Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-04-22
WHOLE NO. 44e.

rick Douglas, Mis- Lucy Stone, and Henry -,
\ BLACKWELL ~.
II A. Mr.. IIurn, of Kentucky, coniendcd that ihcro
\ would be disadvantage to freedom, in the repeal
Of the threeifbs feature of Slave representation.
and hoped that the resolution would be laid ON tho
/ table.
Frederick Douglas protesting against the con-
initial Of the Convention to any construction Of tho
constitutions applying its language to slaves
suggested that the phraseoogy Of that instrument
should be used instead Of the word Slaves. -i
/ BY all rules Of construction, where human rights
arc infringed or where the general principles uf
law are departed FROM the intent Of the law-makor
must be clearly distinct. Or where an enactment
can bear two interpretations. one accomplishment
innocent purpose and the other a criminal one, il
is prouer to take the innocent Dne lillainOus in
ention should be expressed in yillainous language
in language that means that, and no other thaa
that The Constitution makers, by this intcrprcia-
ton, did not mean slavery. +.l ef
For one he was determined to put slavery 10 the
test Il shall prove its title to the uttcrmVst, II
there be flaw, or n link broken, IL shall bepinned
down TO facts not TO inference in favor Vt slaTefy
or any other wrong. ..f HI . a
In the language of Shakespeare. they may take
the pound Of ilosh, but not drop Of blood. The
complaint made about the Constitution was gnitp
unnecessary that excellent instrument the bond
of union of the fathers in 1889 had by their de-
generate sons, being superseded and rendered mop
crdtire by tho platforms and compromises Of lS1
and 81 He saw no praseat demand ior pressing
this resolution now as in the Convention, and plF
Of it, among the Abolitonists. there twO par
ties Mrs. Harriet Beechcr Stow urgent
9roclamer Of the proslavcry character Of the con-
stitution, as he Of the opposite character. lie
/ dwelt some time upon the action Of Horace Greedy
on the slavery question, contcnding that be told
many trDths, but did not always vote right.
Miss Lucy Stone declared her readiness to assent
to the amendment Of the Constitution as proposed.
She desired purity not peace the slave rcproser-
tOn was IA povpr welded npninst the interest Of
the slave anI she did not desire the resolution lnid
on the table. The discussion Of what pertaius to
labor was worth more TO her that Peace.
Frederick Douglass replied he wanted no deceit
ful peace; he desired discussion on topics that
would promote harnsony and advance their cause,
II Is true that the Government md Courts have d.
cidcd the Constitution pro-slrery. but II is not
from its intrinsic merits, but 10y the traditions OF
the people. Really. the Constitution no moio
guarantees the holding Of slaves than angels; IL IT
was dropped from the skies among the. people, rot
one in ten thousand would suppose that bad allu-
sion to making men and women slaSDs. lie did
not believe the true construction Of that instfpmeut
was the one ordinarily received. IL was in oil
places liberty, no where Slavery.
1t was against the universal instincts and habits
OF treemen, at least white men, when their hves
and property are in danger TO weigh every title
Of language to condemn him, If condemned at
all. Why, then, are We so ready to infer the
rights away from the black man? We are in the
habit of constituting the Constitution the laws, and
everything against the negro. lie denied that the
persons in the Constitution properly meant slaves,
Tor If properly il could not be persons all that
wanting was to construe it according to the letter.
and IT would give freedom to the nation. Let the
engine of Magma Charta beat against the Jericho
walls OF Slavery, and seven days blowing Of
rams horns would be necessary. The resolutions
were recommitted when the Convention adjourned
for an evening session. f