Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-07-01


and "hopes'1-aside from his opinions on
equal rights--will appear in the following
graphic and truthful account Of slavery Ia
ken from the work just referred to--the
Notes on Jefferson says. "The
commerce between master, and slave is a
perpetual exercise of the most bosierous
passions--the most, unrsmiRin9 despotisms
on the one part and degrading submissions
on the other" "-(Rev. o. Scott's Writings
on Slavery, p. 1898. And in farther con-
sideration of this damnable evil he again
says: II trens6ie for my country when re-
fleet that God Is just-that his Justice cannot
sleep forever" And in speaking Of the re-
volt of slaves for freedom and the struggle
Of the masters for supremacy he says that
"The Almighty has no attribute which can
take sides with us (Masters) in such con-
test."-(Ibid Scott.) Extracts upon this
point might be extended much father, but
a sufficient number has been given to show
clearly Jefferson's sentiments, and SO we
pass on for the present.
3dly, Jefferson VS.. pro slavery statesmen.
All who will take the trouble to read the
preceding facts will be prepared for the fol-
lowing burst of Indignation against class
of statesmen, who though scarce in that
day are very plentiful at this time attempt
ing by their "plantation manners" arro-
giant assumptions, and infamous falsehoods,
to ''crush out" and "subdue'' the love Of
liberty and equal rights with which we are
by our Creator endowed. Of such Jefer-
son says "With what exscrdtion should
the statesman be loaded who permitting one
half of the citizens thus to tramDle upon the
rights of the other, transforms those into
despots and these into enemies, destroys
the morals Of the one part, and the amor
pctria of the other."-( Notes on Va, Good
ell, p. 87.) 1t will be seen by this extract
that he considered slaves as citizens wrong
fully deprived of their rights. Such Ian
guage at this time--especially in the U. s.
Senate would entitle the author to clas.
sical democratic Gaming; such is the differ,
ence between the principles of Jefferson and
those Of Pierce and Douglas administra
tion.
4thly, Jefferson inaugurated the policy
Of prohibiting slavery in the Territories o
the Colonies or States.
ga year after the peace with EnglanC
March /, 17S4) Mr.. Jefferson reported tC
the Congress of the Confederation a plan
for the government of all the Territory ce
ded Or to be ceded by the individual State
to the United States 1t provided tina
such Territory should from time 10 time b.
formed into distinct States and that afte
the year 1900 of the Christian era, ther
should be- neither slavery nor invountar!
servilude in any ofthe said States, otherwis
than in the punishment of crime whereo
the party shall have been duly convicted t.
have been personally guilty. Ofthe TWEEN
ty-three delegates present and voting six
teen were in favor of the proviso; seve
were opposed. But the rules Of the Con
federation Congress required majority c
the thirteen States to carry measure, an
no State could give vote except throug
as many as two delegates. Six States vc
ted for the proviso. One more was wanted
Delaware was without representative
New Jersey had but one. He voted 70
the plan, but his colleague who would hav
sustained him and carried it, was calle
away from Congress day or two befor
the decision Of the question and was dt
tanned day or two after; and so that be
nf .ent measure failed" ."--(Facts for til
People, New Series, Vol. l, p. 1897 Thu
early in our history was the policy Of pre-
hibiting slavery in the Territories -"cede
or to be ceded"--brought forward by th
sagacious and profound statesman Jeffe
son. Three years afterwards the plan VIZ
renewed by Nathan Dane of Massachuset
approved by the Congress of the Coz
federation--and subsequently by the fir
Congress under the new Constitution.
5thly, Jefferson believed Congress HI
the power--under the present Constitute
Ito prohibit slavery in the Territories
the U. s.
March 4, 1901, he was inaugurated
third President under the new Consitutio
"Jan. II, 1905, the northern part Of Indi
ma was erected into the Territory of Mich
gan, and slavery prohibited. Feb. 8, 1870
the Territory of Illinois was established wi
like prohibition of slavery" Both the
acts received the approval and signatu
of Thomas Jefferson. - Goodell, p. gal.
We have now given brief documental
sketch of Jefferson's sentiments in rega
to that monster evil slavery. Did time al
space permit it might be much extende
although enough has been said to pro
1st, thathe believed "aN men" to be e
dowed by their Creator" with an equal rig
to ''life liberty, and the pursuit Of hapT
ness." end. That slavery being deni
of mans natural rights it is the duty of
Just government to suppress,o or abolish it,
Sd, That statesmen who aid in the perpet
alton or extension of slavery, deserve !
mercy at the hands Of the people, but on Il
contrary they should be "loaded vith ca
cration.". 4th, That it is the true policy
our government to prohibit slavery in {
Territory belonging thereto; as shown in b
offering a bill for that purpose in one ye
after our Independence was established.
9th, That under the present CONSTITUTE
Congress has the power to prohibit slave
in the Territories of the U. S.-shown
his signing acts prohibiting il in the Ter
tories Of Michigan and Illinois. In 1914
wrote thus: my sentimentson the subjt