Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-01
Aholitionism Explained---No. 4.

POLITICAL HONOR AND GOOD FAITH.
Why did not the blush of shame or sense Of
wrong which prevented the explicit statement
in the Constitution of intentions favoring Slave
ry, prevent also their taking effect as a part of
that Instrument The following extract from
Goodloe's preface to The Southern Platform is,
think, o fair expression of the national SEN
timcnt which answers this question 1.-The po-
siton of Washington on this question would
form the true compromise at the present day.
His humanity, his beneyolence, his sense of JUS
tice and expediency were all on the side of
emancipation, at the earliest practicable period,
and yet his fidelity to his political obligations
constrained him, while the institution should
last, to maintain the State sovereignty which
guarded it from illegal interference"
In harmony with this quotation, the National
Era of September Is, 1856, insists on Fed
eral obligation of honor and good faith to res
pect those constitutional provisions intended to
shield Slavery. I confess lack intelligence to
understand political obligation which forbids
a government to protect all the people within
its limits in their just rights. am too dull
to see how States, pledged by confederation to
Justice and liberty, can in honor and good
faith, retain rights against the objects for
which they are confederated. But dull as |
am, | can see some remarkable things relating
tothis sah;sft,. In the first place, it is remark
able thas~his fnciad obligation of honor and
good faith is in favor of u system, tho whole
training Of which leads to faithlessncss. The
habtual violation of faith by the Slave interest
is just what might be expected. On what
ground can VIC expect fidelity to constitutional
obligations from men who constantly disregard
the higher obligations of natural justice?
Another thing remarkable about this obliga-
ton of honor and good faith, is its supernat-
ural tenacity Of life. The Federal Constitution
is a political contract, binding on the same
principles with other cantracts In common
contracts, party violating the terms, forfeits
the rights and absolves other parties from obi
cations to the party thus violating. But it
seems to be the singular privilege of slave
holders to violate the Constitution freely with
out impairng either right or obligation. They
even extend their rights by violation. The Ma
tionol Era of the date aforementioned, main
tanned both that the Constitution requires the
rendition of fugitive slaves, and that it forbidt
the extension of Slavery beyond the orignaI
slave States. Yet in contending for rendition
it makes no exception in favor of slaves cscap
Gaping from States where Slavery has been ex
tended by a breach of constitutional faith
Mr.. Seward, if mistake not, and other dstn
guished statesmen hold to the unconstitutional
ity Of Slavery extension, but seem not to MAKE
the discovery that the eaistenceof Slavery is un
constitutional wherever its c1tcqsion is So LIE
the hated system 60 where it will against tn
Constitution, it Immediately becomes invested
with constitutienality and gets under the eve
widening shield of honor and good faith anC
State Sovereignty, where none but fanatca
Abolitionst daras to touch 1t. |. SMITH.