The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-22


regarded es ar evil.-as at variance with the
pr'ncip'-s on which our institutions we're bas-
Ell. and as source Of weakness. social and
political. 10 the communities in which it ex-
listed. A. the time Of the Revolution. S.a.
very existed in all the Colonies but Meth
er then. nor for half century afterwards,
had 1t been an element Of political strife, for
there was no difference OF opinion or Of poll
cy'in regard to it. The tendency Of affairs
had been toward Emancipation Half the
original thirteen States had taken measures
at an early day, to free themselves from the
bIIghting influence and the reproach of Sla-
very. Virginia and North Carolina had an
ticipated the Continental Congress. of 774.in
checking the increase Of their Slave popuIa-
ton by prohibiting the Slave trade at any Of
their ports.
SENTIMENTS OF the TRAINERS OF THE
CONSTITUTION CONCERNING SLAVERY.
The Constitution, comforting upon Con.
gress full power to prevent the increase of
Slavery by prohibiting the Slave trade, had,
out OF regarc tor existing interests and vest
ed rights postponed the exercise Of that pow
err ever the Territories Of the United States,
by prohibiting the migration or importation
of Slaves into them, without any restriction
exceptsuch az its own discretion might sup
ply. Congress promptly availed itself Of this
permission BY reaffirminy that great Ordi-
parce ofthe Confederation. by which it was
nrdai and decreed that all the Territory
then belonging to the United States should
tie forever free. Four new States were form
ed out OF Territory living south Of the Ohio
river. and admitted into the Union. previous
70 1920 but The Territory from which they
we're formed had belonged to States in which
slavery existed at the time Of their forma.
ton; ard in ceding it to tile Genera, Govern
inert, or in asserting to the formation of ne W
States within it, the old States to which it
belonged had inserted proviso against any
regulation Of Congress that should tend to
the emancipation Of Slaves. Congress was
thus prevented from prohibiting Slavery in
these new States. by the action Of the OLE,
States OUT of which they had teen formed.
But. as soon as the Constitutional limitation
upon It's power over the States then existing
had expired. Congress prohibited, by fearful
penalties. the addition by importation OF a
,ingl. Save, to the numbers already in The
conn:rv.
The trainers Of the Constitution. although
re historical record Of their opinions proves
that they were earnest and undivided in their
dislike OF Slavery, and in their conviction
that it was hostile. in its nature and its in
tluences, to Republican freedom. after takiny
these steps to prevent is increase, did not
interfere with it further in the States where
i. then existed: Those States we're separate
communities. Jealous Of their sovereignty
and unwilling 10 enter into any league which
should trench in the least degree, upon their
own control over their own affairs. This
sentiment the trainers Of the Constitution
were compelled to respect and they a..
cc,dnslv left all ether local interests. TO the
control Of the several States. But no one
who reads with care the debates and the re.
corded opinions Of that age, can doubt tina,
the ultimate removal Of Slavery was desired
by the people Of the whole country, and that
Congress lad been empowered to prevent
it's increase. with view to its gradual and
ultimate extinction. Nor did the period of
Emancipation seem remote Slave labor,
employed as it was in agriculture. was less
profitable than The free labor which was pour
ing in to take its place. And even in States
where this consideration did not prevail
other influences tended to the same result
The spirit Of Liberty was then Young, GEN
erous and strong. TIE men CT the nation
had made sacrifices and waged battles for the
vindica'ion Of their nalirnable rights TO life
liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; and ],
was no. Iossib!e for them to SIT down in the
the Quiet enjoyment Of blessings thus arhiev-
81, wihou! feeling III, injustice as we'll as
the Inconvenience of holding .Test nu''lher'
of their fellow men in bondage. IN a.. the
States, therefore, there existed a stron.
tendency towards Emancipation. The re-
novai Of so great an evil was ieit to DC a
worthy object Of ambition by the best and
most sacacious statesmen Of that age: and
, Washington. Jefferson. Franklin and All the
great leaders and representatives Of public
! opinion, we're active ard earnest in dsv,sing
measures by whirh !, could be accomplished.
bu' the great change produced in tee in
/ 'ius'ry Of tie Southern States in the early
part 0! ;!e present century, nv the increased
culture Of cotton the introduction of new in
ven'lnns TO prepare it tor use. and its grow
ing importance to the commerce. of the coun-
try and The labor Of The world. by making
Slave labor more profitable than it had ever
been before, checked this tendency towards
Emanci patton and soon put an end to it alto
Srther. As the demand for lotion increased,
the interests Of the cotton growing States be-
came more and more connected with Slavery
the spirit Of Freedom gradually gave way he
fore the spirit Of gain; the sentiments and
the language of the Southern States became
changed and all attempts at emancipation
began to be regarded, and resisted, as assaults
upon the rights and interests of the Slave
holding section Of the Union For many
years however, this change did not effect
the political relations of the subject States,
both Free and sIsveholding, were successive
ly added to the confrderacy without exciting
the fears OF either section. Vermont came
into the Union in 1891, with a constitution
excluding Slavery. kcnturky formed out
Of Virginia, was admitted in ls92: Tennes-
see in 1896: Mississippi in 1917. and Ala
lama in lsl9,-a!l Slave States. formed out
of Territory belong ins to Slave States. and
having Slavery established in them at the
time OF their formation. On the other hand
Ohio was admitted in 1903, Indiana in 1916,
and Illinois in 1918. having formed State
Governments under acts Of Congress which
made it fundamental condition, that their
Constitutions should contain notbing repug-
nant to the ordinance Of I7S7,-or IN other
words, that Slavery should he prohibited
within their limits forever In all these O.
currpnces. as in the admission Of Louisiana
in 1912. there had been no contest between
Freedom and Slavery. for it had not been
generally felt that the interests of either we're
involved.