The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-03-08
VOLUME XXY~Number. IA

j
country-tben, as now, there was slave power.
The interest was comparatively email, and the
power comparatively weak; but they were suffic-
lent, under the then existing Government, TO de-
feat the proviso, and transfer the great question Of
Slavery to future discussion. The facts which l
have detailed, however, sufficient to show
what was the general sentiment, and what was
The original policy of the country, in respect to
! Slavery. 1t was one of limitation, discourage
ment, repression. ts aa si
i What next occurred7 The subject of organiz-
ing this Territory remained before Congress. MIR.
Jefferson, 10 1765. went 10 France. His great in
fluence was no longer felt in the councils of the
country but his proviso remained, and in 1887
was incorporated into the Ordinance for the gov
ernment Of the Territory Northw est Of The River
Ohio. beg the senateto observe. that this Ter
ritory was. at that moment The whole territory
belonging to the United States. will not trouble
the Senate by reading the propiso of the 0rdi-
naEce. It's enough to say that the Jefferson pro-
vso of 1874, coupled with provision saving to the
original States of the Union right to reclaim fn-
gtIves from seryice was Incorporated into the Or
dinance, and became fundamental law over every
foot Of National territory. What was the policy
indicated by this action by the fathers of the Re
public Was it that of indifferentism between
Slavery and Freedom THAT of establishing geo.
4 graphical line, one side of which there should
be Liberty. and on the other side Slavery, both
equally under the protection and countenance of
the government! No, SIR the furthest thing
4possible from that. 1t the policy Of excluding
Slavery from all National territory. 1t was
adopted too, under remarkable circumstances
The territory over which it was established was
claimed by Virginia. in right of her charter, and in
right of conquest. The gallant George Rogers
Clarke, one Of the bravest and nobIest sons of that
State,s had, with small body of troops raised
under her authority, invaded and conquered the
Territory. Slavery was already there, under rhe
French colonial law, and also, if The claim of Viz
gina was well founded, under the laws of that
State. These facts prove that the first applica-
tion of the original policy of the Government con-
verted slave territory into free territory s''
II Now. sir, what guarantees were given for The
i mainte nance Of this policy in time to come l
once. uPonthis floor, adsefted to a Fact which has
not atirnesed much attention as in nv iode-
its impertancedeserves. 1t is tLis. While
Il the Congressswas framing this Ordnance-almost
witch framed tie Constitution was sitting in Phil
adepllia. Several gentlemen were members of
both bodies, and at the fine this Ordinance was
adopted, no proposition in resi- ect to Slavery had
been discussed in the Convention except tI +
], which resulted in the establishment Of the three
fftlls clause. Ii is impossible 10 say. will, ALSO
lutte ceriainy. thzihe incorporation of that clause
into the ConstintFon which gave the slave States
rfpiese ntaion fer lhree-hfihs Of their slaves had
anything TO do wnlrthe Unanimous vote by " hieh
the provis" was emerafted UPON tie Ordinsuce; but
he coincidence is renark#bie and justies the iu-
n ference that the facts We're eonneoted. AT Ill
events, the proViso Can hardly fail have be en- re-
II garded as stf9rdng guar#nee for the per peiua-
tim of the policy which it established - stf
II Already seyen of the original thirteen States
had taken measures for tue abolition Of Slavery
within their limits and were regarded as fee
Siatea Six eplyiof the original STATES were re-
i garded as slave States. The Ordinance proyi led
81 forthe creation of five new fee States and titus
secured the decided ascendency of tie free States
a in tie Confederation. The perpetuation of Sla
very evenn any State, tits quite obvious, as not
then even thought of. ifai ass "a .ifs1s }A a2s.
p And now, cir. let me ask the attention of The
Senate to the Constitution ITSELF That charter Of
our sGorernment was not formed upon pro-slavery
Z principles, but upon antislavery principles. Il no
RI where recognises any right of property in man
itnowhers confers upon the Government which
it creates, my power to establish or 10 continre
Slavery. Mr.. Madison himself records in his re.
E port the debate of the Convention his own de
q. ciaraton. that ii wrong to admit in the Con
Istts
g men. Every clause in the Constitution which re.
frrs in any way to slaves speaks of them as per-
sors, ard excludes the idea Of property. In some
: ofthe States, if is true, saves were regarded as
d property. SIS gHei haz 4 1901 ss5ssofs
r The language of Mr. Justice Mclean on this
= point is very striking. He says: sfs.55 sfs'
3 THAT cannot diyest them of the leading and
controlling quality of persons by which they are
i. designated in the Constitution The character Of
!. property is given them by the local law. This
law is respected, and all rights under it are pro-
f tected by the Federal authorities. But the Con
= stitution acts upon slaves as persons. and not as
Il preperty."= ."=9's i; 7 'F.sa i5ta5s s-
We'll. sir, not only the idea of property in
Y men excluded from the Constitutions !; not only
q was there power granted to Congress TO ar.
e thorize enable any man to hold another as
/, property, but amendment was afterwards en-.
), grated upon the Constitution, which especially
" denied oil such power. 55i5 q
}, The history of that amendment is worth atten-
h ton. The State which the Senators from Vir-
n ginia SO ably represent on this fl ,or, was one
b those which Immediately after the adoption of the
s Constitution proposed amendments of it. One o.
y the amendments which she prof osed was this:
It ..No free man ought to be taken, imprisoned
or deprived ofhis freehold liberties, or franchises
or outlawed or exiled, or in any manner deprived
o Of his lifa liberty, or property, but by The law o.
o the land" l>ft .srass alE f-r
II Did Congress adopt that amendment No
+ sir; it adopted and proposed to ttie States
a