Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-09-21

principles Of freedom and equal rights,
which were made the basis of the Ameri-
can Revolution, are utterly incompatible
with the odious despoism of negro slavery.
And not only that, but slavery WAS deemed
"dishonorable to the American character. :"
The idea that rblack men have no rights
which white men are bound to respect" !"
must certainly have been originated since
that speech was delivered. The attention
of fancy men is respectfully called 70 this
factiA sssisa. .aIiesg s..asz .,ssA.s, assl, sss.y
When the Constitutional Convention had
adjourned, Mr.. Martin made very full
report of its proceedings, in lengthy
speech before the Legislature Of his State.
In the course of the speech, he speaks of
slavery as follows '.1t was said that we
had just assumed place among independ-
ent nations, in consequence of our opposi-
ton to the attempts of Great Britain to
cnSlave as J. that this opposition was
rights to which God and nature had en-
titled, is not in particular, but in common
with the rest of mankind, that we had ap-
pealed to the Supreme Being for his assist
ance, as the God Of freedom, who could
not but approve our efforts opreserre the
rights which he had thus impaired 10 his
hay haA ~,
risen from our knees, fiom supplicating
his aid and protection, in forming our
Government over free people, Govern
ment founded pretendedty on tie principles
Of liberty, and for its presei walton, in that
Government, TO have a provision not only
putting il out Of it's power to restrain ana
preVem the slave trade, but even encour-
aging that most infamous traffic, by giving
the States power and influence i'll the Union
in proportion as they cruelty and wantonly
sport with the rights of their fellow-crea-
lures, ought to be considered as solemn
mockery of, and insult to, that God whose
protection we had there implored and
could not fail to hold us up in detestation,
and render as contemplate to every ty'us
friend Of liberty in tie acorld. 1t was said,
it ought to be considered, that National
crimes can only be, and frequently are.
punished in this world by National pun
ishments and that the continuance of The
Stare trade, and thus giving it a Nationa;
sanction and encouragement. ought TO be
considered as justly exposing us to the
displeasure of Him, who is equally Lord
of all, and soho piscs ac;M equui eye the
poor african slave, and his American
master.
II was urged that. by this system, we
were giving the General Government full
and absolute power to regulate commerce..
under which general power it would have
a right to restrain, or totally prohibit, the
slave trade it must therefore appear to
the world absurd and disgracefu!, to the
last degree, that we should except from the
exercise of that power the only branch of
commerce which is unjus:ifable in its
nature, and cOntrary to the RIGHTS OF
MANKIND, that on the contrary, we
ought rather to prohibit expressly, in our
Constitution.
The further importation of slaves and
to authorize tie General Government. from
time to time, to make such regulations as
Il. a. hf dy,an ntaTr for
the gradual abolition of slavery, and the
emancipation of the slaves which are al
ready in the States, that slavery is incon-
sistent with the genius of republicanism,
and has tendency to destroy those prin-
cioles on which it is supported, as it
lessons tile sense of the equal rights OF
mankind, and habituates US to tyranny and
oppression. 1t was further urged that,
by this system Of Government, every State
is to be protected both from foreign inva-
sion and domestic instructions that, from
this consideration, it was of the utmost
importance it should have power to re-
strain the importation Of slaves, SINCE IN
proportion as the number of slaves was
increased in any State, in the same pro-
norton the State is weakened and exposed
to foreign invasion or domestic insurrec-
tions and by SO much less will 1t be able
to protect itself against either; and there
fore will, by so much the more. want aid
from, and be burden to the Union. n
You will perceive, sir, not only chat the
General Government is prohibited from
interferiugi in the slave trade before the
year eighteen hundred and eight, but there
is no provision in the Constitution that it
shall afterward be prohibited, nor any
security that such prohibition will ever