The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-04-12
Constitutional Traditions.

t is noticeable fact, that the modern Dem
attic party for the purpose of sustaining its
Asures and policy, bases its action not upon
plain letter of the Constitution, but upon
traditions respecting it. So much impor-
,e has been attached to these Evolutionary no.
in regard to the Constitution, that many
rsons in the different parties, take it for grant
e7 that the Constitution does contain certain
nr6yisions and sanctions, which, in fact, have no
au'hority whatever in that instrument. One of
the great needs of the times is, that every man,
whatever may be his position in the community,
-hould read the Constitution for himself and
study its obvious meaning. The reading and
Interpretation of the Constitution, has been en-
trusted long enough to the few the trainers of
That instrument intended it for the reading Of
every man. 1t is written in plain English it
las no Latin law phrases; it is adapted to the
c5iaprehension Of every common sense man, as
wei as the Ten Commandments the sermon
On The Mount There are many honest people
10 entertain silly idea, that it needs a lawyer
b. unlock the hidden meaning of the constitu.
SION, and Judge on the bench to determine its
teachings.
Jnc Of the false traditions which has obtained
common belief among the people, is, that
Constitution authorizes slavery, or in other
.ds, that it recognizes the right of property in
man. So common has been the assumption that
slavery is countenanced by the Constitution
that multtudes actually suppose it is found dis
tnctivey recognized there. Nothing can be
farther from the truth than such an idea the
trainers Of the Constitution were careful to ex-
clude from that instrument, "the idea that there
could be property in man. James Madison has
put that matter at rest by his explicit testimony
Every man who reads the Constitution carefully
for himself, will fail to find, any word Or phrase
countenancing chattle slavery it is only the
traditions which have misled the public mind
not the letter of the Constitution, but the inter.
Polations of prO-slavery teachers. Hence the
pro-slavery Democracy do not encourage the gen.
eral study of the Constitution by the common
~"ople, but teach the people to look up to those
Ugh authority-to men clad in judicial gowns,
i've Interpretation; and when such inter.
tatlon is given, to take it without inquiry.
it is frequently asked by slavery apologists,
es not the Constitution provide for the repre-
station of slave property in the Federal Gov
nment The Constitution provides for no
presentation on the basis of property it simply
rc gulates the representation Of class of ''per-
MS, without discriminating their color or con-
ion; nor indicating whether they are Africans,
tinaOoeu or gnaniarda Tradition souc obo4
slaves were intended-the Constitution saws
such thing. Tradition says, persons des-
ibed as lowing service means slaves the
institution does not say SO, nor does common
inse. Thousands of persons" Oloe service, whom
roslavery men themselves dare not call slaves
tradition says the trainers of the Constitution
euied the right to Congress, to prohibit the mi
ration or importation of such persons as the
tates might think proper, prior to the year 1S0S
hereby meaning the importation of slaves. The
common sense reading'of the Constitution admits
Fno such construction. 1t only provides that
OF TWEEN years, each of the thirteen States shall
retain its sovereign power Of admitting within its
own limits, all sorts of coming population from
whatever part of the world.
So it will be seen that all the claims slavery
has upon the Constitution for recognition, are
merely traditional it is an institution for which
the States in which it exists, are alone responsi-
lie. The same is true of many of the claims set
~ by the United States Supreme Court its ex-
srcise of power over the States, which very many
PERSONS who have trusted their reading and con.
struction of the Constitution to other men, and
b5lieve to be warranted by that instrument, will
10 found equally unauthorized upon examina-