Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-12-26

From the Washingt on Union, the Central Democratic
sorgan, Nov. II, 1857.
The primary object of all government
in its original institution, is the protection
of person and property. 1t is for this
lalone that men surrender a portion of their
natural rights.
In order that this object may be fully
accomplished, it is necessary that this pro-
lection should be equally extended to all
classes Of free citizens without exception.
This, at least, is a fundamental principle
of the constitution of the United States,
which is the original compact on which all
our institutions are based.
Slaves were recognized as property in
the British colonies of North America by
the government of Great Britain, by the
colonial laws and by the constitution Of the
United States. Under these sanctions
vested rights have accrued to the amount
Of some sixteen millions of dollars. IL is.
therefore, the duty o~fcongress or state leg
tsiatures to protect that property.
The constitution declares that "the cit
liens of each state shall be entitled to all
the privileges and immunities of citizens
in the several states. Every citizen
of one state coming into another state, has,
therefore, a right to the protection OF bis
property which is recognized as such by
the constitution of the United States, any
lear Of a state to the contrary, notWith-
stand;ag. So far from any state having a
right to deprive him Of his property it is
its bounden duty to protect him in its pos
session.
If these views are correct-and we be-
llieye it would be difficult to inyalidate
them--it follows that all state lars, aoAeth-
err organic or otherwise, which prohibit a
citizen of one state from settling in anoth-
er, and IN bringing his sla0e property wih
him, and most especially declaring 1t for
feited, are direct violations Of the original
Intentions of a government which, as be-
fore stated, is the protection of person and
property, and Of the constitution of the I'm
tied States, which recognizes property in
l~slaves and declares that "the citizens of
each state shall be entitled to ali thu priv
Iileges and i%mmunities of citizens in the
several states" among the most essential
of which is the protection of person and
property.
What is recognized as property by the
constitution of the United States,by a pro
vision which applies equally to all the
Estates. has an inalienable right to be pro
tected in all the states. lifts introduction
is obnoxious or offensive to the prevailing
sentiment of the people Of a state, there is
~reason 10 presume a citizen Of any other
state will intrude it in opposition to the
sentiment and will thus subjoct hims2lfto
all the notifications and i'll Offices which
inevitably fall to those who are al variance
with their ~neighbors. There is, :hen, no
necessity for laws prohibiting their intro
duction, and the prohibition is a gratui-
tous insult. The public sentiment is a SUI
i.cient guarantee. If the field were ever
so open, there is rot the least Likelihood that
a southern planter would go and settle
with his slaves in the northern section OF
the United States, where they would be
more than worthless as property their pos
session a source of eternal vexation, and
their support an intolerable burden. There
never has been, to Our knowledge, and
probably never will be, an instance Of this
kind.