Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-02-09

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establish it; if not, exclude it. 10 the
question that if the Territories had the
right to exclude slaves, the property of
the Southern men, had they not also
the right to exclude horses, the prop
erty of northern men? It was res
ponded yes, though the answer was IA
tai to the previous position, that "the
rights of property were sacred-being
prior to all laws" this difficulty was
fully apprehendcd by the speaker in
the acknowledgment that lin relation
to some points he had not devoted
much attention" Seldom has an intel
ligent audience listened to so much
truth and error in the same speech. l
presume that it was asserted for the
first time that the enactment of Ter
ritorial Legislature was superior to the
'rights of nature" and could render
nullity the provision of the Constitu-
tion that "no person should be deprived
ofproperty without due process of law"
Another question, partly inaudiblc
to the writer, elected the reply that
"slaves were held not by the law of ma
turc, but by the law of force" The
law of force is the law of the highway
man. BY this law the right to the trav-
cllcr's effects is acquired. And in all
reason, is not his title just as good as
the shareholders Both rest upon the
same tenure. If property in slaves ac-
quired by the law of force, is covered
by the protecting Ggis of the Constitu-
ton, is not the property of the high
wayman acquired by the same law to
receive the same protection, and by the
same right to be carried into the Terri
tories?
Let the Republicans of Washington
Territory take courage! Many of them
can remember when this chasing of
slavery in the catalogue Of crimes, was
confined to some obscure free-soil con-
vcntion, where politicians might hover
around, but were ashamed to enter.
Now it is boldly proclaimed in Dem
ocratic meeting, and during the session
of Democratic Legislature.
How long before our leading politi-
clans will learn that consistency is the
best policy. The old anti-slavery men
have been styled men of one idea; but
if man have but one idea, and is right
in that, he is not compelled to take ref
uge in tcrgivcrsatiOns, as parties be-
come disintegrated.
The Constitution was framed in har
mony with the spirit of the Revolution.
Its leading idea is to secure the rights
of nature. While some two or three
clauses might admit Of a pro-slavcry
construction, in a community whose
interests were identified with slavery,
vet it was so constructed in consistency
with the spirit OF the Revolution, that
were slavery to have ceased from the
land, and have been blottcd from the
memory of the nation, there would still
have been no discrepancy in the letter
of the instrument. "Let the CoMstitu-
tion." said Mr.. Madison. "bc so framed
that when slavery shall have passed
from the land, postcrity shall find moth
in it by which they could know that it
had ever existed"
Noc, the real cause Of our present no-
tionai difficulties is, thata pro-slarc,y con-
struction has been girento to the Constitution,
in conformity to the practice Of the na-
ton, and not an anti-slarery construction
IN conformity to the letter.. From this
cause has slavery become entrenched
in the government itself, acquiring at
last sufficient power to rend the public
asunder. The crisis is upon us. The
political doctors arc alarmed. Some
thing must be done to settle this ctcr-
nal "slavery agitation" The old nos
trum. concession and compromise is
called for; but Freedom replies, every
compromise we have made with you
has only emboldencd you for further
exactions. Had you not triumphed
over us in 1850, in the enactment of
the Fugitive Slave Law, you would not
have demanded the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, and had you not
then succeeded, you would not now
be emboldened to threaten to sccedc.
The last offer which the Union-savers
now proffer is an amendment to the
Constitution, by which property in
slaves shall be placed upon the same
footing as other property. This &C.
complished, and the work is done
Slavery is national and freedom-no-
where! As with the death Koscinsko
freedom expired in down.trodden Pc.
land, so will the irresistible conflict"
have terminated, and we shall have
peace and quiet-the quiet of despair.
Butthank Heaven! that point is not
vet reached. The present crisis should
have been reachedin 1888, when South
Carolina and Georgia might have with