New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-23
PERSONS OR PROPERTIES,

The logicans tell as of species of false rea
soning. called the dilemma, which they describe
ss a thing with two horns-like cow we sup
pose-on either of which the poor wight who is
unfortunate enough to get hooked may daugle
or be tossed. Now, it is upon an instrument Of
this kind that the queer Mr. Wise and the other de-
tenders of Slavery are apt to get themselves fixed.
They proclaim that slaves are prOperty-and
only property-and they flush with instant ndig-
nation when any one proposes to discuss their
claims, as man might who should be stopped in
the street by a stranger with proposition for
arguing his right TO his own coat or the watch in
his fob. VIVA. have you to do with my property,
my chattle, my buito de eFcetos, as they say in
Cuba-all honestly paid for and just as much
mine as your horse is yours, or Smiths OK is
Smiths and not Browns The law allows it
and the Court awards it," this possession of q
certain number of pounds of human flesh, and
your projected interference, is an impertinence,
an invasion an outrage!
Very well, we say, gentlemen, il is admitted
that your slaves are your property Will you,
however, please to inform US upon whist ground
you uphold that clause Of the Federal Constitu-
ton which entities you, on account Of them to
three-flth representation in Congress! Upon
what ground do you justify your holding of some
thirty or forty places in the House Of Representa.
tiyes more than is your due according to personal
population What is there in this species Of
property so transeendent and meritorous as 10
endue it with prerogatiye of representation
Does it differ as property from any other kind of
property And why should it possess thirty or
forty surplus votes when the property of the
North-ts factories, it's ships, its shops its rail
rosds-goes wholly unrepresented, You will
see therefore, that if you insist that your slaves
are simply property and nothing more, we shall
insist that they cease to have political value.
We shall insist that if they are, in all respects,
like your horses and cattle, they shall not be
counted in the ratio of representation as men.
Above all, we shall insist that no new States
shall come into the Union with this anomalous
kind Of property, unless at the same time you al
low the property Of the older States to be equally
valid
But you will perhaps answer that the three
hfths Of the slaves are represented not as proper
ty, but as persons, and are expressly denomi-
mated persons in the clause of the Constitution
which determines the ratio. Granted again:
that clause Of the Constitution does call them
persons; and the clause about the slave-trede as
we'll as the clause in reference to fagitiVes,
speaks only Of persons. In fact, there is no SEN
tence or phrase in the Constitution which recog-
nizes the idea of property in slaves. Madison
tell US that the phraseology of that instrument
was carefully guarded by the Convention which
" that there could be property in men," Even
such expressions as bound to ssrritude." Sc
"ga!ly held to service or labor" fugitive
slareS or SERVANTS" were excluded because
the! might be supposed to favor that idea 1t
WAS the almost Unanimous policy of the states
usn OF tbs. dsY - leave sae question Of .de right