Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-02-18

tween heaven and hell, uncertain in
which they viii finally land. laugh
ter pity them. From my soul l pity
the man, the being, who dare not avow
his principles. who is afraid to utter the
judgment that God has given him. -
approve the bolduess of that leading
Democrat of the Senate, who had the
courage to stand up in the other end of
the Capitol. and proclaim to the world
that these doctrines of Jefferson, and
Franklin, and their compatriots, were
Sc + eyideat lies.'' If man commit
crime, 1 like to see him do it boldly. 1t
appears that his constituents have PER-
mitted him to retire TO private life.
That was right; yet if he were honels
if sincere in his aFoEal, It was his duty
to say so, and not deceive his constitu-
ents by silence. Other distinguished
Senators of the Democratic party were
present, and by their silence gave tac-
it assent 10 the SANDER. Not one of
them uttered word of disapproval.
In this Hall. at our last session, we
listened to speech from the gentleman
from Georgia, I Mr.. STEPHENS, 10 show
that Slavery, and not Liberty. was the
declared will Of Heaven toward part of
mankind.
Here. at this starting point. the two
great parties of the country separate.
1t is on this fundamental truth, "Mat
al men possess the inGliena5le rjjghs to
E61y" Separating on this primal doc
trine, it is impossible for US to agree up
on any collateral question in which the
rights of mankind are involved.
These rights being expressed in Ian
guage so plain, SO obvious, so just, so
forcible, were well understood by the
men of that age. Accordingly, when
the Convention which framed The Con-
stitution met. they bore with them the
full and perfect understanding, "ihat
Governments were constituted among
men to scestrs these rights Of life. H5erty,
and happiness. y to ali under their jufis-
dicIion.- .TakiHgAhesa.-assla
and purposes of'GoSernmenls for their
guide, they ordained that "no person
shall be deprived Of life liberty. or prop
eyty. sgithort due process of lasO.'' .
This portion of the Constitution we
are bound to support. Fhe gentleman
from South Carolina Mr.. KEIrT and
myself, and every member of this body,
have often sworn that "no person.
where Federal laws have force, where
this Constitution extends. "sAaH be de,
priVsd Of lys, liberty or property, scithou
dae process Of laW." That oath vii
observe and ho!d sacred; chat oath will
be carried out BY every true Republican,
by every true american, by every pa
triot. 1 need not say that due process
of law has reference TO proceeding il
courts of competent jurisdiction, upor
prosecutions regularity before them
As, il man commit murder, or piracy
or treason. he may be charged with lh
offence, arrested, indicted, tried, con
yicted, and sentenced, then By due pro
cess of law he is 10 be executed and de
prived of life. If he commits rob5erI
or larceny, he may in the same manne
be indicted, tried, convicted, and sen
Ftenced to imprisonment, and thus b.
due process of law he may be deprivet
of liberty; and for minor offences b
may be fined and deprived of property
But, sir, in no other way, outside of th
several States of this Union, can an,
individual, however humble, be consti
tulionally deprived of life, liberty, O
property. Nor can such individual b
deprived of either of those rights, ex
cept by violation of the Constitution
and violation of the natural rights c
mankind, which our Constitution wa
intended to secure.
Ny heart swells with emotions @
gratitude TO God, and respect for tb
memories of those who founded on
Government and framed our Constitu
tion, when l reflect that these rights I
life, liberty, and property, are thus Sc
cured by the laws of God and the su
pIeme law of our Government TO a
men; to the humble and the exalted, tn
poor and the rich, the illiterale and tn
learned; the man of dark complexion. {
light complexion, and of mixed complex
ion; that all who bear the image of God
whose countenacces are lighted with i'm
mortality, are thus secured IN The enjoy
ment of their natural and inalieuabl
| rights.
. 1t is true the Constitution does nc
give us The power to enter With
the State Jurisdictions, and legislate fc
the freedom of slaves held under Stat
laws; nor does the Constitution provid
t even that free blacks shall be allowe
to vote or hold Office; but it does provid
/; that outside of the State Jurisdiction
t wherever our Federal laws and Federi
: power extend. their iiUss, their li6srtie
and their property, shall be secured: ThI
r no tyrant hand shall enslave, rol
scourge, and brutalize Gods image
That the right of self defence, that fir
principle in Natures law, shall not |
taken from any human being: That 1
: pirate hand shall be permitted to tai