Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1859-11-04

tie was acquired. Whether the relation
OF master and slavesexists or NOT, is aqnes
ton which must be determined according
to- the law of the State III which hs was
created but the respective rights and OBJ
legations of the parties must, be protected
and enforced by the law prevailing at fhe
place where they are suppasedto be ylo-
lated. This is also true with. respect 10
rights of every other kind. Two nier- !,
chants living in the same town. may bny s.
their goods in different States. Can it Be-
doubted that the title of each depends on
the law of the State where he made lis
purchase! But the law OF larceny and
trespass is the law of a forum common 10
both, and must necessarily be the same.
The validity of mans marriage is-z tsis1k
by the standard of the law which, pfessali
ed in the country where it was solemnizeds
but if he beats his wife. she must seek
protection from the law Of the place where
they live. Some of Mr.. Douglas parti-
zans, and nearly all Of the aAt-slavery op-
position, contend that property in slaves
cannot exist so as to enttlc it to protec
ton of the same laws which secure the.
right of property in other things. For
their benetit we shall briefly show how
! impossible it is to admit the distinction
/ WHICH, tilcJ iiSiot UPON.
What is property? Whatever a per.
son may legally appropriate to his own
! exclusive use and transfer to another by
sale or gift. BY the laws of the southern
| States, negroes are within this definitions,
and the Constitution OF the United States
not only recognizes the validity 0f the
State laws, but l. aids in carrying them
out. The trainers Of the Constitution, sec
ing that slaves were liable to one danger
from which all other property was exempt,
namely, that of being seduced away by
the offer, in other States, of legal shelter
from the pursuit of their owners, agreed
that the Federal Government should guar
antee their re-delivery to the exclusive
possession Of the persons entitled to them
as projectors. The law, tleu, ofthe States.
in which they are, and the Constitution
of the Federal Government, to all legal
intents and purposes, pronounce that slaves
are property. Beaten here, onr adversa-
ries convert it from legal to theologi-
cal question. But when they appeal from
: Isthe.U Constitution to the Bible, tlaey are
! equally dissatisfied With the decision they
: er Ilss i5 firi !,
4 authority, Divine or human. Those who
reject the Constitution must be content to
follow guides WHO are stone blind. They
4 are men who aspire to be wise above
: whai is written, and thereby press them
, selves down to the EXTREMIST point of hu-
man folly They turn their backs on all
: the light, which the world has, or can
!. have; they go forth into outer darkness,
and wander perpetualIy in q howling viii
derness Of error.
: Bat Mr.. Douglas is guiltless Of this
= heresy, at least. lie comedies that slaves
= : arc precisely like other property, 50 far as
regards the legal remedies and constitu-
. tiona rights of the owner. lie processes
= = to take the fundamental law of the land
: for his guide upon that point. Let bls
= = practice, then, correspond with his faith
i let him s'walk worthy Of the vocation
:. wherewith he IS called > LET him make nc
e more appeals to popular prejudice for q
= sovereignty which does not exist; above
all things, let him never, by the slightes
sue gestion, encourage any territorial gov
: eSnment to undermine the rights of the
. citizens by legislation which is ''unftiend
: ly' to the security of either property ol
= life. We must not palter with the Con
u stitution in a double sense, but obey it
!, support it, deferd it, earnestly and faith
= fully, like men who believe in it and love
if. Whosoever attempts TO trlfie WI IT.
principles, or weaken the obligation OF 1t;
= guarantees, will find sooner or later tina
% he has fixed stain npon his politica
) character which 'sthere is not rain enough
e in the sweet heavens" to wash out.