The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-05-09


stitHtion was adopted, all the States, save one
embraced slavery Now we hav- fifteen slave
and sixteen free States. Connecticut and Penn
sylvania have abolished it. Virginia and Ma
ryland have retained it. The people Of the
latter States have no proper right TO complain
against the action OF those of the foriuer and
Stce nerSa Nor will it do to say that constant
and bitter denunciation by the people of one
State against the institutions of another, is no
interference; barren as 10 practical results, it
Is still fruitful OF i'll FEELING. The certain ten
dency OF which is TO alternate the feelings Of the
people of the several States, and, at the same
time, defeat the end in view. Were the ppo-
pie Of Pennsylvania TO indulge in unkiud criii-
ciSms OF your institutions, | am sure the only
tendency would be TO force you TO cherish them
the more closely. Such has been the only eff
feet OF political Abolitionisrn. When southern
men, with Clay at their head, started the Colo
nlzalon Society, what did the Abolitionists do =?
Did they second the movement? By no means.
Nothing would satisfy them but immediate and
unconditional emancipation. Their lecturers
commenced 10 harrangue the people, and their
eoipor!euFs were sent into all parts oil the I'M
lon with inaammatory documents. to accom-
plush this end. The consequence was, that the
southern people became alarmed and receded
from the position they had taken. The oppor-
tualties Of the slaves were restricted, their rdu-
cation neglected, and the southern people con-
strained to adhere to ther constitutional right 10
have the institution with Increased tenacity.-
So much iorthe folly Of interfering without
proper right TO do SO. But suppose no consfi-
ntIonal obstacle interviewed, or that the South
should agree 10 emancipate the slaves at a stated
rsartOa r1roS-Id.A toI.
taincd, what could be done? Who wonId en-
p!oy, clothe, and feed these helpless beings !?
How many would Massachusetts, take! How
many would Chic take And how MANY would
pennsylvania and Connecticut take! Not one
But il they could be brought North, in what
particular will their condition BE- improved Z
! VIII they live better2 VIII they have better
. ideas Of civilization and Christianity! Will
they be elevated in the scale of moral being
The answer to all these questions is. to GER
tam extent, furnished in The pitiable condition
OF the free blacks. True, there are those who
would BE- willing to give the negro equal, social,
and political condition with the ADglo-Saxon
but am not one Of those, and have 10 patience
10 even discuss this offensive idea What then
sFfond those abolitiouists do Why, mind
their own business. That is generally prodta-
are not accountable in any way for the wrongs
Of slavery. Nor should the people OF New
England forget that they had an agency in
Iropagatiug the institution. Their delegates
IN the convention that made the present Con-
Sitntion, consented to the continuance of the
slave trade. Prior 10 that time this disgraceiul
traffic bad been iegislated against by the States
OF Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.-
All the Nrw Englan States voted for the clause
continuing the slave trade up to 1913, whilst
Virginia and Delaware voted against it. 1t
was this trade that first proPagated the institu-
ton and regulated It's growth. For the increase
during that iorg period, the New England States
are largely responsible, and this fact should at
least constgaIn them to a charitable view of this
veXed question. The extent OF the institution is
not to BE- measured by The Territory over which
i may spread, but by the number of brings in
bondage. Where a citizen OF Kansas, should
vote against slavery but in doing so, | would
not feel that ] vas lessrning the number Of
slaves or doing them special kindness. Nor
wonld the restoration OF the southern slaves 10
the condition of their ancestors IN Africa, bet
ter their condition. To change would reduce
them to the lowest state OF bagbarisn, and the
act would be an outrage upon humanity But
elaborate them. have no doctrine 10 present
on this point OF the subject. / only wish those
who are so constantly exercised on the question,
to pout out their remedy; TO tell Us what can
i b. done Nor would dissolution OF the Union
free the slaves. The southern States would co
together and of course retain the institution. 50
long as II might be the pleasure OF the people,
The fugitive slave law is one OF the tavorite
h,I, a., /
to call your attention 10 The inevitable conse-
quenceS of their doctrine, Tor moment. This
is question OF obevng or disobeying the letter
of the Constitution, and The Republicans, or Alb
oltioniSts, u the nam, favor resistance. The
Constitution declares, that ''no person held to
service or labor in one State, under thr laws
thereof, escaping into another, shall, IL conse-
quence of aus law or regulation therein, be dis
charged from such service or labor, but shall be
delivered up on claim Of the party 10 whom
such service labor may be due" These are
very explicit terms. They furnish a distinct
guara,5ter to the citizens Of the slave-holding
States, that the fugitive should be returned, and
made it the clear duty of Congress to devise
means TO carry out tht condition. The lnIon
is the offspring Of the Constitution. The two
are inseparabe. The former could not survive
the destruction OF the latter Nor can the Con-
stitution be maintained in part, and disregarded
in part. 1t must be respected as whole
Those who resist the letter of any part of the
Constitution, virtually repudiates the whole
and those who do this, rebel against the Union
and, doing this, are reckless OF the true welfare
Of both races, aud ofmankind generally. Those
who eXclaim against the law with so much We
hemenc~ should remember that it is the crea-
ture of The Constitution, and whilst II may not