Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-04-02
&. D.EMURRAE.FEditor
EIan,es =. Todd. Publisher.
"Wednesday APRIL 2. 1852
slavery in tie District OF Column

The abolition of slavery in the District Of
Columbia, IS new tie ret measure Of the
one idea fanatics in Congress, and they arc
evidently determined to leave no means Un-
tried. - secure its passage before the close
of the present session They DO not seek to
conceal their object in endeavoring to pro
cure the emancipation f the slaves in the
District. They openly avow that they be
neve the triumph f the measure would be
fatal stab to tie institution Of slavery in the
United States, and inaugurate their grand
emancipation scheme. for setting ali tie
slaves in the South free. In debating the
measure they have thus far, on all occasions.
fpoken of the Shareholders, including those
of the loyal border States, in language grossly
insulting and irritating. They have given
their choice vocabulary Of abolition slang.
which had been cut Of use for some time, a
regular airing, and have demonstrated. in
their own opinion to a certainty that the own
ing of slaves is the highes: Of human crimes.
1t is impossible to read the debates on this
subject. without arriving at the conclusion
thai the abolition members Of Congress are
in heart and soul disunionists. and that they
DO not regard the Constitution Is worth the
paper on which it is written. They sneer
at the idea of the reconstruction of the Union
with slavery Is domestic Institution Of
portion Of the States. and DO not wish TO see
the war brought to a close until the great
work Of emancipation shall have been con-
sumated We trust, we hole, they have
not a working majority in either branch oi
our National Legislature. Tie final vote on
this measure will show where tie mem bers
really stand with regard to aJolitiouisn.
We entertain no doubt. that Congress in
ab5lishing slavery in tie District # Colum~
Jia. would be exercising power not vested
in its members by the Constitution. The
only Instance IL which that sacred instru
nent authorizes the National Government to
seize and take from its owner private prop
erty. Is when It IS required .'fur public Use. .
and even then it cannot be taken without
Just campensation'' (scs article ! Of AaeHF-
u7ertsl Now it Will not. we think, be con-
tended by any enc, that the Stoves in the
District are required ..f,r public use'' at the
present time Hence 1t Is plain the taking
Of them from their masters against their will
woDld bc nanilestly an unconstitutional act
But what care the Abolitionists for tie Con-
s'itutiOn when it stands in tie way Of their
grand scheme for the emancipation Of the
slaves2 They have too long been accustom-
ed to sneer at it as a pro slavery instrument.
to now treat it with patriotic reverence and
regard. 1t Is unreasonable to expect the
men who hold that the Union lis a league
with death and covenant with hell'' to re-
gard with feelings Of reverance the Constitu-
tion which hllls it tcgetheT.
Aside from its uncoustitutionality. the
measure is both impoIitc and unjust. The
inhabitants Of the District have not petition
ed Congress for the passage of such law.
On the contrary they are almost unanimous
ly opposed 70 it. Is it just TO take their prop
erty from them without their consent when
it is rot required for public use2 The act
can only be justified on the ground that
might is right. and that they who have tie
power to take should DO 50. 1t was not the
intention of the contracting parties" when
Virginia and Maryland ceded to the United
States the territory which composes the Dis
trict, that the National Government should
ever deprive Its citizens of their property
without their consent Maryland and Eir-
ginia entrusted portion Of their children to
the care of the Unite. States Government,
in the full confidence that they would lie
protected il all their rights as men and
American citizens. TIE AbolitioniSts are
now laboring to prove that our National
Government was INV orthy Of that conf
dence 1t IS unnecessary to so into an elab-
crate argument to prove that this measure
should not as a matter of policy be urged at
the present sine. The President. Congress
and our Generals have told Us, that the prs
ent war is carried on for the purpose Of sup
pressing the rebellion, and bringing back
the seeded States into the Union. They
have assured Is that tie domestic institu>
tons Of the States will not be interiered with
Ibis announcement has secured for the cause
OF the Union, thousands Of men in the revol-
ted States. who viii be heard from, as soon
as the opportunity is afforded. and it pre-
vea'ess the secession @, Kentucly. MaTylz-5