The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-14
LETTER XXI.

TITLES OF NoBIITY-GUARANry OF REPUB-
L!cAN GOVERNMENTS TO THE STATES
TO the Friends Of american Liberty:
] have already invited your attention TO that
clause of the Federal Constitution which says
No State shall pass any bills Of attainder, or
ex post facto law, or laws impairing the obli-
CATION OF contracts, or grant aay title Of noJiL
ffy."-Arf. 4. Sec 10, Clause |.
These specifications were considered (oxcept
the closing ones in my last letter, which. with
the previous Ones comprise SIR distinct prohi-
billions Of Slavery, in the express provisions of
the Constitution OF the United States. We now
proceed to consider the remaining prohibition
IN this clause, viz:
VII. TITLES or nobility.
No State shall grant any title Of nobility"
What are we to understand by the term. no
bhfyF And what constitutes tile of nobil-
ityf
"a noble is one ,cAo hath a certain ep,iaencv
Adore the rest"-yacoG's Lar Dictioaarv.
We all know that a nobility, in the political
sense Of the term, constitute certain privileged
class, holding q superiority Of station above a
certain inferior class, by whom they are sur
rounded, or In the same nation, and who do
not enjoy equal rights and immunities with
them Sometimes, when the superior condition
of the nobility is strongly marked, and when
the inferior condition of the lower class reaches
corresponding depression, the nobility hold
some degree of compulsory control over the
lower class, which it would be accounted unlaw-
ful for any except the nobility to exercise
Such was the nobility known to the times of
feudalism. The more despotic and absolute
the control OF the privileged class, the more
strongly marked and the more indisputable do
r
nobility, become.
Thus, the ancient feudal chiefs constituted a
more intensely aristocratic nobility than that
which obtains in those European nations in
lKEhich feudalism is abolished. By the same
rule, the shareholders of these United States
constitute an order OF nobility, exercising more
despotic prerogatiyes. and holding more i'm.
perious and aristocratic position, than anv other
order OF nobility known among men. This
VIII be seen IN two facts. First, they exercise
more universal, unlimited, and crushing des-
potism over their interiors, making the distance
between the two classes greater than has ever
been witnessed elsewhere. Second, in their
relation TO the Governments under which they
live, both State and National, the slaveholding
nobility hold the most responsible and lordlv
position. The feudal nobility held and trained
Their vassals as the military corps of the coun.
my, subject to service, along with themselves,
on requisition OF tho State or National Govern
ment, to which the yassa, along with his lord,
owed paramount allegiance. Not so with the
American oigarchy of shareholders. They
recognise no State National authority over
their slaves, paramount to their own. or even
concurrent with it. All they permit the Cor.
ernnaenf I'd co with their slaves is, to keep them
IN subJecton-NoT to the Government-but to
THEMSELVES! Ii must be a hopeless blindness
an lhcuraole skepticism, logged pertinacity,
that does not see aud acknowledge that the
shareholders of America do constitute an aris-
tocracy, an ohgarchy, order of nobility, of
the most stringent, most extreme, most unIniti-
gated description.
The shareholders are wont TO glory in il. as
such, Themselves, and TO boast of it, on that
very account. They call themselves "the
ChirdtTy tina. is, the knghthood i" of the
country" The knights or "Chivalry" of Eu-
rope, IN ieudai times. were privileged class,
holding their peculiar prerogatives, above their
feliowsublects. by royal grant. The slave
holders OF Virginia boast of being their descend
ants, and claim to lie their successors. They
accordingly look down, with disdain, upon ar,i
sans, merchants, and mechanics. as their infe
riors. They account the occupations degra
ding that do not comport with their "kniyhily'
position and claims. The atfectation Of mill
and affectation of military titles, among them
has the same origin. On this ground. too, i
was claimed by Governor McDunie, of Soutl
Carolina, that =" Slavery was the corner-ston,
of our Republican odiice." 1t was so, because
in has view, no nation could exist without aris
tocratic distinctions of some kind. And tn,
"institution of domestic Slavery said he
"supersedes the necessity of an order of nobil
ity," that is. in the customary form. 1t answer
ed, in has view, the same purpose.
And what are we TO understand by " til
of nobiiity?" a tile TO thing is that whcl
gives, or constitutes, or certi6es, rightful O
lawful clam to it-as, title to an estate.
title to farm, house, condition, an immu
nifty, prerogative.
"The word tile inclndeth right. but is
more general word. Every right is title. bu
Every title is not such right for which an &C
ton lies" 1t signifies the means to lands
&c.-Jdcob's Lac Dictionary, London cd. Il ~
IItie."-" That which constitutes a Jus
cause of ercinsrce possession, that which is tn
foundation of ownership, as n good title to a,
estate, or an imperfect title. The lowest degre
of title il naked possession; then comes tn
right of possession; and lastly the right of pro,
erty-all which, united. complete the title" -
Blackstone, as cited BY ~ Webster.
"The instrument which gives evidence of
ripht."-M Webster.
A title of nobility" granted by the Cover
ment, must consist, then, in some enactment
grant. license, warrant, or authority, institutin
an order of nobility, enabling or eaatitlin
men to exercise lordly authority or preroga'iv'
Or, it is any act of Government sustaining Q
enforcing such assumed lordly claims. An
State Government therefore, that In any wa
sustains, recognises, allows, or permits, tn
practice of slaveholding, protecting il as Lawful
and innocent, instead OF suppressing il as Grim
inal, grants a title of nobility in behalf of a.
whom it thus shelters and elevates above thei
fellows And this, the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. very properly, forbids. 1t could no
do less, and be the Constitution of free ant
republican people. 10 a previous section OF tn
.ess wsbsssfs Dct 'nsry, unabridged, an " Cav
slVr