largest number in the Southern States
But the spirit Of freedom then prevailed in the land
The fathers OF the Republic leaders in the war Of nde
pendence, were struck with the inconsistency of an annea
Tor their own bertie while holding in bondage their
Ieiowmen, only guilty Of skin not colored like their
own The same conviction animated the hearts of the
people, whether at the North South In town meet
ing a Danbury Connecticut, held the 18th Of Decem
Der, II7S, the following declaration was made:
with singular pleasure we note the second articla &c
the Association in which II is agreed import no more
slaves as we cannot but think il papabe absurdty so loudly
20 complain o. attempts to enslave 20 while actually
ensiaving oAers-Am Arehire 4h series, VOL d. 1885,
The South responded in similar strains At meet;no
In Darien Georgia, in 1916 the following important re-
solution was put forth /:
10 show the world that are not influenced by any
contracted or interested motives by general phan
tnrppy Tor all mankind, Of whatever climate language or
complexion hereby declare dsapproatioa and abhor
cultivated of the country or other specious
may plead for it, practice founded Justice and cruelty
and highly dangerous TO liberties se ires de5asss
part 81 beoo men, corrapnq the rrtue
aud morale Of tbs and laying the Of that liberty we
contend for and which pray the Almighty continue to
therefore resolve at all times utmost endearors for
e Of our slaves in this Colony upon the most
thamR
Am. Archires An Series, Po. i p. ll35. 4i
The soul Of Virginia during this period found also fer
va utterance through Jefferson, who by precocious and
immorta! words has enrolled himself among the earliest
abotonists OF the country. In his address to the VIZ
gnia Convention of IVA he openly ayowed while vini
eating the rights Of British america that the Abolition
Of domestic slavery is the greatest object of desire in thea
Colones Uhers 'ods unaappiy introduced in thar ass
state And thenagain in the Declaration Of Independ
ence, re embodied sentiments which, when praccaIv
applied viii give freedom % every slave throughout B
iana we hold these truths to be self-evident" al
our country speaking by the voice Of Jefferson that
men are created equals that they endowed with cen
tain inalienable rights that among these are fe Hru
ana ING pursu. o. happiness" AID again, in the Con
as 1854 resolution to exclude slavery from ali the IA,
ritory "ceded to be ceded by the States Of the F
raj Government ncudng the whole territovy now coMr
ed by Tennessee Mississippi, and Alabama. Lost at fn
by single only, this renewed in mora
restricted form at subsequent day by son OF Massa
chusets, and in 1887 was finally confirmed in the ord;
nance Of the Northwestern Territory by unanimous vote
of the States. .. EFNS
Thus early and distinctly do we discern the anti
ry character of the founders Of Republic and heir
determination to place the National Government, Win
petually on the side of freedom. = 4.
The National Constitution was adopted In 1888 An
here we discern the spirit. The emphatic words
the Declaration Independence which our country took
upon its lips baptismal when it claimed its place
among the nations of the EARTH not fortten The
preamble to the Constitution them then it de.
cares its object to be, among other things establish
Justice to promote the general welfare and ecure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and poserity9 Thus
according to undenabe words the Constitutiorwas Or
dained not to establish secure sanction sayry; NOT
to promote the special interest of Shareholders NOT to
make slavery national in any way, FORM MANN; not
to foster this great wrong, but to establish Juice
promote the general welfare" and secure the less
ings of liberty The discreditable words slaue and pe
~ were not allowed to find place in this instrunnt
while clause subsequently added by way Of amid
men and therefore, according to the rules Of nterpta
ton, particularly revealing the sentiments Of the fod-
ers which is calculated like the Declaration Of Indept
ence practically applied to carry freedom to all with
the sphere Of its influence. 1t specifically deca
that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or p
pfrty without due process Of law that is, without d.
presentment, Indictment or other judicial proceedin
Here is an express guard of personal liberty and e
press nterdct upon its invasion any where within u
national Jurisdiction X
tuition that slavery like the slave trade was regarde
as temporary; and it to have been supposed 5,
many that they would both disappear together NoEI
danaon moro burning than those which gloyred on IA
lips Of the fathers Early in the Convention Governor
Morris OF Pennsylvania broke forth in the Languages
domestic slavery. 1t nefarious institution Il
was the curse of Heaven" In another mood and with
mild uridical phrase, Mr.. Madison Thought it wrong
to admit in the constitution the idea Of property in
And washington, in letters written this period
which completely describe the aims of aboitonist
avowed that was among his first wishes to see some
plan adopted by which slavery may be abolished by law
and that to this end his suffrage should not be want.
ing" .''-''
In this spirit the National Constitution adopted
In this spirit the National Government was first organic
cd under Washington And here there is fact Of pecu-
liar significance to which have already on former oc
casion called attention but which is well worthy of per
petual memory At the time that this great chief took
his first oath to support the Constitution Of the United
States the national ensign no,cere wn the national Terri
tory covered single slaue On the execrable pira
cy the trade in slaves, STILL to the national scandal
tolerated under the national flag In the States as
sectional institution beneath the shelter Of local laws
slavery unhappily found home. But in the only Ter
rtores at this time belonging the nation the broadr
on Of the northwest it had already by the ordinance Of
freedom been made impossible even before the adoption
of the constitution. The District Of Columbia with it's
fatal dowry, had not yet been acquired.
Entering upon his high duties, Washington, himsefan
abohtionist, was surrounded by Who by their lives
and declared opinions, were pledged to warfare with
slavery. There was John Adams the Vice President
great vndcator and final negoator of our national in
dependence-whose SOUL flaming with freedom, broke
forth in the early declaration that consenting to slave
ry sacrilegious breach Of trusp and whose mmiti
gable hostility to this wrong has been made immortal in
his descendants. There also companion in arms
and attached friend, the yet youthful Hamilton Who as
member OF the Abolition Society of New York, had
only recently united in solemn petition for those Who
though free by the laws of God held in slavery BY
the laws of the State" There, too, was noble spirit
OF spotess virtue and commanding influence the orna-
ment OF human nature who like the sum- ever held an
unerrng course, John jay. Filling the important post
of Minister of Foreign Affairs under the confederation
he found time to organize the Abolition Society OF New
York. and to act its President until by the nomina.
ton of Washington he became Chief Justice of the Unit
IL ri c..~lk