Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-21


their broadcast sense, unless some
thing appears to limit them. 3.
The Constitution itself, in Art. l,
Sect. 9, uses the two phrases,
" such person" and "each person
to mean only individuals of the col
ored race. In Art. ". Sec. 2, it
uses the phrase mo person." to
mean, strongly interpreted, no per-
son of any race or color but the
subiect-matter of the section refers
it primarily and specially to the col
ored race 50 much so, that had it
not been for them, the clause would
not have been inserted in the Con-
stitution. If there is still doubt,
we have other proof, which will
probably satisfy all the advocates of
slavery. If the phrase " No person"
in its established sense, and asused
in the Constitution, Art. Nv. Sec.
2, does not include the colored race,
then the following consequences
necessarily ensue |. The Con-
stitution nowhere recognizes slavery
beyond the year 1908, or makes
the least allusion to it. The sys-
tenn is not in any place or form I'M
der its cover. 2. The nation made
no compact with the old slave States,
when they joined the Union, touch
ing slavery in any form beyond the
above date. Even then it is not
only a moral wrong, but great po-
litical sin, to which the nation new
er assented, and which they are
bound to remove. 3. The rendi-
ton OF fugitive slaves in every case
is fragrant violation Of the Constit-
ton. H. The fugitive slave law Of
1850 is a great national and uncon-
stitutional humbug, without the
least foundation to rest upon. viii
the advocates Of slavery accept
these consequences Deny them
they cannot, unless they admit that
the phrase d" No person." in its
established sense, and as used
in the Constitution, includes the
colored race. The individuals of
the colored race are no doubt per-
sons, ipSo facto, made so by God,
called so by the established use Of
language, and declared to be so by
the Constitution. 1t must be adj
mitted by all men. But this admis-
sion puts the advocates of slavery
suddenly to rout on every square
mile of territory covered by the
Constitution, despite of all their adj
vocacy and Legislation. This sa-
cred charter of American liberty SOL
EMMY declares that No person
shall be deprived Of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of
lar" " No person." of course.
where the Constitution holds con-
troll. No body of men acting under
it shall permit this. Here it stands
for the guide of future Legislators, if
not for those now in office. Here
is the logical subject, No person"
Here is the logical predicate, " shall
be deprived Of life, liberty, or
property, rithom due process Of
ia,c.n The subject and the predi-
cate agree together. No politician,
however great, or keen his powers
of logic however hard-pressed in
position or argument, can show The
slightest disagreement between
them. They are admitted to agree,
not only in this country, but in eve
ry civilized nation of the world
The sentiment of this proposition,
in whatever form expressed, is the
great and the only basis of personal
liberty the world over. When a
nation takes this proposition on her
lips, as a part of her constitutional
vows, personal liberty is triumph
ant, whenever that Constitution, or
any body of men acting under it
hold sway, so be that they are true
and faithful men.
1t appears, then, that not onl y the
Declaration of Independence not
only the object sought in the Revo-
lutionary war; not only the policy
of the nation, as established in the
ordinance of the Northwestern terri
tory but the Constitution, i'll her
peerless majesty, absolutely .forbids
the extension of slavery into terri
tory over which the national flag
valves. On this broad and solid ba-
sis of personal freedom, the North
has always reposed in quiet except
when the extension of slavery has
been pressed. On it she is now
suddenly, 10 ner surprise anu ner
sorrow, called to plant herself in the
strength of her principles, and the
power of her political might. On
this fastness of liberty she must ar
ray herself around the free territory
of the nation, and, with her united
voice, cry to the encroachments Of
slavery, Procui, procui. Other.
wise, the sun of freedom may set
and the upheaving storms Of slavery
mag spread moonless and starless
night of onrushing servitude oveI
the vast territories of Nebraska and
Kansas.
MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
The Missouri compromise, wher
Judged of by the Constitution, was
compact more in favor of slavery
than freedom. 1t consisted of two
parts, one part was unconstitutional
the other constitutional. Ii Welded