Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-18

trus my memery and induced me 10 turn 10 inc eonsu
tuta of lsls where found cause to doubt my vision
or comprehension. These feelings, am sure, wili DC
participated in by the reader when assure MIN tnat
can ind no such provisions in the Constitution OF Illinois
On tie contrary astounding as the fact may be, after
reading your assertions, the constitution Oh innois o.
1918 does not alude to or recognise the existence Of
ayey in that State But to exhibit in the shortest way
the strange and nexplicabe errors into which you have
fallen will quote the words ooth OF the ordnance anu
constitution of Illinois
Theoriinance of 1857 says: "There shall be neither
slavev nor involuntary serytude in the said Territory
otherwise than in punishment of crimes" &C.
The constitution of Illinois of 1918 says: Neither
slaver nor involuntary servitude shall hereafter be in
troiucd into this State otherwise than for the punish
neut O. crimes" Sc.
The similarity of the language must strike every one
as must also the fact that where it differs it does not
make in avor but by inference contradcts your asser
tons fol if slavery had been introduced and existed as
you represent absurd provide that it should not
be hereafter or in future introduced when it had already
been introduced and existed At the time the ordinance
was adopted slavery did exist under the laws OF Virginia,
and therefore it was declared that there should not be
slavery; il other words it should be abolished But as
slavery did not legally exist, or was not recognised by
the constitution existing, it said it should not be
future Introduced Moreover the constitution, SO lar
from regulating the ordnance gave further evidence OF
its respect for and recognition Of its obligatory character
when in its preamble it declares to be made consistent
with the Constitution of the United States the ordinance Of
Coaqrcss of 1881 and the law Of Congress Of April u.s.
1878" * ...... $685.. .~
The surprise of the reader will be still further increased
when he is informed that the above quotations. are the
only be found in the constitution Of 1918 which
refer allude to slavery and that no such provisions
as YOU are there to found to who should
remain slaves for life when their children should be
free &c. The constitution it is true contains other
provisions about servtude but it is not slavery nor nvo
untary servtude for fe but voluntary servitude for
limited number years of servants held under contract
or indentures and there is also provision made for per-
bound to labor in other States who should be hired
to labor at the sa-works shawneetown These
the only provisions about servitude, either voluntary
involuntary in the constitution Of 1918; and the only
provision in the amendatoy constitution of the State,
adopted in 1s4 is in the language and almost precise
words of what you call the repudated ordinance of 1884,
viz There shall be neither slavery involuntary
servtule in this State, except as a punishment for
crime" &c. .." .....%'. ...
During the Territorial Government o law was passed
authorizing the ndenure of certain persons who should
be in state of perfect freedom, and condition of
bona de considerations enter into contracts inen
lures serve specified number Of years. The const
tuition of 1918 lent its sanction to this law and provided
for the freeing of the children of such bound servants
specified ages, SC. ...... ~. " =.a..,''
How you consrue this in the way you d. where
you derive your authority for saying that the cops
tuition provides that oil slaves then in the State should
remain slaves for life, and your other extraordinary
sertions of kindred character totally at loss to
conceive how you see in the conduct of Illinois,
case in point to prove that whenever the Federal
Government has attempted to dictate institutions to
any part Of the United States it has failed"
conceive the publication Of this statement due to the
truth of history to prevent advantage being taken from
tho PRONUNCIATION Of error and in justice the conduct
and character of Illinois. Respectfully, yours,---
EDWARD COLES.
PHILADELPHIA FEBRUARY -, 1854