The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-03-11
EDITOR
FINDLAY, OHIO:
Friday Morning ,::::=;:::;;::::;;:Maroh II, 1859
The Democracy or slavery.

scatter them to the fourwinds, Icav'
ing nothing but the Fragments Of u
once formidable party.
. The Slaveocrats of the South,
through craft, have so enveloped the
party In their tolls that there js no
escape, except in abandoning the
organization altogether. Tho fatal
error committed by the Democratic
party, was in adopting as a leading
article Of their faitb,the doctrine that
the Constitution Of the United States,
recognizes property in man. The
first fruits OF this apostacy from
pure Democratic principles, was, the
enactment Of a Fugitive Slave Law,
with its provisions in regard to the
reclamation of slaves - 30 odious &c
Northern freemen. The next step
in the work Of aggression, was the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
effected as it was on the ground that
as the territories are to be regarded
as the common property of the states
at large, the Shareholder is just as
much entitled, under the Constitu-
tion, to take his property in slaves
there, as the Northern man, to take
his horses, the continuance of this
relation being left to depend upon
territorial law.
The South and doughfaces from
the North, have thus pressed this
principle Of property in slaves, until
the right Of the slave e-holder to take
his slaves into the territories and
hold them there, in the face OF all
territorial laws, is now demanded.
And this is not all: 1t is claimed that
Congress is in duty bound to pass
laws for the protection of such pro
perty in such territories.
As long as the party occupy their
present position on the subject Of
slavery, so long will they find it i'm
possible to resist the arguments in
favor CT the complete nationalizing
Of slavery. For if it be true that the
Constitution OF the United States
does recognize the right of property
in man, then does it follow as ne
cessary consequence, that it invests
such property with all the Importance
which attaches to any other proper
ty. and hence secures to the master
the right of ofholding his slaves whel g.
ever any other property can be held.
As logical consequence, ifa North.
ern man, under the Constitution,
can take his chattels, including what
ever is regarded in legitimate sense
ss property, into n state or even into
a territory, and hold them there, the
slave-holder, in like manner, under
the Constitution, can take into such
state or territory his chattels, in.
Guiding his slaves, and hold them
there.
On the same principle of a pro-
perty distinction, can the slave hold.
er urge tho right Of importing slaves,
and hence the restoration of the AZ
rican slave trade. The principle
that slaves are regarded by the Con.
stitution as property, being admitted, -,
their consequences are unavoidable;
and hence the tendency of such doc
trine is. the universal spread OF slave.
ry over both states and territories.
and the restoration OF the African
slave trade.
Every careful observer must have
noticed that by means OF the pecu.
liar policy of the Democlatic party :,
greater Importance has been given
to the institution Of slavery; and
that year after year, and step by
step, has it advanced in the work OF
aggression, until it demands now, :.
with boldness and confidence, what
it dared not hint at four years since.
But, the tact is, the Constitution
gives no counreBance TO the doctrine
OF the right of property in man.
Such position is assumed either
through an ignorance of the provi-
sions Of the Constitution, or with the
purposes Of securing political power
by pandcring to the interests of the
South. Whatever advantage or pro.
lection slavery may receive from the
Constitution, is strictly incidental
Such 10 the effect of the article OF the
Constitution, requiring the delivery
Of persons held in service in one
state, when they escape to another.
This provision is in general terms,
not confined to slaves, nor indeed ap.
piled tn, slaves % slaves at all; bu,
extend to all held in slavery, without
regard TO their specific condition.
Those alluded to, are not regarded
In tho relation Of oAattsls, but per.
so,, IN xubcaa aarv;ra. r. AL..