The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-09-12

Of happiness, the Christian religion
teaches us to believe, aud tho .polit
ical Feed OF Americans fully con.
cedes with that position. From q
persuasion that equal liberty wa,
originally the portion, and 10 still the
birthright Of all men, your memori'
alists conceive themselves bound ~
use ali justifsble measures to loosen
the bonds Of slavery. They earnest
ly entreat that you will promote jnst
ce and mercy towar Is this distress
ed race; and that ytu will step to
tho very verge Of the power vested
IN you Tor discouraging every spe'
cies OF traffic in our fellow men,"
Hsrtely moved the reference o
his petition to a special committee
o. this motion the following opin
ions were EXPRESSED:
Burke, Of South c ,rolins, said tha,
tho commitment would sound ar
alarm and blow the trumpet Of sedi
ton through the Southern SiAtss.' -
Scott, OF Pennsylvania. said in re.
ply, Il cannot entertain q doubt
'hat the memorial is strictly agreea
BILE to the constitution. II resprc,e
part Of tho duty. particularly NE.
signed e. IA by that instrument.
an sorry the framrrs Of the Const g..
lion did not 20 iurther aud enable u.
to iutcriict the slave trade altogetb
"r, Tor look upon II u bs ooe o.
he most aboninable things ON ear,' (:
and II there were neither God no.
devil | should oppose it on the prin
c'ples Uf humanity and the law OF
n"tnre. For my part cannot con
ceive how aLy person can he said to
acquire property in another. The
petitioners view the subject in re
iigious light; but | stsnd not in need
Of religious motives to induce me
to reprobste the traffic in human
aesh. Perhaps in our Legislative
capacity, We can go no further than
TO impose duty Of ten dollars; bu,
l do not know how far nigh. 60
it | wss ono Of the Judges Of th.
United States, and these people
"ers to come before me and claim
their emancipation, l am sure l
would 20 as far as ! could"
This last remark was made in ev.
ident reference to the judicial decis
ions in Massachusetts. A clause IN
the Constitution OF that State de.
clared all mankind TO be born free
and equal. and upon this the Judges
decided slavery unconstitutional -
1t would, probably, have b,en i'm
possible tor Scott to imagine u stat,
Of facts in a rec Government which
would require, or justify or even
tolerate the Dred Scott ID session.
However We have advanced ia 9th.
er matters on the subject OF human
rights. we hear immeasurab!y retro.
graded sinca his day.
Gerry, Of Massachusetts said he
''never contemplated Ills suij
without !, letting What his own feel
ings would be, were he hims. II. his
children, or his friends placed in the
ZANE depiorable circumstances. lie
thought the subject matter OF the
In' mortal clearly within the pow,is
m Congress. Thcy have the right.
II they cav proper, 10 propose TO the
Southern States TO purchase the
VIII 'le OF their slaves, aud their re-
suurcea in the Western territory
might furnish them with tie means.
lie did not intcnd to propose ~ v
s.hrme oi that klni, bn, only refer.
red to It, TO show that Congress had
n right to deal with tho matter"
Page, oil Virginia, said: Placing
himself in the case OF II slave, Oh
hearing that Congress had refused
to listen to tho decent suggestions Of
"a respectable part OF the community,
he should infer that the General
Government, from which great got d
was expected to every class, had
shut their ears against the voice OF
humanity. lfsnything could induce
him to rebel, II must be q siroke
like this, impressing on his mind ell
the horrors Of despair.
Madison said that "Oongres,
might make such regulations re-
specting the introduction Of slaves
into the Western territories o. were.
beyond their power in rsgark to the