Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-09-29
TAs IA nsas Law W The Framsu Of
ths u. g. Constitution.

ths u. q Constitution.
JAMS MADtsox. in the Convention
which framed the Constitution Of the Uni
I'D sss.nhjerfsa sothswOrd slave be
ing used in the cause which was inserted
for the rendition Offugitiyes. His objec
tion were agreed to by the Convention
and the nilder tcrn Of -persOas owing
service or labor. " applicable alike to whit,
APPRENTICES and black slaves. was put in
cur COnstitution. Mr.. M,Drsox said on
that occasion -
81 object to the word slave appearing
in q Constitution which. trust, is to be
the charter Of freedom to unborn millions
e nor would l willingly perpetuate the mem
ory Of the fact that slavery ever existed in
eur country. LISA great evil and un-
der the Providence Of God, looked for
ward to some scheme Of emancipation
which shall free us 'front.'. Do not, there
fore. let US appear as il we regarded il per-
petual, by using in our Constitution an
odious word opposed to every sentiment
Of liberty"
The above extract, from the Debates Of
the Convention which framed the Consti-
tuition of the United States. possesses ape
culiar interest at this time, not only as
showing what were the views of one of the
most distinguished members of that Con-
yention, but as aifording a means of illus
trating the progress of proslavery senti-
ments in the South. The recent horrible
act passed by the quasi Kansas Legisla.
ture, entitled "An A1 to punish offences
1gainst Stare property" declares that the
man who utters such sentiments as are
above quoted from the lips of the venerated
MADISON. is a felon, and punishable in the
Penitentiary And yet, JAMES MADISON
was not the only one who entertained and
avowed such opinions. JEFFERSON WASH
INGToN, LEE, all Southern men. and in fact
every other member Of the Constitutional
Convention, so far as we have any record
of their opinions, coincided with the sen.
iment and above quoted. The records of
the Convention show that it agreed with
MIR. MADIsoN IN his view of the case, and
that it acceled to his proposed amsndent
Yet, these men, the farmers of the Constitu-
tion Of the United States,-the heroes who
achieved our independence,-the sages
who laid broad and deep the foundations
OF our civil liberty, if they could be recall
ed to life holding and avowing the same
opinions with which they went down to
the gravc,-would be, under the laws of
Kansas, traitors and tellons, fit only for
the penitentiary or the scaflold
1t is a horrible thought, but it is true
that Kansas intolerance burns with fierce
ness which would consume every thing we
prize as freemen,- only Of the present.
but of the past. The Kansas law recogni.
ses and makes no exceptions. Those who
even question the righteousness ofslavery.
it treats as enemies of the public peace and
panishes accordingly. By its own rule of
construction the sentiments of WASHING
TON, MADISON and JEFFERSON are seditous,
and if they were now living to utter them,
they would be amenable to the heavy pen
altieS of the law. How tearfully and how
widely has the South departed from the
faith it held in the bright morning of our
national existence!
In this shameful and melancholy con-
nection itshould be remembered that it was
to please the authors of this infamous law,
and to secure its execution, that the pres
ont head of the Democratic party, Presi-
dent PIERCE, removed Governor REEDER
and appointed SHANNON to the Governor
ship of Kansas. Nor should it be forgot
ten that this latter mana plant tool of
the Slave Democracy-rolunteered to
pledge himself to the"border ruffians' of
Missouri, that his official authority and
power should be exercised to secure its en-
forcement.