The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-12-06
The Rights ~ ArIstocrnts and c sm-
mon People.

The Rights Of ArIstocrmts and e m.
mem People.
There are two provisions OF the Constitu-
tion OF the United States which are becoming
quite we'll known in our political discussions,
and the violations Of which in different SEQ
tions OF the Union furnish significant com
mensary upon the temper Of the people and
the Government.
The provision in reference to the return Of
fugitive slaves is occasionally violated by
promiscuous assembages of free negroes
and white men in the Northern States. And
in oil such cases the Executive and Judiciary
manifest lively and earnest interest; off.
GERS are summoned to the aid OF tho slave-
holder, and thu utmost energy is exhibited
ID securing the fleeing slave and Furnishing
those who attempted to aid in hls escape
II need be, the power Of the army and navy
OF the United States are called into action to
secure the foreible return Of a slave.
On the other hand, the Constitution or the
United Slater guarantees to citizens Of each
State tho rights Of citizens in the several
States. These rights include, OF course, the
right Of personal liberty in travelling, doing
business, receiving mail matter, expressing
opinions, preaching the gospel, &o., in any
State TO which citizen Of any other State
may chooseto 60.
Now these Constitutional rights are utterly
secuted or shamslessly ignored Throughout.
the Southern States. 1t was the boast OF q
Northern competitor fer the Presidency that
Abraham Lncoln now President elect, could
not 60 into Southern State ard repeat the
sentiments OF Washington and Jefferson, ex-
cspt At the peril of his life. 1t ia notorious
that editors, preachers, merchants, mechsn.
les and laborcrs from the North are denied
the rights guaranteed by the Constitution /;
and, voFss than that, are subjected to all
manner OF Outrage, from sarring aud fea,h-
ering and riding Oh rail, to hanging and
burning ut the stake.
Thousands from the North have been drv-
en- out Ct the slave States. and thousands
more remain there now in daily peril Of their
lives. During enc week more than two hun.
drsd citizens of the Eorth,-for the most
part laborers,- were compelled to return
from the PORTS OF Charleston and Savannah
Now all these ou:rages arc as palpably in
violation OF the Constitution OF the United
States as any Of the fugitive slave raids, We,
in no instance has cur Government attempted
to protect the freemen of the North aud tn,
Looofoco press, North and South, are eien
IN regard 70 these violations Of the Consti
tuition, or else justify and commend them.
What il the Inference That our Govern
ment is strong for the protection u til.
rights OF the wealthy STAKEHOLDER Of th,
South, but il very week when the rights ant
even the life OF the I,or man Of the North ar
sacrhsedi and that the Locofoco party, il
lis devotion to slavery, ssdont care'' hov
many violations Of the constitution the Soutl
may be guilty Of in its ou,rages upon ,h
poor citizens OF the North. 60 long ss tb,
rights of the rich STAKEHOLDER to bis huma,
property is indicated by the Government.
A Government that is powerful to enfore
the legal rights Of human bondage, and pow
erless to protect the Constitutional rights 0
its free citizens from cu,rages ON liberty an.
life, merits the nnasirg contempt OF moi
and the signal rehuke OF God.