Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-14


delegates yielded to preserve the
Union, which was deemed the high
est object of the nation that they
were wholly deceived as to the fu-
ture history of slavery; that they
wisely left the caus,c speeches TO be
made by the delegates from the slave
States, and that they committed a
great error in joining in the vote to
extend the slave trade from 1900 to
1908. though it was done by com
promise, to secure the votes of the
extreme South 10 Navigation Act
highly important for New England.
1t is evident, also, that at this time,
Delaware, Maryland, aud especially
Virginia, felt deeply the evils OF
slavery, had Just and patriotic views
respecting it, and were strongly OPP
posed 10 IFS extension.
PREAMBLE OF THE CONSTR
TUITION.
The preamble of any high aud sol
emn compact among men, when a
dopted, becomes part and parcel of
the instrument ITSELF aud is of equal
Iy binding authority. The preamble
to a National Constitution is a mat
ter Of high importance in It's inter
preiatlon. The reason is Obvious
Ii sets forth in plain supple terms, a
few of the great ends 1t is proposed
TO attain hy the instrument itself -
The following is the preamble TO the
Constitution
We, the people of the United
States, in order to form more per-
feet union, establish Justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide Tor the
common defence, promote the gener-
} eral welfare, and secure the blessings
OF liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity, do ordain and establish this
, Constitution for the United States Of
: America"
Here SIR great ends are set forth
, to be attained by the adoption of The
Constitution. The first is TO form
more perfect union" The second
to establish Justice" The third,
to - insure domestic tranquility -
The fourth, TO " provide for the COM
mon defence" The fifth, to pro-
mote the general welfare" The
I sixth, A" to secure the blessings of
= liberty 10 ourselves and our poster
} iiy." Four of these great ends are
= directly opposed 10 the extension
oil slavery, the second, third, fifth,
/ and sixth. The substance and work
Z lngs OF the slave system deprive
a man of the personal use Of those
- muscular and active powers, which
I the Creator has gwen as the sub
e siantial property of every indvid-
: ual of the race. TODD this where
/; no crime is chargeabe is the highest
: inlustlc, one human being can exer-
: else towards another, and spare hi.
II lImos ~nd his life 1t is opposed &c
VI one OF the selT-e,taSn. ,r~,I- -.
y forth IN the Declaration of Indepen
}. dence. The extension of slavery
\ then, does not establish Justice, >
i but spreads abroad the highest in.
i Justice. 1t is, therefore, opposed tC
y one of the great ends to be attained
n by the Constitution. The third par.
IS ticular is TO insure domestic tran
e guilty." Here " domestic tranquil.
?. "" cannot mean the quietude of in.
n dividua families. The nature of the
II instrument forbds it. 1t means pub.
) LTD. national tranquility. What
h have already said in the introduction
e of this paper shows that the exten
d sion of slavery has been the grea
n disturber OF our national tranquility
= for the last thirty years. 1t is ther
re directly opposed TO one of the impor
r. tant ends to be secured by the Con
;; stituIion. This conclusion is lrresls
k ,lble | see no way To avoid it. 'fa,
Of fifth particular is, to promote the
e general welfare | shall not con
e struct the argument in form on Thu
/. point, for two or three reasons. Il
'e would involve comparison between
h the prosperity and general welfare o
q the free and slave states. This might
st seem discourteous, and 10 some seen
= odious, in northern man. Besides
N the comparison is often made in Con
ii gress and in the several States. Th,
lie superior prosperity and welfare o
IN the free States lies so perfectly OF
rs the face of things, and has been $,
III often admitted by the intelligent
DC high-minded men of the south, tina
Or ii is quite needless to argue it. 4
E. formal attempt 10 prove that slaverl
y, does not promote the general wei
lie fare" would seem TO most men, no
r. slave-holders, quite ridiculous.
x the Constitution was established 4
il promote the welfare of the who'll
l. nation, or the welfare of new States
te II certainly was not established L
III spread over them the whitening, de
h; norallzing influence of the slave sys
a ten.
- The sixth and last particular O
n the preamble is, to a" secare the bieS
= sings Of liberty TO ourSelueS and ou
0, posterity." Liberty for ourselve
IN and our posterity may mean nation
r, al liberty, in opposition to subjec
ton to another power, such as tn
lis United States were under to Eng
VS. land before the Revolutionary war
On or, it may mean personal liberty il
= opposition to slavery, such as JeffeI
A -. aa..I. - ...o ll..l L..