Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-04-17

| w tuc slaves Oi FeOels. nay answer IS TINS -
The Consultation afirms that, 1.-The United
States shall guarantee to every State repub-
Ii Ian form of government and shall protect each
OF them against invasion and domestic insur-
rection." 1t also makes it the sworn duty of
Congress to suppress insurrection." 1t like
wise adds, Congress shall have full power to
make all laws which shall be necessary and
! proper for carrying into execution the forego-
ing powers" / submit, sir, that these clauses
! give Congress- 10 this time of rebellion, unm
tied and constitutional control over the whole
subject of slavery and if its abolition will aid
in suppressng the rebellion they are impera-
lively bound to hurl it out of existence Sin.
gular indeed it is if Congress have constitu
tional power to confscate property, to levy
enormous taxes, to burn shipping, cripple CON-
mcrce and slaughter armies, but no right to
Interfere with the very institution that has
created the necessity for such dire expedients
Are the rights and relations of slavery the
only ones that are sacred And must these
| be respected though all others be over borne !?
The Constitution was made for the protection
OF the country and that Is a fallacious inter
probation which would make it not only pro.
tect slavery but sacrifice the country. JEFF
Davis aud Senators upon this floor reason from
different premises, but come to the same con-
cluSon. The former says, -" let US destroy the
Constitution that We may uphold slavery" the
latter responds, " let US preserve the Constitu-
ton and thus maintain slavery" Ny rejoind-
er is, hold fast the Constitution, exercise its
full powers 10 defence OF the country, crush in
Surrect0n and place the government beyond
the possibility of future pro slavery rebellion,
by annlhating this institution-yGlr most i'm
placable enemy and the source OF all your
troubles" Years ago, John Qlincy Adams,
upon the floor OF Congress- Affirmed aud dem.
onstTa.ed these very positions, to the utter
discontinue OF his antagonists He declared
as long since as 1881, that though it might
then oe iGeXpedent to abolish slavery in the
District Of Columbia yet in case Of foreign
Invasion or domestic insurrecton, it would be
the constitutional right Of Congress to assume
entire control OF slavery; and should the emer-
gencies OF the country demand it, they not only
had the right, but it would be their imperative
duty 10 abolish the whole concern But the
sage Of Quincy stands not alone. The leading
Republican statesmen of this day endorse the
same view. A large meeting was lately held
in New 1ork city TO consider this very Suhiect.
At that meeting, letters were read from the
leading minds of the nation. One of these
letters, written by Montgomery Biair--a man
from slave State, aud member of the Cabinet
has been largely quoted from by the Sena-
tor from Berks, but he paused in bis quota
tions jest when it suited his lame and limping
argument. Let ne add quotation-the few
last lines of the letter, which prove that even
Blair recommends the emancipation of the
slaves. and their removal to a separate home
Hear him:
It needs, therefore, but the assurance
which would be given by providing homes for
the blacks elsewhere that they are to be re-
garded as sojourners when emancipated, as in
point OF fact they are and ever will be, to in
sure the co operation of the non shareholders
in their emancipation. Nor would they require
immediate, universal or involuntary transport
aton, or that any Injustice whatever be done
to the blacks The enterprising would soon
emIgrate, and multtudeS of less energy would
follow If such success attended the pioneers, as
the care with which the Government should
foster SO important an object would doubtless
insure ; and, with such facilities, it would re-
qujre but few generations to put the temper
ate regions Of America in the exclusive occu-
patton Of the white race, and remove the only
obstacle TO a perpetual Union of the State"
Senator Wilson writes thus
Humanity, justice and patriotism all de.
mand that the American people should never
pardon the great criminal that has raised the
banner Of revolt against the unity and author
ity Of the republic. The blood of our fallen
sons demands that the Government for which
they gave their lives should walk up to the
verge of constitutional power n licting con-
dign punishment upon their murderer The
nation, imperilIed by slavery, should use every
legal aud constitutional power to put it in pro-
cess Of ultimate extinction. To that end
would at once abolish slavery in the District
of Columbia. repeal the black code that dis.
honofS the National capital, tender to the 10y
al SlaVehoding States the treasure Of the Fed |
eral Government to aid them in the work of
emancipation deal justly and literally with the
loyal men of the rebel States, but free the
bondmen of rebels"
David Wilmot adds his testimony as follows:
The national life must be preserved, by
applying the knife to the cancer that is
eating the very substance and life of the nation
The nation must make a a proclamation of
freedom to the slaves of every traitor and as
a matter Of policy, not of strict right, provide
for making compensation to loyal Shareholders,
for the temporary loss incident to the speedy
emancipation of their slaves. Less than this
we cannot do with honor or safety. We have
a right to do more. We have right, instant
ly and at once, to uproot and eradicate forever
any local institution, law, custom, usage, that
puts in imminent peril the national life We
have a right to kill Slavery, that the nation
may !ive'
While the Democratic Warrior governor of
Rhode Island, publishes these noble and pa
trotic sentments,I 1 recommend opposing Sena.
tors upon this floor, to sit for a time at his feet
and learn from bis lips the true Democratic |
w -.