Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-28
From the Richmond IVA ;, Enquirer.
TIE True Issue.

| The democrats of the South in the presen
canvass cannot rely on the old grounds OF
defence and excuse for slavery; for they seek
not merely to retain it,Ohsrs ii is, but to ertsad
it into regions srhsre il is unknoWn. Much
less can they rely on The mere constitutional
guarantees of slavery, for such reliance is
pregnant with the admission that slavery is
wrong. and but for the constitution should
be abolished This constitutional argument
for slavery, standing alone, fully justifes the
abolitionists. They are clearly right if
slavery be morally wrong, for to get rid of
it under the constitution, or by amending
the constitution, is confessedly impractic-
able.
In truth the constitution cannot help
slavery, if it be violation Of the laws of
God and of morality. In that case, the con-
stituton should be changed, or the free states
should secede, rather than continue to guar
anty wha; they consider immoral and pro-
| fame. The constitution cannot help slavery
for another reason. That institution, ex-
tending through fifteen states, and inter-
ramified with the interests, the feelings,and
the very existence of many millions of mHn
is much stronger than the constitution. 1t
would be far easier to change or violate the
constitution, than to abolish slavery. Be-
sides, slavery is elder than the constitution,
existed before it, and independently Of it
We derive no right to our slaves from it,
and weaken our cause by seeming to rely on
it.
Nor will it avail US aught to show that
the negro is most happy and best situated
in the condition of slavery. IF we stop
there, we weaken our cause by the very ar
gument intended to advance it; for se pro-
pose TO introduce into RcIo territory human
beings Dbom ICE assert to Be unfit for liberty,
self government, and equal association with
other men. we must go step farther. We
must show that African slavery is, moral,
religious, natural. and probably, in the gen.
eral, necessary institution Of society. This
is the only Lins Of argument tina: will enable
southern democrats to maintain the doc
trines of state equality and slavery extern
sion.
For ii Slavery be not a legitimate, useful,
moral, and srpedient institution, ,rs cannot.
StHtOSs JcpIOV ~ COISStcHtc uto ttc Ot1sh ~
shame, seek 10 srtsnd 1t, or assert our equality
scih those States having no such Institution.
Nerths: Democrats need not go thus far.
Theg do not SEEK to srtsnd Slavery, but only
agree to its extension, as a mailer of right on
our part. They may prs'e' their own go
cial system to ours. 1t is best that they
should. Our friends are conservatives at
home, and conservatives of the UniCn-con-
SENTATIVE of religion, of marriage, of pro-
perty. of state institutions, and Of federal
Institutions But whilst thsy may prefer
their Owr social system, they will have to
admit in this canvass that ours is also righ:-
tQl aid legitimate, and sanctioned alike by
the opinions and usages of mankind, and by
The authority and express injznctiOns Of Scrip
lure. They cannot consistently maintain
that slavery is immoral, inexpsdent aud
profane. and yet continue to submit to its
We know that we utter bold truths. But
the time has now arrived when their utter
ance can be no longer postponed. Tae true
issue should stand out so boldly osd c1sar!y that
none my m istake 1t.