Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-04
WHY SLAVERY is ILLEGAL.

We affirm its illcgality on two general grounds
First, Slavery cannot possibly Jc legalizod. Ses-
ond If it could be, it neUcr haS Jcen; and is not
now logalizcd in this country. The ground first
mentioned is that of an universal and immutablo
principles the second is that of history, and of ex
isting local fact.
First. Siaceiy can not possibly Je legalized. In
its very nature it is incapable of legazation. The
standard writers on common law affirm the impos-
siblity of legalizing slavery even by positive mu-
nicipal law. They declare the right to liberty to
be inalienable, and that statutes against funda-
mental morality are void.*
The nature of civil government and of civil law,
as defined by all standard writer's on those sub
jects, proves it impossible to legalze Slavery
"To secure" mans inalienable rights, govern
ments are instituted among men," And conse-
quently they can have no lawful authority to viO-
late the rights which they exist only to protect
The protection Of human rights necessarily in
wolves the prohibition and suppression of slave
holding Having no legal authority to violate
mems natural rights, governments can delegate no
such authority to others. The powers of civil gov
ernment are limited. But they would be unlimit-
ed, if they could have the authority and the power
to legalizo the ensavemont Of thoir subjects. All
the declarations ever made land they have abound
ed in all civilized nations and ages) that all men
created equal, that all men are entitled to per-
sonal liberty, and that governments are Tor the
protection of rights,f are SO many declarations
that slavery is incapable of legalizaton. All the
ycnerated definitions Of lac go to the same point
| "Whatever is just" says Cicero, sis also the
true law, this true law be abrogated by any
written cnactments." Municipal law" says
Blackstone, SIS properly defined to be rule OF
civil conduct, prescribed by the supreme power III
a state, commanding what's right, and prohibiting
what is prong." "Political law" says Withcr-
spoone; sis the authority of any society stamped
upon moral duty" And, according to Jacob 5
Law Dictionary, "Law" is "the rule and bond OF
mems actions, or it is rule for the well-goyern-
ment of civil society, to give to ere'y man that
which doth belong to him."
In short, the entire science of civil government
and civil law will have 10 be revised and revolution
lied before slavery can be made legal.
Second, But, if it were possible to lcgallze sla-
very, it is historically certain that never has been
legazed in this country. No statutes have been
enacted that could have legalized it-nono that
have even pretended to do SO. To this point We
have the testimony of the prominent slaycholdne
statesmen and jurists of America.
The late John c. Calhoun of South Carolina !
*Cokc, Fortescuo, Blackstone, etc.
*Moses, Cicero, Justnan, Coke, Fortescuc, Lyt
tleton, Blackstone, Jacob, (Law Dictionary Hob
art Noyes, Wood, lIapden, and, Witherspoon
Vattcl, Hooker, &c.
fSee Letters on Slavery, by o. S. Freeman
containing quotations from Aristotle, Cicero, Sen
4 eca and other renowned men OF antiquity and o
subsequent ages. -
Il tRcply to I. II Benton. 1910.