Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-11-02

snoWn tnat the most radical positions are
the ones ultimately adopted by the mass.
The late declaration of convention of
these fanatics may be acceptable as the
conclusions of all anti-slavery feeling
and of all agitation on this subject. 1t
is
81 80 long as man believes in God, he
is not free; so long as there is one slave
IN America, this is not free country"
That Charles Sumner was struck
down in the Senate, and John Brown was
strangled on the scaffold, in support of a
legalized, Bible-sanctioned wrong; the
defenders of freedom sacrificed to slave
ry, good men inundated on the altar of
bad institution.
That the bloody, brutalizing system
of slavery in the United States has its
vitality, power and perpetuity in the
Union of the States.
That in the constitutional provision
by which that scheme of sectional iniqui-
ty has had its own peculiar representa-
ton in the National Legislature, amount
ing to balance of power, for its own
purposes, providing itself an army and
navy for its own protection, and carrying
on wars of conquest for the extension Of
its own dire domination, involving the re-
vival of the foreign slave trade, all sup
porters of the Union are fearfully re-
sponsible, and must be held to account
in the convictions of all the just"
Thus, infdelity, abolitionism, brutal
disregard of the rights of others, tru-
culent denunciation of associates in the
government, foreshadow the consequent
ces of the present condition of the North
ern population. The press, the pulpit,
the forum, the drama, literature, poetry,
painting, sculpturc--all arts, all thoughts
and all that can enlist sympathy or arouse
enthusiasm, are enlisted in this terrible
onslaught on the rights, the institutions,
the very existence of Maryland and the
South.
The Constitution, as framed and adopt
ed by each State, guaranteed that each
should be protected in certain rights by
the whole power Of the Government. 1t
was framed and adopted by each, as an
equal sovereignty, and provided that
each should remaia equal to every other
one through all times. 1t secured to the
slave States a right before then eristing
by the law of nations, to have fugitive
slaves delivered up, and gave to them
also right of representation in the Fe-
deral Congress based on slaves. Every
State, party to the contract, was then
slave, save one. and these rights were
therefore not exclusive. But without
them the contract would never have been
entered into. They were essential, in
tegral parts of it. Since then this anti
slavery feeling has been gradually de-
veloping. Natural and political causes
have abolished the right Of holding that
species of property in eighteen Of the
thirty-three States, and the rights and
liberties of fifteen slave States are now
in some measure in the hands of their
more powerful neighbors and co-States.
But from the original execution of the
contract, they have been scrupuIous OBJ
servers of all its provisions, and have
faithfully executed its every letter.
They gave to the free States the great
northwest territory, and agreed to form
four Free States from it. They suisse
quently allowed six States to be carved
out of it, They have allowed Massachu-
sets and New York to divide their terri
tory, and to give to the North Vermont
and Maine.
The South fought the war Of 1912 to
protect the commerce and the seamen of
the North. 1t has paid taxes and boun-
ties for years to nurture and extend her
fisheries, and contributes yearly to the
fleets of New England, heavy stipend
by way of fishery bOunties. She has by
navigation laws taxed herself, and secur-
cd TO Northern commerce the immensely
valuable coastwise inter-S State trade, and
for every ton of produce exported from,
or merchandise consumed in tie South,
she pays tribute to the Northern ship
owner and merchant
Her generosity has built up the manu-
features and the commerce Of the North,
and her labor furnishes the chief ingre-
dent aud source Of its wealth and pro-
gress.
In return for her loyalty she asks no.
thing but what is secured TO her by the
plain letter of the Constitution. She
claims the faithful delivery of her pro-
perty when fugitive. The manner in
which that obligation is fulfilled is well
known. But she also insists that she
shall be acknowledged as an equal in the
Union; that her States are the peers of
their co-States; her citizensof their citi-
zens, and her rights of person and pro-
perty are of equal sanctity with their per-
sonal and property rights. Claiming
their equality Of right, she insists as a
consequence that the common govern
ment, instituted by all, for the benefit of
all, shall protect those rights, wherever
the common flag floats, or the common
Jurisdiction and power extends.
While the North is willing to acknow-
ledge the justice Of these demands, and
to execute the obligations of the contract
in some, the terrible fanaticism which so
thoroughly and so fearfully sways it, abb
solutcly refuses to apply any Of them, in
any manner, or in way where property in |
slaves is concerned. Though the South
has nearly $4,000, 900, 900 invested in
this property, and in the preservation and |
security of which her civilization. her ex-
istence, her future is dependant; though
her claim is founded on the constitution,
yet she is told that for protection in this,
sho must rely on herself. Mr.. Seward,