The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-22

tneny instead OF fueIte Ibe mouon
by Mr. Gorham of Massachusetts and opposed by Mr. Mad
son. of Virginia How strange that NdssG
ehgsea then in favor Of and Virginia opposed TO con-
tnuing the slare trade Yet II is the truth OF history
which the yrulence Of faction cannot assai Mr. Madison
spoke of it as dshonorabe TO the American character
and fully supported what his colleague Mr. Mason had
said when he denounced il an internal traffic But
this southern oppostion-tbis Virginia opposition to the
continuance of the slave tradeathough it came from
such men as Washington, Madison, Randolph Mason,
Blair, and Wythedid not avail anything against the bar
gain that had been made In despite of it, the proposition
extend the trade 1908 adopted by the vote Of
States to four New Hampshire Massachusetts, and
Connecticut voted with the southern States for the extern
sion of the time ceny years while New Jersey Penn
syyana Delaware, and Virginia were the only States
that voted against it, This vote having been taken
the clause it stands in the constitution was
agreed TO TINS bringing into this country the slaves
which twenty years Of importation would accumulate
with the and by the votes Of the three great
New England States Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Connecticut How strong must have been their anx-
ety form federal Union when they could have paid
such price this protection their commerce And
how irresistible is the obligation resting upon their
descendants to abide by all the consequences OF the bar
gain will not yet believe that the people of New England
will seek to be released from this compact which their
fathers made They have much reverence for the past
be thus driven by demagogues and politicians into acts
ferred to.
When il objected to that part of the report which
had reference to the duty to be paid upon the importa-
tion--that it was acknowledging 10 be property
by taxing them such under the character Of slaves
il distinctly announced by Air. Rufus King, of
Massachusetts, and Mr. Langdon, of New Hampshre-boh
of whom the commtteethat they consideredhis
as he price Of tie first part hope you will observe this
language; for hear much said now about there being
such thing property IN You will perceive, how
ever that northern did understand it in the
convention but that the recognition of the doctrine that
slaves property the price they paid for the Union
and for the protection they secured TO their commerce
Upon being stated by General Pnckney of South Car
olina-who was also on the commeethat Mr.. King and
Mr. Langdon had truly stated the bargain the compromise
ratified by the convention with the understanding
pressed by those gentlemen to It's effect and extent And
that was the first feature of the compromise that
benefit the South.
Afterwards the proposition strike out the 9Th section
for the benefit of the North up and while it
der consideration Gen. Pinckney explained the whole
ture of the compromise. His remarks important
be omitted lie said:
1T the interests of the southern States to have
regulation commerce. but considering the loss brought
the eastern States by the revolution their liberal conduct
towards the of South Carolina and the interest the
weak southern States had being united with the strong
States he thought proper that letters should
be imposed on the power Of making commercial regnla
the States would be reconced to this berality
He had himself he said, prejudces against the eastern
States before he here but would acknowledge that
he had found them liberal and candid any who
euer"
What was done in the convention change so suddenly
the views and opinions of General Pnckney in relation to
menu What the beraiy of which he spoke
Mr. Madison explains it in to this debate where he
says:
ale General Pnckuev meant tie permission 10 import
stares An understanding the two subjects of narga
ton and sarry had taken place between those parts Of The
Jnion which explains the on The motion depending
as well the language of General Pinckney and Others
After this explanation of the motives for adopting the
compromise the compact with the North carried out
by the South by the unanimous agreement TO strike
the 9Th section the North desired And that being done
Mr. Butler of South Carolina In still further execution
of the compact bargain, moved additional clause to
the constitution the delivery Of fugitive slaves
when they should escape from the slave TO the free States
hope you will observe these facts closely for they are
important. Mr. Buffers proposition moved on the
day which the 9th section Of the nth article was
stricken out and directly after that done as every
member of the convention knew that the right import
slaves amounted to nothing if they could escape into the
free States and thereby be released from service for by
the common law their escape into the free States would
have made them Free And it unanimously agreed to-
substance it stands in the constitution and in
these words
af any person bound to service labor in any OF the
United States shall escape into another State he she
shall be discharged from such service labor con-
sequence Of any regulations subsisng in the State to
which they escape but shall be delivered up to the person
justly claiming their service or labor
Mr. Luther Martini in his celebrated letter to the eps-
ature of Maryland after the adjournment Of the conven-
on when speaking Of this compromise the subject of
slavery, says:
g" found the States notwithstanding their
sion to slavery were very willing to indulge the southern
States at least with temporary liberty prosecute the
sare trade provided the southern States would in their
turn, crafty them by laying restriction narqaf;o,,
and after very little time the committee by great
ment to be prohibited from preventing the Importation Of
slavs for limited time and the resJcre clause relative 10
navigation acts tods TO be omitted
And Mr. Madison, speaking afterwards in the Virginia
convention said of the clause relating fugitive slaves
"Ths clause expressly inserted enable Of slapes
10 reclaim them = to secure said he Hthat property which
possess And Mr.. Iredell, of North Carolina in
the convention of that State explained why the word Stare
was not used in the constitution. lie said
Though the word Stare be not mentioned this is the
meaning of it, The northern delegates owing their par
cnar scrupes upon the subject slavery did not choose
the word slave to be mentioned"
have been thus particular in presenting you with these
facts in early history that you may and understand
fully the nature and of the compromises of the
constitution in relation slavery that you may see that
them and than all, that you may sec how
strongly and sacredy they still binding upon all
parts of the Union and upon all classes of people