The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-06-29
The Declaration Of Independence.


in 1858:
"The Declaration OF Independence was
made by the representatives. Of American
liberty from thirteen States Of the Confed-
eracy--,welve Of which were slavehold-
ing communities. We need not discuss
the way or the reason Of ;heir becoming
slaveholdinE communities. tits sufficient
Tor our purpose that al Of them greatly
deplored the evil and that they placed a
provision in the Constitution which they
supposed would gradually remove the dis
ease by cutting of its source. This was
the abolition OF the slave trade. So
general was the conviclion-ihe public
de,erminatioD---to abolish the African
slave trade. that the provision which l
have referred to rs being placed in the
Constitution, declared that il should not
be abolished prior TO the year 1908. A
Constitutional provision was necessary TO
prevent the people, through Congress
from putting a stop 10 the traffic immedi.
a'ely at the close Of the war. New, if
slavery had b,en good thing, would the
Fathers Of the Republic have taken a step
calculated 10 diminish it's bcne6cient inAu-
ences among themselves, and snatch the
boon wholly from their posterityS These
communities by their representatives in
old Independence Hall, said to the whole
world Of men. 1--WE hold these truths TO
be selfevident: tha, all men are created
equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain innlienaole rights :
that among these are life. liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" This was
their majestic Interpretation Of tic econ.
omy of the Universe. This was their
lofty, and wise, and noble understanding
Of the justice Of the Creator 10 His
creatures.
Yes, gentlemen. 20 oil Ills creatures. to
the whole great family Of man, In their
enlightened belief, nothing stamped with
the Divine image and likeness was sen,
into the world 10 be rolden on and de.
graded, and imbru,ed by its !ellows.-
They grasped not only the whole race oI
man then living. but they reached forward
and seized upon the farlhesi posterity.-
They erecled beacon to guide their chill
dren and their children's children, and
the countless myriads who should inhabiI
the earth in other ages, Wise statesmen
as they were, they knew the tendency ol
prosperity to breed tyrsnts. aud SO they
established these great seli.evident truths,
that when in the distant future some man.
some faction. some interest, should set uE
the doctrine that none but rich men, oil
none but white men, or none but Angle
Saxons, were entitled to life, liberty and
the pursui, Of happiness. their posteri,y
might look up agsin 20 the Declaration oI
Independence. and take courage to renew
the battle which their fathers begsu-ss
that truth. and justice. and mercy, and al
humane and Christian virtues might no
be extinguished from the land SO tha
no man hereafter would dare to limit ant
circumscribe the great principles on which
the temple Of liberty was being built.
Now. my coun,rymen, IL YOU hav'
been taught doctrines conflicting with tb'
great landmarks Of the declaration Of In
dependence il you have listened to sug
geslions which would take away form it
grandeur. and mulila,e the symmetry G
its proportions il you have been iucline'
10 believe that all men are not creates
equal in those inalie nable rights enumer
ated by our chart Of liberty, le. me entrea
you 10 come back. Return to the fountain
whose waters spring close by the blood o
the Revolution. Think nothing Of me-
take no thought for the political fate O
any man whomsoever-comeb back to III
f truths that are in the Declaration Of Inde
: pendence.