The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-06-25
aua,ir,ea Proper,yan Nan +.

tuition OF the United States ssrecognizes
qualified property in man." As most i'm
portant consequences are dedueible from such
position, we cannot let IL pass without a
further remark.
The trainers of the Constitution, as all
agree, were anxious to shape the phraseoiogy
OF that instrument so as "to give no coun-
tenance TO the idea that there could be anu
right OF property in man." And in pnrsn
anee OF that oommendable desire, the term
servant, or slave, or eha,tel, and every other
term involving either the idea of servi,ude,
slavery. or property in man, ia carefully
avoided; and the word 'spersonsn 10 used in
the FIVE different provisions which are held
to refer to s)aves. With such notions on the
part of the Convention, and such terms In
the Consultation, what ground is furnished
BY any reasonable construction, for the as
eertion that the Go institution OF the United
States establishes slavery" or recognizes Q
qualified property in man. Surely nothing
but the most inevitable necessity will war
rant an Interpretation which ignores the ex-
pressed motives OF the trainers Of that in
sLrunent, and violates the carefully chosen
phraseoiogy By which those motives are car
red into effect.
But, in special answer to the Journals ad-
mission that s'the Constitution recognizes o
qualified property in man, lst it be noted
that no recognition Of property in man is
expressed in the Constitution. And if
license Of constructive interpretation be as
sumsa ia erder TO stretch the Constitution
into recognition Of right Of property in
man, there ID no inherent reason why it
should be qualified rather than an absolute
right of property. But as there IL no right
of property in man enacted by the Constitu-
ton itself, IL any such right of property sis
recognized" by that instrument, ii must be
just such right of property as exists under
the iaw of Slavery. That Law is well stated
as follows
A slave 10 one who is in the power of
master TO whom be belongs. The master
may sell him, dispose OF his person, bis in
dusfry and his labor. lie can do nothing,
possess nothing, nor acquire anything, but
what mnrt helong TO bis master--~t Civil
Code, Art 235.
The cardinal Principle of slavery-that
the slave is not to be ranked among sentient
beings, bat among things-is an article OF
property ehattei observation-disclosures as IN
doubted law in all OF these (aiave) States
i>uoud's Law Of Slavery, page %.
II that be qualified property in man,
commend us 10 the absolute right Of pro-
perty.
Now If the Journal be correct in its no
lion THAT the Constitution of the United
States has anything to DO in establishing or
recognizing this fright Of property in man"
tresol,s, as logical sequence, that Con,
limits Of it's jurisdiction-o the high seas
and in tao Territorles--to protect that right
Of property to the extent that the Consttu.
ton recognizes it. And thus the Journa
yields the entire ground and admits that tht
demand of the Shareholders to hold thei,
slaves in the Territories, under the protection
OF law, 10 a Constitutional right.
We, 90 the contrary, stand BY the plat,
provisions OF the Constitution of the Unitet
States, and deny that il establishes or recog
nizes "a right of property in mani of ap'
character. And thus, on this ssyantag
gronad's of the Constitution Of the Unite.
States, while we concede to the Souther
States the power TO regulate their own af
fairs within their own limits, we scout thei
absurd pretenuons of right TO sprea
Slavery over the land and to demand the oil
and protection Of Congress in accomplishing
and perpetuatlng this outrage upon th
rights and liberties of man, and the bes
interests Of the Republic.
eTThe London Spectator, one OF th
leading weeklles OF England, is generally RI
gatded as better informed on American a.
fairs than some Of it's contemporaries. Y,
in its report Of the nominations of the var
ous parties for the Presidency, ii says Il
Old Wings have nominated Mr.. Bell; that
Convention in Illinois has nominated NJ
Hamlin for President, and Dir. Maine r
Vice President, and that the whole field wi
be greatly modified before the election com
on I'm June.
c. Lord Heytesbury, who has just di,
in England, was one OF the eldest diplomat
servants OF that government. He was in h
eighty first year and had done oEirial duty
Italy, Barbary, Spain, Russia, Ireland, al
the Isle of Wight.
rT Napoleon has had bis photograph +
ken whsn dressed in full uniform of a Fren,
General in ChisF.