Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-12-02
From the Nashville News, 18th inst
The Truth of History.

The Union and american "most unhcsatingy, earnest
ly and emphaical denies that there have been iberal
and enlightened statesmen in the South, who regarded
tho existence Of slavery among defect bemish"
in system OF government ana cites the simple state
Of this fact by Mr. Bell as evidence of his unsound-
On Tuesday, we proved by ofGen washngtons let
ers that he regarded the instuon as so great an evil
and bcmsh that he would have rgOieed to use his own
words in any feasible scheme TO get rid oft.
To-day shall show that James Madison also regarded
it as very great "deiect bcmis perpetual source
of pedkHsss in our system.
the Federal Constitution 7S9) Mr.. Parker, representa-
tive from Virginia, moved to amend the tariff bill by in
sertinga clause imposing duty OF ten dollars on every
slave imported.
In speech made by Mr. Madison in support OF Parkers
motion, he said
'sThe eonouuding men with merchandise might be eas
ly ayoited by altering the title Of the bill; twas, in fact
the rery object OF the motion to prevent men, so far as the
power Of Congress extended from being coniounded with
merchandise The clause in the Constitution allowing
tax TO he imposed though the traffic could not be prohib
for twenty years. inserted he believed the Uerg
purpose Of enabling Congress to give some testimony of
the sense America with respect to the African trade.
y expressing national disapprOpaOn of that trade il
Is hoped may destroy it, and ourselves from
nroarhes and OBr Doster from the IMBEcIrY eper at
iendamt on country fled Nth slaUes This much
the interest ofSouth Carolina and Georgia of any State
Every addition they received TO their number Of slaves
tended 10 weakness and rendered them less capable Of self
defense In Of fhnsaies with foreign nations their
slave population would be MEANS not OF repeng invas-
/ ion, but of inviting attack.
t was the duty Of the general government to protect
every part the Union against danger well internal
external Everything, therefore which tended to Rereast
that danger though might be local affair yet II II in
voved national expense safety became Of concern tC
every part of the Unon and proper subject of consdera
ton Of those charged with the general administration o.
| the government"
! Parker, who made the motion, and who, we have al
ready said representative from Virginia. among 9th
er things said;
"The gentleman from Connecticut has said that human
beings ought not To be numbered with goods
merchandise. Yet he believed that they looked up
on by African traders in that light lie hoped Congress
would do all in their power to restore to human nature il
iRhereHt Prirsgesi to wipe o Il possible the stigm
under which America abored To do away the incOnsisen
cy in our principles justly charged upon and to shoy
by actions the pure benideenee Of the doctrine he'll
out to the world In our Declaration ofIndependence"
| Page, another representative from Virginia, in tn
course Of discussion the subject Of slavery, said h
lived In State which had The mig0rtuHe to have In he
bosom great number ofsayes, and that she held man
himself"
May we appeal to the Union and AmericGn's eando
and magnanmity confess its error and TO admit tina
Mr. Bell uttered but simple historical truth when he sal
that "ibeTa and Intelligent statesmen In every part Of IN
world have regarded the existence of slavery among
'as defect or blemish' in system of government