Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-08


vate Interpretation but is designed to be known
and read of all men, And being written in
plain English is far more ineligible to the mass
of mankind, than tho constructions that have
been put upon it or the compromises that have
been substituted for it. 1t is its own best inter-
prefer 1t means just as it reads and SO it
must be understood. 1t cannot be so construed
as to sustain Slavery without gross perversion
OF its language. The Preamble clearly and
uncquivocally sets forth all the purposes for
which it was ordained and established.
g We the people of the United States, in
order to form more perfect union, es tablish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
Tor the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure tho blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity do ordain and
establish tins Constitution for the United States
Of America
Here isno mention of slaves. And yet if itwere
neoi the purposes to be sustained, here was the
place FORTS insertion. Notonlyso but all the pur
poses forwhich the Constitution was ordained and
established as here set forth are against it 50 that
should they be carried out to the legitimate
end, the entire abolition of Slavery would fol-
low. 1t will appear therefore that the Pream-
bic which is the door of entrance to the Con,
sttntion is effactually barred against the admis-
sion of Slavery. IF therefore it has formed ad-
mission, it must have been through some other
way, and this scripture be fulfilled in relation
to it {" He that cntereth not by the door into
the sheop-fold but climbeth up some Their way
the same is thief and robber.'
Some who have examined the Constitution
with o view to ascertain the facts in the case.
have reported that although they have not clear
ly and distinctly discovered Slavery therein yet
they are of the opinion that it does exist there;
that it is somewhere lurking about the prem
ises !; and if search were only made in certain
localtiesit might be found-not however in it's
own native garb but as :: wolf in Sleeps cloth
ing" These localities that is such of them as
are the most strongly suspected we shall endeay-
or to examine.
Article LIST. Sec H. Clause 8. Representa-
tves and direct taxes shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be admit
ted into the Union, according to their respective
numbers, which shall be determined by adding
to the whole number of free persons including
those bound to service for term of ten years,
and excluding Indians not taxed, three ifths Of
all other persons.
Upon the latter part of this clause there ev-
identity rests general suspicion so much SO that
it is generally believed that three ffths of all
other persons - GO means slaves" But more
absurd conclusion could hardly be arrived at.
There is no rate of Interpretation that will
admit of such Constitution. 1t means just as
it reads &C three ffths of all the persons - and
so it was intended to mean. The trainers of
the Constitution knew what they were about
and they knew the meaning of words. If they
had meant slaves, they would have said So
But they said and meant persons in contradls-
tnction of slaves. They were evidently intent
on guarding the Constitution against every APP
proach of the slave power. And in doing
this, manifested the greatest discretion. Thew
knew very well that Slavery existed in the
country and in forming basis of representa-
ton were careful to avoid every expression
which might be construed SO as to give to that
g institution a Constitutional sanction. Hence
originated the phrase that three ffths of all
E other persons by which it was clearly indica-
Gated that the people thus designated were Con-
stitutionally entitled to their freedom, though
now forcibly deprived of it. As no person
could be Constitutionally deprived of life, lib.
erty, or property, without due process of law. -
Which they had never had. Nor is there any
just ground of complaint that this class of peo.
pie under the circumstances should be allowed
a representation for had it been otherwise i
would have been observed by men in high
places that this class of people have no Consti
tutional rights such as white people are bound
to respect. 1t is admitted that this representa-.
ton increases the political power of the State,
where this class of people are situated but il
does not of necessity that of the Shareholder
within these States Most people have sup
posed the contrary that the Constitution die
actually guarantee this representations g thret
ffths of all other persons " to the shareholders
So that in exercising the elective franchise the,
r were allowed to cast three votes for every fv,
u slaves. But this evidently is mistake, No
. is there any ground for such sentiment other
+ wise than on tho supposition that the. slave
y holders are majority of the people, which i
:, far from being the case. According to the las
f census the number Of people in the slave
holding states exclusive of slaves, was six mil
e lion four hundred and six thousand six bundre,
: and five, of whom only three hundred and for
. ty-seven thousand five hundred and twenty-fy
a were shareholders. The majority against tn
It shareholders being more than seventeen to one
: or about enc hundred to six. A majority W
q should think sufficient for all practicable pun
n poses. Nevertheless we are compelled to ADM
IS that the shareholders can rule and have every
T. thing their own way, this numerical maiorit
% availing nothing. The non-slavc-holdcrs thoug
+ reputed as nominally 50 have really no NOR
n political authority than the veriest slaves.
n The slave-holding States instead of being r,
"a publican 50 that the majority can vote, are il
c fact but so many 0ligarchies, exercising a 90,
s. eminent more oppressive and not less dcspoti
re than that of the Autocrat of Russia But thu
!. it is 50 is not the fault of the Constitution.
n has indeed provided better things for the peopI
!, who instead of asserting their rights and mai,
h tanning them have bded with the slave-holde,
V against the slave, and at a just retributio
4 have procured their own depreciation. So tru
1T is that as We mete to others 80 it shall |
it measured to us again.