Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-16

there were seven Northern and six Southern
States the North thus having majority at the
very first date of the confederacy. OF the seven
Northern States, six were Stare Sates 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
sumo particularly when we remember that De-
laware is merelym heo,ya slave State that the
Northern States had practical majority, and
hence, having this institution before, and 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 had
so wllled, had not the poper to keep slavery
oW OF the Union, because majority of the
whole number and that majority made up of
Northern (and now free) States, recognized
and enjoyed it!
Thus it will not be controverted, that the
right of property in slaves was a right anterior
to, co-eval with, and subsequent TO the adop
ton of the Federal Constitution-that it was
not only an inherent and undsputed right, but
was one of those rights that entered into the
\
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
come to consider the humiliating 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 an idle threat If the
Abolitonists succeed in eecting their ticket,
that the equality Of the Southern States is to
be utterly destroyed, and 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 Ani.Savery party of the country
is called and assemblies in Northern city
1t is termed national Conventions That this
is misnomer may be inferred by the fact,
that there were but about half dozen men
| found who were base enough to claim that they
represented, in its deliberations-a Southern
constituency. Fifteen of the States thus were
unrepresented. 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-
IL, al r;rk,,
ests of one. half of the States OF ..the Union.
Two individuals, who cannot obtain a single
score of voters throughout the ,chole extent Of
this section Of the Coniederacy! The priuci-
pies enunciated by this national Conyemtion
are at war with the Constitution and in auda-
cous 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 ftccn of tie 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
ernment Dscarding, in advance, the Consti
tuition as the chart by which their administra
ton should be guided-spurning as interiors
fifteen Of the sovereign members of the Union
trampling under the despotic heel of hesh
power all Of their rights and priyieges--shear
ing them Of their proud dignity as equals
levelling them to the condition Of hewers of
wood and drawers of water-constiuting them
a serldom TO do the behests of their high will
aud pleasure and, as il 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 dominions, that the
seed of domestic insurrection may be sown, 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 Liberty,
Of Right and Reason, Of Justice and the Con
stitution! Is it an exaggerated picture? a
Missouri line Of office is 10 be run! This is
their scheme; for, not content with bowing
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 rcye bounds 10 their lust Of power
and pelf, how could the Government be car.
ried on under the rule Of this black crew, who
sat nj naught every princinle of cnmpnn hon
esty and truth? Suppose, with a mockery Of
favor to you, they we're willing to fill 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
marshals Of your Federal districts? Even the
pure ermine Of justice must draggle in the
mire of corruption and putrescence, and be