Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-21

learned from isolated opinions, irresponsible
given in loose debate, but by its solemn enact
ments, executed in proper form, and by com
potent authority.
But, sir, since this point has been made, We
may learn more of the policy of the country
by examining the opinions OF other gentlemen
| OF the federal convention.
Mr.. Sherman, OF Connecticut, observed that
''the abolition of slavery seemed to be going on
in the United States and that the good sense
Of the several States would, probably, by de-
grees complete it,
Mr.. Dickinson, of Delaware, considered it
inadmissible, on every principle Of honor and
safety, that the importation of slaves should
be authorized to the States By the Constitu-
tion."
Mr.. Luther Martin, Of Maryland, was for
prohibiting the importation OF slaves. 1T was
inconsistent with the principles Of the revolu-
ton, and dishonorabe to the American charac-
ter, to have such a feature in the Constitution.
Mr.. Gerry, of Massachusetts,, thought we
| chad nothing to do with the conduct Of the
States as to slaves, but ought to be careful
not to give any sanction to it."
Mr.. Langdon, of New Hampshire, was siren
uous for giving this power prohibiting the i'm
portation Of slaves to the general government.
"He could not with good conscience leave it
with the States who would then go on with the
traffic, without being restrained BY the opinions
here given-that they will themselves cease to
| import slaves"
The opinion of Mr.. Mason has already been
given.
All this is plain enough, and puts the general
disposition of the convention to prevent the i'm
| portation of slaves beyond question.
| But where were the Carolinas and Georgia?
Mr.. Rutledge said:
THE question, at present, is whether the south
ern States shall or shall not be parties to the
| Union lfthe northern States consult their in
,erests, they will not oppose the increase of slaves
which will increase the commodities of whicht they
will become the carriers" . ITS. ~
Mr.. Pinckney said:
| I" South Carolina never can receive the plan uhe
Conslituton) if it prohibits the slave trade. Ia
every proposed extension of the powers Of Con-
gress, that State had expressly and watchfuy ex-
ceped that of meddling with the importation Of
negroes" Y. H..
General Pinckney "decared it to be his firm
opinion that, if himself and all his colleagues
were to sign the Constitution, and use their
personal influence, it would be of no avail to-
wards obtaining the assent of their constituents.
South Carolina and Georgia could not do with
out slaves E:-
Mr.. Williamson, of North Carolina, Thought
that the southern States could not be members
Of the Union, if the clause (unrestrcting i'm
portations) should be rejected
Mr.. Baldwin, of Georgia, had conceived
national objections alone to be before the con-
vention not such as like the present, which
were of local nature. Georgia was decided
on this point .@
Well, sir, with these points of difference so
fully expressed SO strongly urged on the one
side, aud sternly resisted on the other, what
was the result?
A few other extracts. expressive of the policy
of the country, will explaih:.
Mr.. Sherman said, '.it is Better to let the
southern States import slaves than to part with
them, if they made that sine qua aoa.'
Mr.. Gouverneur Morris said. "these things
form bargain among the northern and sosth,
ern States
Mr.. Ellsworth said
five do not agree on this middle and mode.
rate ground, he was afraid we should lose two
States. with such others as may be disposed 10
stand aloof-should fly into a variety of shapes
and directions, and, most probably considerations,
and not without bloodshed.' ...
Now, sir we begin to see somewhat more Of
the policy Of the country and the explana-
ton OF the whole matter is simply this The
northern States having found slaves improbable
to them, judged they would be SO with US at the
south. Under this mistake, they yielded TO the
obstinacy (if you please Of the Carolinas and
| Georgia, and the importation Of slaves was an.
| thorized by law until 1903, period Of twenty
years.
Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia were then
Indifferent. on the subject, for they, too had
found them Improbable, and knew that they
ocould sell of to the States further south upon
better terms if the importation from Africa was
prohibited.
About this time Mr.. Jefferson said of to-
bacco: ->
al, is culture productive of infinite wretched
ness; those employed in il are in acontinued state
of exhaustion, beyond the powers Of nature TO
support Little food of any kind is raised by them,
tobacco growers J so that men and animals
these farms badly fed, and the earth rapidly
| impoverished"
Nor was the right to import slaves all that
the pro-slayery States retained and secured by
the compact; for though they were minority
in the convention, yet so confident was the
north of the entire worthessness of slaves, and
so pertinacious the pro-savery States in their
refusal to enter the Union upon any other terms
than those which now appear in the compact,
that they guaranteed to all the States equal
rights in the public domain and. by the Sec
4 Gnu seCtOH VI tue aTtlcle Ol the IOUSll-
tuition, contracted to deliver up our runaways,
and, if necessary, to protect US and all the
States against any kind Of domestic vio-
lerce." .<.....
Y ct we are now told that it was the policy of
the country to exclude slavery from all national
territory. 10y
Sir, there is suspicious sound in that word
national, which jars upon southern ears, and
when coupled with the doctrines it inculcates.
comes athwart the gale like the low whistle of
the bandit, and admonishes honest men to look
well to the security of their estates.
1t is worse than absurd to quote the indi,
vidual opinions of any man against the insti-
| tuition Of slavery which were expressed before
those great staples, which are now grown so
abundantly in the south and southwest, entered
as controlling clements into the commerce OF
the world. In every aspect which you may
view it, the appearance is different. The de-
struction by the war Of the little commerce we
possessed, together with the absence Of that
great staple which has since given employment