Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-28
Written for the Green Mountain freeman.

Freeman Is truly refreshing to my Antl-olavery
soul Am clad to see the principles Of liberty
lourishing 80 luxnriantly in Vermont.
Our duty. on the great question of American
Slavery, is now uppermost in every mind. If
we admit that Slavery is morally wrong, that it
it heinous sin against God and man, then JUS
lice and righteousness should counsel us in all our
plans and direct us in every effort for its speedy
and entire destruction wherever it exists The
doctrine Of expediency has too long controlled
our counsels and misdireced our efforts. As
piring politicians and cxpounders of the Con-
situlion have seized upon this, and welded
powerful influence in preventing the masses
from acting upon the simple law Of justice and
Righteousness Whenever the question is agi-
tated, and the time for action draws nigh they
very gravey tell us that We must not interfere
with State rights; as though States havea con-
stitutional right to make and hold slaves
Then we have directed our efforts to limit its
extension, 10 coniine it where it was. hoping
that il would die out. But, like cancer, it
has all the while been eating deeper and deeper
and sending out its poison iangs, penetrating
every part of the body polite until . the whole
is head sick, and the whole heart faint" We
have bound it with compromises. How vain
were our hopes Like the " little horn . in
Daniels vision, :. having eyes and mouth
speaking great things" il has arose up, declar,-
IA -. /. o,,,,nnc,i,.l ;to l.r;,ns aud nraro; on
against freedom. We have behcld in wond( r
and astonishment the @sut; and again We eli
quire, what is our duty This is The question.
First, then, let us consider the old theory of
State rights, in its application to Slavery State
rights are defined in the Constitution. under
which the federal compact WIS formed. Under
tors claim the right to hold property in man
consequently the right of States to make their
laws in harmony with the doctrine that proper
tymay be held in man.
Now, if the Consultation recognizes the right
to property in man, then it follows that each
State has II right to frame its laws so as to re-
duce to Slavery all, over whom it has the po,cer
to enforce such laws Then it would be VIC
Iaton Of State rights, for the federal govern
ment to prohibit Slavery in the States where it
exists Or in any State where the people should
elect to have it. If then, have any right to
= hold property in man that right is secured to
l me in the Constitution, Gf it is not there, it is
nowherc,) and M one may interfere with that
: right. Ills is So cevidcut Then it is also
equally true that, if have tie right in onc
section Of the federal Union. | have the same
D right in any and every section Of the Union
. and no State has right to make q law to dc
/ priye me Of my property without giving me {
2 fair equivalent; and the Shareholder may bring
his slaves into airy State, and return at leisure
a with his human chattels.
I. Now deny that there sany legality in chat
tel Slavery any ,nhere Certainly it is not il
the Constitution but that document has been 81
often disseccd and commented upon, that ever.
It one is, or should be familiar with it.
Then if it is not lcgalizcd by the Constitution
II what right, | ask, has a State to enact law lie
/ Galizing Slavpryl Sucn law is a gross viol,
ton of the declaration of rights, and the Who'll
II tenor Of The Constitution That says g AL
t. men are created free ard equal, endowed wit
5 certain inalienablc rights, among wIichareiiR
1t liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness Thi
! is the corner stone upon which the whole fran
Is work of the Constitution rests. Hence no pa,
Of the Constitution can possibly be construed S
, as TO conflict with the above declaration; an
: every law in violation of this, is no law 1t
a lyranncal usurration of power, which n
. State has right to assume, and which ever
State is bound to resist.
Now, if the Constitution does not legaiz
Slavery, than the law that reduces man, ere
ated in the i'm re of God to a chattel, is illpga
and void. If this be true, then it follows tina
! Congress has the Constitutional power to abol
ish Slavery in every State where it exists, AM
prohibit it where it doos not exist Hence, q,
, effort to secure tho immediate abolition Of Slave
~ everywhere is not an interference with Stat
rights This believe to be the true doctrine
and every freeman ought to press Congress t.
exercise this Constitutional power Immediately
:, am glad that the Clergy, everywhere, ar
beginning to lift up their voice. like trumpet
to expose the errors Of the past, and show tn
people the unronsfiint'onality of Sarery, an
consequently he'r duty 10 demand If Congress
its immediate abolition. Tint his relic of heathen
ism and barbarity may not long curse our bcauii
fm country. A A. CONSTANTINE,
Meredith, Del. Co., ~ Y, Aug. l6, 1856.