Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-11-04
VOL. V. NO. al.

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of leader. is known to be absent in
Europe. and not likely to return for two
months yet; so is Mr.. Sumner; other
leading Republicans are hardly within
reach of the documents essential to
ycur systematic refutation. Yet it is
important that your mistatements Of facts
should be clearly exposed. even though
the task should devolve on one so far
from being leader. Though the pages
of Harper are shut against me, and those
who have read your monstrous perversion
Of History will never see their exposure,
| am impell.d to undertake the task, con-
6nins myself strictly to the historical fen.
lures Of your essay.
Your fundamental proposition is this
The genius and spirit of our free institu.
rions plainly require that the people of
a Territory should be enabled and en-
couraged to establish and maintain HUI.
man Slavery on the soil Of such Terrific
~. it they see fit. The Republicans de.
ny this, insisting that no Government
has any right to deprive innocent human
beings Of their liberty, accounting and
holding them the mere chat.els of others.
They deny the right OF any Territorial
Government TO establish or uphold
Slavery insisting that Congress is in
outy bound to prohibit and prevent any
such injustice and mischief in the Terri.
ksnries which are the common domain of
the whole American People. On this
main question,we are utterly and i recon-
cilably at variance. do not propose to
argue it, nor to revive your arguments
upon it, But you proceed to assert, aud
to make history uphold your assertion,
that Nur doctrine is that Of the Revolu-
tionsry Fathers-that the Revolution
was male in its behalf-,hat it was
paramount in the earlier and purer days
ofthe Republic. On this point | take
issue. and appeal to the indutitable re-
cords. Here is their testimony
The lXth Continental Congress, under
the Articles of Confederation, assembled
a: Philadelphia. Nov. 8. 1888. but ad-
journed next day to Annapolis, Md,
where 1t was to have rt convened ON the
25,h, but quorum was not obtained
until Dec. 18Th, and the attendance con-
tinued SO meage. that ne important bust
ness was taken up until Jan. 18th 1881
The Treaty of lndepen lence and Peace
with Great Britain vas UNANIMOUSLY rat
flied on the l5th-nrne States represent
ed. The House was soon left without
quorum. and so continued most of the
time-of course doing no busness-till
the lst of March, when the deleg ties
%from Virginia. in pursuance of instruc.
,ions from the Lrglsl turr of the Stat,
signed the conditional deed of ce>sion
20 the Confederation of her claims to
territory westward of the OHIO River -
New York, Connecticut. and Mas-achu-
se,ts had already made similar concession,
to the Confederation of their respective
claims to the te' rliory westward Of their
present iimits., S'onsress hereupon ap.
pointed MesSrs. Jefferson of Virginia
Chase efMaryiand.a AMI Howell OF Rhode
Island, Select Committee to report d
Plan of Government, for tn, Western
Territory. This plan. drawn up by
Thomas Jefferson, provided for the gov
ernment Of aiithe Western Territory, in
Guiding that portion which, it WAS rea
sonably expected. would be surrende, ed
to the Confederation by the States of
North Carolina and Georgia (and which
Alabama and NI'ssssippi) as we'll as
that which had already been conceded
by the more northern States. All this
territory acquired and as yet. occupied.
Mr.. Jefferson and his associates on this
Select Committee proposed to divide
into seventeen prospective or new lem
bryo) States. to each of which the Re-
port gave name, eight OF them being
situated Glow the parallel of the Falls
Of Ohio louisville. KY and nine
about that parallel-whch is very near
ly the boundary between the present Free
and Slave States. To all those embryo
or new States, the Committee proposed
to apply this restriction:
THAT after the year 1900 Of the Christian era,
there shall be neither Slavery nor Involuntary
servitude in any Of the said States, otherwise
than in punishment of crimes whereof the said
party shall have been convicted to be personally
guilty"
April l6. this reported plan came up
for consideration in Congress. Mr..
Spaight Of n. G. moved that the above
quoted passage be striken out of the
plan or ordinance. and Mr.. Read Of S.
C. seconded the motion. The question
was put in this form "Shall the words
moved to be strickened out stand and
on this question the Ayes and Noes were
taken and resulted as follows:
N, Hampshire Mr. Foster, ay A.,
Mr.. Blanchard, ny -"
Massachusetts Mr.. Gerry ay L.
Mr.. Partridge ay
AA''' Island ~. NJ. has:', h''.,y ay sy }Ar
Connecticut Nj. NJ. Sssi%s% wsa:.s9,A .y sy Ay
New York NJ: NJ: P.ias Rs witt .y .y Ay
New Jersey Mr.. Dick ay}.
Pennsylyania, Mr.. Milin ay
Nj: NJ. Msa'f'~s'y Msni ay ay gay
Maryland Mr., MsIenry no n.
! Mr.. Stone "
Virginia Mr.. Jefferson no \,
| Mr.. Hardy no '