The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-08-09


the United States, or by the action of the
federal government, never entered the
brain of the trainers of,the Constitution.
African slavery, whether right or wrong.
wise or unwise, was at that time existing
in twelve of the thirteen States. The in
stitution was planted by the British Gov.
ernment in each Of the thirteen colonies.
without their consent, and against their re-
monstrances. The war of the revolution
converted the dependent colonies into in
dependent States. without changing OF
affecting the relations existing between the
master and slave. Slavery ceased to exis,
in one Of the States, but still remained in
all the others, Pennsylvania included, at
time the Constitution of the United States
was formed. With tho few exceptions ex.
pressly provided for in that instrument, il
was the design o! the Constitution to re.
cognise and protect whatever institutions
each State, acting for itself, had or should
establish or legalize. The people Of each
State were left entirely free to choose for
themselves what kind Of domestic institu.
tions they would have, and so soon and
so long as each State should. thus deter.
mine, it became the duty Of the federal
government, under the Constitution, to pro.
tect such institutions in the several States,
as they should be found to exist. For in.
stance, Pennsylvania was a slaveholding
State at the time Of the adoption Of the
Constitution. and remained so moro than
a quarter of century before the institu-
ton ceased under the decree Of her own
people. So long as Pennsylvania contin.
ued to legalize slavery by her own laws
and constitution, the Constitution Of the
United States recognized and protected
the institution of slavery within her limits,
as solemnly and imperatively as it n ow
recognizes and protects tho prohibition
which Pennsylvania has imposed on sla-
very within her own limits. The same re-
mark is applicable to New Jersey, New
York. Connecticut, Rhode Island, and
Now Hampshire. Each Of those States
recognized and protected slavery within
their limits at the time, and for q long pc
riod subsequent to the adoption Of the led
eral Constitution; and each Of them has
since ebolished and prohibited slavery
without the consent or interference OF Con-
gress. No man denied the right of each
of these States, under the Con stitution, to
retain the institution Of slavery, 80 long
as they choose 10 do so-no man denied
abo.b.sdt n K shSEish b it st the time j. was
their own people; and presume that no
man will now deny tho right Of each oi
these States to introduce slavery. provided
their own people should deem it just and
wise to do so by the modification. of their
local constitution and laws.
Il being conceded, then, that the origi-
nal States. one and all, have the undoubt-
ed right, under the Constitution, to intro
duce or exclude slavery at pleasure, with
what reason can it be commended that
different rule may or should be applied 10
the new States. Ithardly requires an ar
gument to prove that each State OF this
Union must be equal in respect to its rights
and powers to every other State. The
States are sovereign and independent in
all things except where tho Constitution
OF the United States has imposed limita.
tons. Those limitations apply slike to all
tho States Of the Union, new and old, ;,
slaveholding and non n-slayeholding. No
other limitation upon the sovereignty of a
State can be imposed than those contain ed
IN the Constitution. none can be imposed
by act OF Congress, none by any branch
OF the federal government, none by any
earthly power. except the Constitution Of
the United States. Entire and perfect
equality. therefore, among all tho States
Of the Union, in respect to their rights of
legislation and sovereignty, is a cardinal
and fundamental principle in our republi.
can system. Indeed, the moment YOU i'm.
pose upon the rights of any one State q
limitation which the Constitution has not
enjoined upon all the States, such State
ceases to be STATE aoithin the meaning ofI
'he Constitution. Such Limitation produces
nferiority where the Constitution has pro.
Vided for perfect equality. Under the
clause of the Constitution providing for the
OF "new States." as general
hing, Congress is invested with discre.
ion to admit or reject; but in the even,
lew State is admitted into the Union. il |
must come in as a State, with all the pow.
'rs and rights of a State under the Con. |
'titution. and on equal footing with the
original States in all respects whatsoever.
Therefore. whatever powers are possessed
y NHy Ouo otntS-OIu or n0W-ln respects
o slavery. may Of right, under the Con.
be exercised by each and every
State. In pursuance of this sovereign
light. which is common to all the States,
ixteen of the States OF the Union have
or prohibited slavery, while the
'ther fifteen States have recognized and
Protected it within their limits This great
rnciple was distinctly recognized and
olemnly guaranteed in the compromise
Of 1880. [Applause.
The acts for the organization Of the Ter.
itories of New Mexico and Utah, each
ontains the stipulation that when said
Territories or any part thereof shall be
Omitted into the Union 40 States they
hall be received with or without slavery, Il
8 their constitution shall prescribe at the
me OF the admission" The Nebraska
i'll. which has passed Congress At this ses- !.
ion. also carries out the same principle
! the precise language Of the compromise 4
leasures of 1850, which have Just quo. i
ID. Great applause. II
In 1920 Congress passed an act to au- q
orize the people OF Missouri Territory to q
rm q constitution preparatory to their
omission into the Union as State, on an 8
lual footing with the original States in all G