Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-04-29

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I In 1884, Mr.. Jefferson, 10 carry for
ward the doctrines avowed in 1875, in
troduced his proposition into Congress
| TO consecIate forever all the territory
ther owned by the United States and
such as should thereafter be acquired 10
liberty.
In 1885. Mr. King of Massachusetts,
actuated by the same desire, proposed
the immediate and total prohibition of
Slavery in our Western territories. Vir-
ginia with the two Carolinas voted against
the proposition. and thus gave clear in
dications of their intended apostacy to
the doctrine of 1776. But in 1897 the
ordinance for the government of onr
Northwestern territories was adopted,
forever prohibiting slavery therein.
Before the assembling of the Conven-
ton to frame the Constitution, Delaware,
by statute, prohibited the descendants Of
sId0es from voting in that Stale, but in no
respect did any State intimate an inten-
ton TO take from the colored people their
rights as flee citizens. If any other State
than South Carolina and Delaware had
even deprived them Of the right of suf-
frage, have been unable to ascertain
the fact: But | assert that when the
/ Constitution was framed and when it was
adopted. the laws of every State, the
courts of every State in the Union, re
garded free blacks as free citizens, enti-
tied to the same protection of life, liberty
and property as free white citizens. The
courts Of every State were open TO them
for the redress of grievances in the same
manner as they were open to white citi
zens. They sued their white neighbors
and were sued by them, and never in
any State was the complexion of suitor
enquired into for the purpose of deter.
mining his rights. In your own State,
in North Carolina, in New York, Penn
silvania and New England they voted
with the whites and enjoyed the same
rights and privileges. and in all the
States they enjoyed precisely the same
privileges as the poor whites who did not
possess sufficient property 10 entitle them
! TO vote.
In the Constitutional Convention no
motion was made, no proposition was
presented, nc intimation or desire was
expressed to disfranchise the free black,
or TO throw around him any disqualified
ton, or draw any distinction between
the rights of the people on account Of
color. But in the amendments, when
Virginia proposed TO declare the tights
Of all free men to life, liberty and prop
erty, the proposal was repudisted and
the memorable words mo person shall be
deprived of life, liberty or property"
were substituted. Thus, Sir, The same
spirit, and the same intention TO secure
ali men in the enjoyment of life, liberty
and property, which inspired the Con-
gress of 1774. which were again plo-
claimed in I776, repeated by that body
ia 1888, re repeated in 1875, and in 1887
again found utterance in the Convention
that framed the Constitution. The action
OF those several Congresses and Of the
Convention were in perfect harmony
All ccncurred in erecting government,
and in consecrating its functions to secure
all persons under its exclusive iurisdic-
tion in The enjoyment of life, liberty and
property.
You deny these vital principles; you
have adopted the doctrines of those who
opposed our Independence, who denied
that all men we've entitled to live, to en-
Joy that liberty which is necessary to
protect and maintain life. The Supreme
Court of the United States has thus be
come the citadel Of those who sustain
the doctrines held BY the Tories; but re-
pudiated by the patriots of the revOlu-
tion. VIII the people of this day per-
nit the government framed by our faith
ers, and consecrated by all the hallowed
recollections which cluster around the
memories Of our revolutionary heroes,
to be overthrow, and its Constitution
perverted 10 rob men of life, Of liberty
and of happines?
Very respectfully,