Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-19

there were seven Northern, and six Southern
States; the North thus having a majority at The
very first date Of the confederacy. OF the seven
Northern States, six were Stare States and
one free State. Considering that this free
State made no objection to the institution of
slavery in her sister States, we may justly as
same particularly when we remember that De
laware is merely IN Meoyya slave State) that the
Northern States had practical maj jority, aud
hence, having this institution before, aud at the
time, and subsequent to their membership in
the Union, that they are responsible for its ex-
istence in the Union. The South if she bad
so willed, had not the power to keep slavery
out of the Union, because a ma jority of the
whole number aud that majority made up Of
Northern land now free) States, recognized
and enjoyed it,
Thus it will not be controverted, thar the
right of property in slaves was right anterior
to, co-eval with, and subsequent to the adop
tion of the Federal Constitution--that it was
not only an inherent and undisputed right, but
was one of those rights that entered into the
compact as clearly as any other right at all
that it was right guarded, guaranteed and
protected by the Constitution, and which can
not be abated, but by the notification Of that
instrument ITSELF
With this plain, but veritable statement of
the rights of the States in slave property at the
period of the compact between the States, and
the definition of those rights, under the Con-
stitution, which pertain to them in the Terri.
tories or common domain of all the States, We
come to consider the humiliatng condition OF
things in this connection at the present time.
| 1t will be seen from what we have to say
further that it is no longer idle threat, il he
Abolitonists succeed in electing their ticket,
that the equality OF the Southern States is to
be utterly destroyed, aud all her rights, privi.
| leges, and immunties under the Constitution
are to be shamelessly ignored and repudiated.
What is the state of the case? A Conven.
ton of the Anti-Savery party of the country
| is called, and assemblies in Northern city.
| II is termed national Convention. That this
| is misnomer may be inferred by the fact,
| that there were but about half dozen men
| iouhu WIZ ~CiC poSc SuouRu " tHot tuSy
represented, in its deberations-a Southern
constituency. Fifteen Of the States thus were
unrepresented. A ticket was nominated by this
NATIONAL Convention, presenting for the suf-
frages of the American people two individuals,
both residing in free States and holding opin.
ions not only foreign to, but in positive antag-
onism with, the constitutional rights and inter.
ests of one half of the States of ..the Union.
Two individuals, who cannot obtain single
score of voters throughout the ohote extent of
this section of the Confederacyl The pr,ael-
Piles enunciated by this national C'n>ent.on.
| are at war with the Constitution and IN auda
! cious defiance of all moral and political rights.
No sooner is this initiative treason and treach.
cry accomplished, than, emboldened by their
own achievement, they fling out their piratical
banners with fifteen Of the States stricken
from the consolidated galaxy of the American
Union! Elected by section of the Union,
without the aid of the other section on the one
hand, or the power successfully TO resist this
evil on the other, they come flushed with their
reasonable victory to take the reins of Gov
ernment. Discarding, in advance, the Const
tuition as the chart by which their administra
ton should be guided-spurning as interiors
fifteen ofthe sovereign members of the Union
tramplug under the despotic heel Of heish
ing them of their proud dignity as equals
levelling them 10 the condition Of hewers of
wood and drawers Of water-constiuting them
a serfdom to do the behests Of their high viii
and pleasure; and, as if these were not enough,
to sting them with the further humiliation OF
having the Federal offices within their own
limits filled by the fendish emissaries from
their own foul and corrupt domuions, that the
seed of domestic insurrecton may be sowu, or
the torch Of the midnight incendiary success.
fully applied to their once happy and peaceful
homes This is the character of the men, and
these the principles Of the party, who have
come forth, like the great Philistine Of Goth
to defy the living armies Of God and Liberiy,
of Right and Reason, of Justice and the Con
stitutionl Is it an exaggerated picture? a
Missouri line Of office IS 10 be run! This il
their scheme; for, not content with bowling
you down, men of the South, in humiliation
and disgrace, their cormorant maws as insatia.
bic as that of their great chief, demand even
the Offices within your household. But sup
pose there nere bounds to their lust OF power
and pelf, how could the Government be car.
ried on under the rule of this black crew, who
set at naught every principle Of common hon
esty and truth2 Suppose, with mockery of
favor to you, they were willing to il the Fed.
eral Offices with men from your midst, where
are the cravens to be found to hold them under
such an administration Where are the col
lectors and surveyors Of your ports, the post
masters of your cities, and the judges and the
marsbals Of your Federal districts2 Even the
pure ermine Of justice must draggle in the
mire of corruption and putrescence, and be
subservient to the destructive fiat of central