American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-17

highest stations IN the State and National
Governments.
In 1884, Immediately after tho partial
adjustment Of tho conflict between the
claims Of the Uaion and the PROHIBITIONS Of
the States in respect TO the territory be-
tween the Allegaanies and the Mississippi,
though tho c%ession. by Virginia, of the tel
rilory northwest of the OHIO. Jefferson
propose to provide forever against the sx-
tension OF slavery, by A positive prohibit
ton of its existence after, 1900, in any ter
ritory celed OF to be coded, or in any State
to be created out of such territory. This
proposed prohibition received the votes OF
sixteen out Of twenty-three delegates, and
otsix out Of nine States in tho Congress Of
tho Confederation. 1t failed to become a
law BY reason of that provision of the Arti-
cles OF Confederation which made the con-
currenrc ofat least seven States necessary
to An Affirmative decision Of any question.
The great majority in its favor indicates,
however, the prevalent sentiment Of the
time.
Three years later, the Ordinance of1767
impressed upon tho soil OF the territory
forth vest Of the Ohio an indelible prohi-
billion Of Slavery. That Ordinance wasa
DOPE by the unanimous votes of all the
Safes in Congress. |; lowered every inch
Of territory subject to the exclusive rsgula-
ton Of tho Ganeral Government.
In the sam, year the National Constitu-
ton was framel. Mr.. Madison declared
it wrong to admit in the Constitution the
lea thar there coul ba property in man"
No such worl as Slave or Slavery found
plaza in any, Of its provisions. All recog-
milton Of the riyAtfulness of slaveholding.
an ! all n%1tion,l sanitiol of the pr,c'io, was
carefully excluded front tina Instrument
In every clause which has been, or can be
construed az referring to Slavery. it is re-.
g1rlel IA the creature OF S'ate legislation.
anl laP,nlent. wholly, upon State legisla-
ton for It's existence an coniinuance.-
rheio il no trace in tho Constitution itself,
0r in the debates Of its trainers, of any ex.
pec!ation or apprehension of the institution
or msin;enonce OF Slavery by n%s.ional law,
or in n%l.ioa1l territory. No one anlicipat-
cd its extension boyonl tho limits Of tho e5.
islins States.
Bat the people required additional secu-
tity. Wheu, therefore, Virginia suggest
cd al men iment of tho Constitution, that
"no freeman ought to be deprived of his
life, liberty or property. but By tAc iaC Of
tho la1a,' Congress refused to sanction
this restricted gttranty, but proposed, for
the adoption OF the State, an AMEN lmont,
r embracing a comprehensive AMI express
in;erdict against all invasion Of personal
rights by the General Governments. Thai
inlerlict. male part ofthe Constitution by
the consent Of he States, is in these words:
mo person y Il shall be do
$ privel of life, liberty or property w,thoui
: duo process of law" So long as this pro.
S vision remains unalterel, it is not easy tC
see how slavery can be constitu!ionally in
f tro lucel anywhere or continued any where
: by National legislation or in National ter
ritory.
! This brief statement will suffice to show
= what was the policy an | what was the an
t ticipation Of the founders OF this Republic
in respect to sIlvery. Their policy wa:
ono OF repression, Limitation, discourage
men'; they anticipatel With confidence thC
anspicious result of universal freedom
Persistent a lherence To their policy woul(
r doubtless have realized their an!isipatiohs
| nesl not say to you that this policy
| has not been altered to; nor need | trace
| the gradual process by which the Consu.u
ton has been wrcs!eI from its original pur
$ poses, AMI the Government has been con
+ rcrtei into an instrument for the mainten
> anco an | extension OF slavery.
; Iy c~aSSi)ns from original States, and bl
~ .,;,L r; H 49,.
= tIed-lcS WIN hIelSi OONcIldhchts 'NS
t. tarritories have boen acuuire6. in MI q
80. -.
| Whicn the Orl5lnll polcy OF inc UoNcrn
,r,nt ,oo,i,, nrnh;L;;on b,t ia ro,, -
= ll1iS re't"''c' Pto"'o'V'"h' Wv ~ IoHe U
> winch VAS prohibition actually applied, I'm
. M r,s;st,nca IN H., f,r,b,r n,raoso =
WI RESISTANCE : '"' '"''"c' I"O.E"so U
) SlaYOry an the slave owe In tho lInDub
. u. - ; N;a. -.
l TIC, Ny ms aIil'S9lou VI hAISSouIi Us Il SiAN
= State. lei TO the rrnlt coDtaSt between tn
~ p n -,
u EXtGnllOnlStS anItho lCeStrictlonlStS, winch
4 H., 1o01 torr,;no1,l in thn od;,str,opt ron
y '" ioN"' u "NJo''"e"' 80"
+ orally known as the NlSSourl Compromise
nj, ,a,,, 81 ~, ~ uon
Inv wilma " '"tU SoiHPIOHl'oo "e'
these. That Missouri should be almiLte,
-, -
Win slavery lnab slavery SnOuIu ne IOFeN
= or nrohihiteJi in tho terr;torv acouirad fror
80 ~ -.
Y France, north oil 80 deg 81, except MIS-
sour;. and hat Conrrnss shonlI refrair
a for tho nreSant. Mt least. from leDiSlatiV
/ - e al,vo.r .o,h, &C az T. T.. 90
u pronlOltloh ol slavery ood'h VI % ueS -
That last term was Only impliel. il was nc
-
expressed.