The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-07-24
TIE NEW CONSTITUTION.

TIE NEW CONSTITUTION.
We have given our readers this document in
the last wonumbcrs ofthe Tines AS before re-
ma KIDD thee arc many things in the new in.
strumcnt which we would bc glad to sec ing aft
ed on the old, but as whole we esteem the
late article no improvement on the present Or
ganic law of the State, and he nee we shall vote
against it.
1t is cha:g d by many of our contemporaries
that it was the design of the frameis of the
New Constit ton to bring the laws of Iowa in
conflict with those of the u. s., and particularly
is this the CHS, in relation to the execution of
the Fug tive Slave Law. If this was their de-
81 n, and the language will fairly bear this con-
| struct:on, 1t WIS very silly move on the part
of the assembled constitutional wisdom
| Of tie State of Iowa, and it will be
| still moro silly for a poop'c deriving SO many
blessings fom tie Union, to deliberately vote
denial of the Obligations they are under for the
enjoyment of these advantages. H,w flu lie
too, the cfso:t to resist the authorities of the
general government A defeat of the Federal
Law when enacted according to the forms, and
in harmony wi h the tenor of the Constitution
Of the L. S ), will bc the opening event in an
era of anarchy that must lie fatal to US as States
and communities. Even the very ''hce dis-
crssion" of the pull it and the forrm as to sour
duty to obey law that may con4i with our
indi ,idlal o, inions," is BEARING its legitimate
fruits in the Riots that unhap; lily ar, els rae
ing our country not only in the w!lds of Kansas,
but in cities emin mt for their wealth, their
schools end their colleges, their churches and
the high mental and moral attainme,ts of their
citizens.
Shall Iowa add to tn, mol spirit already rifc
in her oldest neis h orhocds, by solemn re-
pudia.ion of her duty as one of the members Of
the conf deracy, because PORTION Of her citi-
zcps have become 80 sensitive as 10 be unal le
to o,ey any law except that of "cons2icnca o.
We sincerely trust that TO such recorded folly
viii be reported of US after the lst Monday in
August. If the State in her sovereign capacity
says we will observe TIE national charter only
SO far as it sui's the latitude and longitude. the
moral and Official ro.icns of Iowa, with what
weight of influence can she demand of one of
her humblest c:tizens any farther obedience to
her laws than that which may acco:d with his
notions of right and wrong. Authority may not
always be ayr. ecble to observe. but we can have
no security individual or national without it,,
and after the first sweet impulse of unccndi-
tional freedom is enjoyed, we will turn with
anxiety to the contemplation Of the dangers
which our free but unprotected situation
brings with it. We can have no liberty with
out law, because the arm of the ruffian would
soon DERIVE us of the one. if the other were
not ever present to defend us. We osn have
no law unless individual opinion observes that
which the masses have decided to be the best
rule of action for the government of the
whole.
The New Constitution, by admission of its
friends. aboishes all distinctions as to the color
or character of witnesses in our court of law
This We regard as so very Objectionable as to
be mentioned only to meet ready condo nina
ton from every man who refuses to see crimi-
mails OR other degraded persons occupy the wit
ness stand. We confess to love for the Ires-
ent rules on the sulj ect of witnesses qualifca-
tions. If man has been convicted of perjury
or other infamous crime, we, as a juror, would
not want to hear him speak in a matter involv
ing the interests of single haman b; ing-hc
is out-lawed and politically is no more man
Neither are we so tcnder-hecrted towards the
colored races as to render our laws more ndul-
gent to them than they now are. We are sorry
for the negro, lut our S. mpathy does not cause
{ us to regard him as competent to bear the
political res; disabilities of an American citizen
nor a.e we content to lisk the effect of an abro-
CATION of distinctions Of color" when Mexico
and the Central American States present such
nournful Evidences of the utter imIracticabil.
| ity of sustaining government based upon the
recognition Of all races as co-pa:tners.
If the Republican party of Iowa desire tc
invite a coloed emigration ard fill cur towns
!, and villages with class of persons who mus
ever remain socially degraded, they can etfec.
tually secure that object by Offering the Iremi.
uns for black citizens which this New Consti.
tuition and its separate aati-,c]ite codicil EN-.
| bodies. There is no man of our acquaintance
be his politics Republican or Democratic, who
: desires to see negroes come among us-th'
blishting effect of such people Upon the portion
} Of village which they occupy, has teen wit
/ messed by all in older statcs,-wby invite then
here by the adoption OF laws lacing them il
situations more fatterng than they can attai.
! in other states? Canada is now grooming rnde
: the ineu' US Of large negro neighborhoods, ant
) her enlightened statesmen are seeking to efiec
some governmental arrangement by which he
; territory may te relieved of their presence
, Let Iowa extend the hand of ILL ed sym
pathy to them and it will not be twelve month
before villages will Re spotted with "negr
quarters" and an indole mt mass of ebony citizen
! who will Hight any town they settle in. W
all know this to be true, and yet there are ne
J paper conductors so sick with mawkish sent:
mentality as to urge the roplicty of throwing
! open the doors Of our Political tenn, lie to lib
iEdiscriminate admission of any thing that tear
! resemblance in shape 10 the Caucasian race
! We thank God that We have not forgotten fo
whom and ly whom the American Fabric G
Consti utional Freedom was rea"ed!
Much Obliged.
81 We are indebted to that skiing of good fcl
lows and Democratic Hoos err chum of on,
1 E. ELLIS CAMPBELL ESQ.,, Of Valparaiso, Ind
| flpa cf fta IF