Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
Prngress of Abolition.


Natural history of Fanaticism, and devote
large chapter to Abolition. One remarka-
bic feature about this mania ofthe nineteenth
century is the singular intellectual obliquities
to which it leads: and this is the more stri-
king because there IS method in the mad
ness.
The truth of our observation is clearly IL
Illustrated in the Constitution and purposes of
this new society.
Men, assuming to be respectable and intel
Iigent, seriously publish an elaborate disqui-
siton for the enlightenment of their fellows
III which they maintain that such propositions
as these are fixed legal truths:
1. Slavery is not only wicked and sinful
but is illegal, by the established principles OF
jurisprudence: and it : the duty of courts of
Justice in the Southern States to iberate eve
~ slave who applies for freedom. This is
declared to be the lac Of the Iast.
3. If it were possible to legalize slavery
it has not been legalized in this country; be-
cause, say these reasoners, it grew mp in the
colonies without positive enactment.
3. The absolute illegality of slavery at
the time the Constitution was adopted is
as certain as any legal fact can be.
A. Slavery is forbidden by the Constitn-
ton. and that instrument also forbids the
States to maintain it. The first pant Of the
assertion, in the opinion of this new society,
is established by the clause, I" No person
shall be deprived of liberty without due pro-
cess Of law :" and the second part by the
clause, No State shall grant any title of
nobility"
5. The Constitution provides for liberation,
and the Federal Government has power to
abolish slavery. 1t provides for liberation
because It secures the writ of tabeas corpus;
and the Federal Government has power to
abolish slavery because one of its objects, as
expressed in the preamble, was "to secure
the blessings of liberty"
6. The Federal Government is constltu.
tionally bound to guaranty to every State
| VI
Z. Several modes are suggested for liberia
ting slaves. The Judiciary are "under thu
most solemn constitutional obligation to Do
it,"
Congress by declaratory enactment, ma,
pronounce all the slaves citizens, and as such
entitled to the protection of the Fedora
n ..-..ovv.o,t NoooraSo in tho sauna m anney
if need be. NAV declare the fact of the cas-
as it exists-that slavery is illegal and in vi
olation of the Constitution. Or, it may, r.
appropriate enactments, provide for the natu
ralization of the slaves, and their consequent
protection.
The President, in the exercise of his ar
pointing power, may appoint to office an
: slave whom he deems qualified 20 discharg
its duties; and he is bound by his oath @
Office to treat slavery as illegal and unconsti
tutional in all his official acts. This cover
wide field
Congress is bound to do the same, and i
its organization of the militia, its superylsio
of the post Offices, and the transportation {
mails, to know nothing Of slavery or distinC
: ton of color.
The matter, of which We have given aboy
a short synopsis, occupies three closely printe
columns of the New York Tribune and al
pears without one worl of dissent from tn
: editors of the paper.
These things are not the rawlings of a ms
= MAC, published in order to show how niue
: perverted intelligence may remain in a craze
brain but they are the deliberate conviction
of men who, in the ordinary affairs of lif'
seem to retain the possession of their senses
: They are published in paper conducted wit
ability and most extensively circulated an
p while they are NOT openly approved by tn
= editors, the readers are permitted to imbii
> the poison without the slightest warning, an
8 probably to the secret satisfaction of GREEL,
: DANA & Co.
We viii add here couple of extracts frol
speech made by Col. BENTON in l84l, an
ask our readers to apply the remarks Origin
ally uttered in reference TO the Abolition 81
: cieties of England to those of our own cour
try. If to tolerate such societies was in
ground of complaint against the British gov
!, eminent, what can be said of their encourage
: ment in our midst by our own people.
Col Benton said
The other cause of dissension between tn
, United States and Great Britain, which pre-
pose 10 bring to the notice of the Senate,
n the existence and the Vaccinations of organ
lied societies in London occupied with tn
question of Slavery in our Southern State
i. and TENDING To PRODUCE AN INsURREcTIO
AMONG Us. The existence of this society
= known to the world 1t glories in its exist
> ence, and has the audacity to address its dia
bOlical publications not only to our ow
I. slaves, bat to their masters, and even to tn
functionaries of orr Government They ar
numerous, powerful and Jealous, and are aid
ed by affiliated societies in Canada, and il
our own country, and by agents and emmis
e saries which penetrate the Slave States, ant
: insinuate themselvesamongt the blacks, whom
/ they excite to discomfort, and stimulate {,
: Instruction. The liberation of such societl
q an he metropolis Of the British Empire is jus
cause Of complaint against the British Gouern
I nent. 1t is a violation of the laws of nations
? and of the laws of friendship. The effec
upon the temper of our slave population i
already visible to every eve They are becom
ing restless, disobedient, prone to crime, and
disposed to escape from service. Fire, botl
, in towns and country houses, is now the fa
, miliar work OF their hands Robberies ar,
;ncessant. The murder of a white man is
common and Indifferent occurrence Innu
merable are the children which perish in va
rious ways from the resentment of servant
and nurses against the parents of the inEo
cents: Flight to the British dominions il
Canada is organized into a system and pur
/ sued to excess. The Montreal Coa1ie7. com
!. putes the number already arrived in thos
!; Provinces at twenty thousand souls Thi
> is the present state of the evil, and the evi
augments itself daily. The result must be
i great catastrophy. London is the seat of tn