Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-03-04

. Constitution, so that when Slavery Snouiu
cease to exist in the States, there would be
no evidence in that instrument that it had
ever existed at all? And now, this in
strument, SO instinct with the spirit of
! Freedom, so abhoring the idea of property
in man, that it would not be polluted with
the word slave, slavery, or servitude, even,
this Constitution is assumed, by its own
inherent force, without any express law or
Legislative sanction whatever, to carry hu-
! man chattelism into the Territory of Kan
sas, and if into the Territory of Kansas,
into the ,Staie of Kansas; for what right
has Kansas, or any other State, to adopt a
constitution that contradicts OF invalidates
the Constitution of the United States? If
i the slave owner holds his slave in Kansas
by q tenure derived from the Constitution,
would like to know what power can take
j itaway? Ifa new State forms a constitu-
ton with clause prohibiting slavery, and
comes and asks admission into the Union
with such an organic law, it must be sent
back with mandate to strike out the pro-
hbitory clause, as being contrary to the
Federal Constitution This has at last
been settled by the highest judicial tribunal
in the land. And it is mystery to Presi-
dent Buchanan how any one ever could
:. doubt it. Under this doctrine, carried to
its logical results, no moro free States
could ever be added to the Union. Proa
lpuaori To this complexion it must come
at last. To this complexion it has come
already. The question now is, whether the
country shall be the home Of freedom or
the lair of slavery; whether the despotisln
Of the fetter and the scourge shall WELD
the scepter, and liberty be driven into
lexile. .olftI - fs-gf-ifI fra.itr.E
But still farther as to this property prin-
ciple. If human beings are property, as is
now claimed, why has Federal legislation
declared the slave trade piracy?., is it pi-
racy to go to the coast of Africa and trade
in elephants teeth, or in palm oil, or is
any other article of commerce that may be
produced there? If this property claim is
correct, then this law is unjust, and ought
to be repealed, unless it is to be considered
in the light of protective tariff to en-
courage and promote slave breeding at
home.
More than this: how often is it that when
slave owners lie down upon the death couch
and look the future in the face, they eman-
cipate their slaves? How often do they do
it as a reward for some heroic achievment?
Did you ever hear OF men emancpating their
cattle in their last will and testament
Do they ever bcqucath freedom to their
swine? or extend that precious boon to a
Newfoundland dog that has rescued child
from a watery gravel ea90HE9fg
Besides, to whom belong all the stray
cattle that are without owners in this coun-
try? There is certainly a goodly herd OF
them. How many millions of dollars
worth have not the means at hand Of es-
timating accurately. Perhaps at the in
stance of the President the Chief justice
would enter up judgment against them
and issue a capias. They have no rights
that are to be regarded. They are proper
ty, and all property ought to have an
owner. They would bring goodly sum,
hard as are the times, enough to go far to-
wards carrying Pennsylvania for second
term. But | meant to be serious, and
will. a 8is
have no patience with these aLhorrent
Il
ments, which claim property in man,
Such claims are an insult to the intelligence,
the Christianity, aud the civilization of the
age. -aoar 9le.s r,r'a
have final objection to urge against
slavery, and much more against its ex-
pansion. 1t lies across our country's glory
and destiny. ro. s.su arsfI ~
Century after century rolled over the
world, nav, whole decades of centuries
wore wearily away in earth's history, and
the dogma gained universal prevalence and
belief that kings ruled by right divine. =
Del gratia TS.s, was engraved on their coin.
This dogma was by education incorporated
into the common faith and acquired all the
strength of a religious principle and all
the ardor of devotional sentiment. i
need not recite the unhappy results that
flowed to mankind from the prevalence of
this dogma. Monarchs welded scepter
Of iron. The masses were deemed Of no
value, only as they could minister to the
lust, power, or ambition Of the ruling class.
The Government was not made Tor them,
but they for. the Government Their
blood saturated the soil, and their bones
enriched it. They had no rights that
kings were bound to regard. But the reci-
tai Of the woes and wrongs inflicted and en-
dured under the supremacy ofthis notion of
the Divine right OF kings would be an In
imitable story--it would indeed be his
tory Of the human race during the cycles
Of ages that they have inhabited, the globe
Heaven and earth became alike weary of
this state Of things. The period arrived
when the Great Ruler would introduce a
new theory Of government. The curtain
was to roll up and exhibit new act in
earths drama. America was the theatre
where this manifestation was to be matle.-
The old pilgrim barks, borne as if by a mir
acle over the angry ocean, came, freighted
with the elements of new political, life.
and the germ Of new national organiza-
tion. How they planted themselves at
jamestown and at plymouth you know
How they struggled on in their colonial de-
pcndence against. forest and savage, and
4 British aggrcssions you need not be told
Then came the crisis Of our fate! !. Our
ancestors, Cavalier and Roundhsad. and l
bless their memory, met that crisis man
fully, heroically. They came to the srevo-