Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-08
Abolitionism Explained--No. S.
POLITICAL HONOR AND GOOD FAITH.

With regard to those portions of the Federal
Constitution which are supposed to favor Slave
ry, Dr. Bailey says, g Would it be fair or hon.
orable-would it be acting in good aith-for
the possessors of Federal power to ignore the
palpable meaning of these clauses of the Con-
stitution and their history? Could they ex-
ercse the power of the Government for the
overthrow of Slavery, against the wishes of the
States, without repudiating the conditions on
which the States became members of the
Union - The clauses the " palpablc mean
ing" of which the Doctor is so fortunate as
to discover through history, and whose mean
ing, he seems to believe, would have been more
palpable, had not the people been ashamed of
it, express, or rather disguise certain intentions
favorable to slavery. The preamble of the
Constitution, on the other hand, clearly states,
without reserve or limitation, other intentions
favorble to justice and liberty Here, then,
are two classes of intentions in mortal conflict.
They cannot both be carried into effect Swear
ing to support one would be swearing to defeat
the other. We are compelled to choice.
Which shall we take ? The clearly stated in
tentions are in harmony with right, those dis
gulsed are atrociously and cruelty wrong. Dr.
Baiiey's argument is at least as good for the
right as for the wrong. An Important legal
rule requires an instrument to be SO interpreted
as to carry out the intentions stated in the
preamble. Shareholders, knowing this. assisted
in framing preamble which expressed a. de-
sire to establish justice for the people of tho
United States and secure to themselves and pos
terity the blessings of liberty. Slaves are yeo-
pie of the United States, and very large por-
ton of them are the posterity of those very
shareholders who said they desired to secure for
them the blessings of liberty The people,
trusting in the good faith of Shareholders and
verify believing they intended to abolish slaves
ry in no great length of time, adopted a Con-
stitution which promised justice and liberty,
without word about slavery. Now "would
| it be fair and honorable, would it be acting In
good faith, for Shareholders who are fond of
being the possessors of Federal power, to ig-
more the palpable meaning of the preamble
and provisions of liberty and justice which
they have sanctioned The Constitution is in
terms an Instrument of justice and right.
| Will honorable men who have shared in framing
or adopting such an Instrument, fly off from its
fair and obvious meaning on tho plea that they
had intentions which they blushed to have APP
pear in it Justice is as much promised to
the slave by the Constitution as to any Others.
Can honor and good faith tolerate breach Of
the promise The Federal Government is un-
derstood to be bound, when required, to sup
press a slave instruction. Can that Govern.
ment be bound in honor to suppress an insur.
rectton without being bound to prevent JUS
causes of insurrection, by securing to all, theil
just rights ?
The above is substantially part of a reply tt
DR.. Bailey, offered some time ago for his owl
paper and rejected |. SMITH.