Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-23

=. ~%SN - IAbHACuoIb tuo k1uuLU. ADD
'ns NORTH, and the argument is applicable.
4 I'd. Il would not only increase t6e sontbe,,
army, but would decrease and disore apixe an
Northern armies A large portion Of our vol
tunteers have enlisted In the Union cause, who
sgcn an act were passed by Congress, woul,
,ay oown their arms and refuse 10 serve an,
looGer Thus, BY this policy, the Southerii
army would be increased and the Northern di
minlshed, go that all hope of success in redeem
ing the Union would be forever blasted. 81
much Tor the. first proposition, viz: That tht
"unconditionap abolition of slavery "wopld
Dslng the war to speedy aud beneHcent close !
Inc defenders of this measure pretend TO be
ac1uaied BY philanthropy for suffering human.
ity 50 ennobling and exalted that IL override
tne Constitution and ell laws in any way reo.
oognizDg the right Of a State to bold slaves
me human heart ia full of passion and sym.
pasoy, ana by.an appeal to these they hope to
What would bs the result Of an immediate
aoonslon OF slavery These Africans are a
people mat were taken from the barbarian and
nealhenish tribes Of Africa, and transported 10
America, and have been kept here in seryitude
ior the last 800 years. They are devoid Of an
education, either Of books or experience. Tbev
nave never had the care of pIovidlng for them
serves resting upon them. If they ever had
1ne eoiiity Of self government, their minds are
now 20 engrossed by ignorance that they are
snufely unprepared tor such responsible un-
osrIatkipg' Indeed, IL appears like problem
wnether zoe are as well prepared for that, so
important trust, as we should be; much less
Ine negro, who scarcely knows the definition Of
government. = y,
This petition speaks OF uniting oil sections
upon the basis Of universal freedom There is
more 10 this expression than at first may ap-
pear tdoes not propose TO "free and colonize
tnem In Central America" or TO confne them
particular locality. It proposes to give
them The same freedom thai We enjoy: free
dom 70 dwell where they pleas; to plead at our
oaisi to cit in our juries; to preside as our
JUDGES; 70 rote at our elections. There are about
iour millions OF slaves at the South, that would
thus DO turned loose to food the Northern
states. Ohio would have to share about three
hundred thousand of these wtetched and un.
civilized creatures. or the four millions we
may count one fourth whose old age renders
them unable to support themselves, and an
otner fourth who are too young TO pay their
way. The remaining half, for want Of en-
ployment. would engage In all manner Of theft
ana ROBBERY. Says Clay, ga contest would in.
eytaoly ensue between the two races-civil
war carnage, pillage, conaagra,ion, devasta
tiop' and the ultimate determination or expul-
sion OF the blacks, would bo the result"
Inc philanthropy of this petition would take
tnese slaves, uDprepareG for freedom, thrust
them upon free society, and thus render the
whole chaos Of conflict and feud. This phian-
thropy, that would destroy the happiness and
liberty OF our race, and render the condition of
the slave ten-fold worse, is such as ga vulture
would show to q lamb" would like to see
the condition of the slave made "a comfortable
as possible. would like TO see slavery botted
forever from our country, II il were possible to
90 u 10 such manner as would render their
condition better, and not destroy the liberty OF
the whites. But ask, what has the continued
agt'ton OF the slavery question, for the last
twenty years, done toward its amelioration
Every lick that has been struck, has riveted
the chains tighter upon the limbs of the slave.
Thus far for the sake OF showing the impro-
priety and impracticablity of this policy, as ar
gued by it's defenders.
have granted that Congress has the power
claimed BY the petition. | come now TO the
consideration Of that proposition, and shall take
the negative. Congress has no power, excep,
that delegated to it by the States. It was be-
cause Great Britain assumed dictatorship over
the colonies and deprived them of the right tC
govern their own internal affairs that the Revo
luton was fought. When the war was ended
our fathers saw that the articles of confedera
tion were insufficient to keep the States united
They called a convention to revise the articles
and delegate more power to The general Gov.
erDment, that being the chief defect. When
the convention assembled IL was resolved to
ADOPT the Constitution, instead of revising the
articles. The defenders Of States rights, re-
membering for what they had fought, were
jealous In guarding against concentrating too
much power In the Federal Government; hence
the Consultation says that 'all power not dele
gated TO the United States by the Constitution,
Is reserved TO the States" etc. That the Con-
stltuton grants to States the right to bold
slaves, will not be denied by any statesman
and that IL grants to them the right TO regulate
that institution according to their own convic.
tlon of expediency, and deprives Congress Of all
right to interfere, all precedents Of the Govern.
ment verify. tIr
The frst Abolition petition was presented IL
Congress on February 18th, 1880, by the Qua
kers Of pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. -
The question, after being warmly dis ,ussed
was referred to a select committee, which re-
ported, March 23d, as follows: "That from the
nature of matters contained in'the memorial
they were induced 10 examine the powers vested
in Congress, under the present Constitution, re.
lating to the abolition of slavery, and are clear.
ly Of the opinion: That the Congress has nc
power to interfere in the internal affairs o.
States relative to the subject of slavery; Tha,
Congress has no power to interfere in the eman
clpGti0n Of sIaus or in the treatment of them with
IN any OF the States, it remaining with tn,
States alone TO provide any regulation therein
which humanity and true policy may require. y
The decision Of that committee, cotemporane
GUS with the formation OF the Consultation, and
the question respecting the powers of Congress
at that time, aud should for all coming time.
But the defenders of this petition sav tba,