The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-09-05
Testimony OF Our Fathers.

10 uue buo pSOe
public speakers and writer's, Of the
views and policy Of our fathers, on
the subject Of slavery. yet we aeldom
see sny Of the testimony in print. We
propose to give some select remarks
from leading members OF the Federal
Convention, and of some OF the early
Congresses,
The first that we shall give, is that
Of Morris, Of Penns., in the con.
vention. 1. gives his views OF slave
representation, and slave importa.
ton, and shows how fully slavery
waa discussed in that body. He
said -
"Slavery WAS q nefarious ins'h
tuition. 1t WAS a curse Of fIeav n on
the states where IL prevailed. Conn
pare the free regions oi the middle
states. where a rich and noble cult
vation marks the prosperity end
happiness OF the people, with ths mis-
cry and poverty which overspread
the barren wastes of Virginia. Ma
ryIand, and other statcs having
slaves. Travel through the whole
continent, and you behold the pros
pect continually varying with the
appearance and disappearance Of
slavery. The moment you leave
the Eastern states and enter New
York, tho effects oi the institution
become visible. Passing through
the Jerseys and entering Pennsylva
mia, every crit' vion OF superior inn
movement testifiss the change -
Proceed Sou.hwardly. and every
step you take through the great re
gion OF slaves. presents q desert. 10
rreasing with the increasing proper
ton Of those wretched beings. Up
IN what principle is it that the
slaves shall be computed IN the rep
rese ntation? Are they monl Then
make them citizens and let them
vote. Are they propert!a Whv
then. is no other property inclnced2
The hnuses in this city Philsdel.
phia-"sre worth more than all the
wre,ched slaves that cover the rice
swamps o! South Carolina. The
admission OF slaves into the repre-
sentation, when fairly explained,
comes to this. that the inhabitants of
Georgia and South Carolina. who
20 to the coast OF africa in def,
ance OF the most sacred laws Of hu.
manly, tears away his fellow crea'
turps from their dearest connections.
and dsmns them to the most cruel
bondage, shall have more votes than
in q government Instituted for pro-
lection OF the rlghts oil mankind than
the citizens OF Pennsy lvania and New
Jers.y, who view with a landable
horror go Deiarion> a practice. He
would add, that domestic slavery ID
the most prominent feature in the
aristocratic countenanca OF the pro
posed Constitution. The vsssalag gs
Ol the poor has ever been the favor
ite offspring OF arristocracy. Anl
what is the proposed compensatior
to the Northern ststes for y sacrfic,
of every principle Of right, every i'm
pulse OF humanity They are tc
hind themselves to march their mill.
tia, for the defense OF the Southern
states, against those very slaves o
whom they complain. Let it 70
he said that the direct taxation is L
be proportioned to representation. -.
1t is idle TO suppose that the genera
government can stretch its hand di
rectly into the pockets OF the peopl
scattered over 80 vast country
They can only do it through tn
ne,lium Of exports. imports, and ex
cises For what then are these sac
ri6ces to be madel lie wonld coon
or submit himself to tax for payini
for all the negroes in the Unite'
: States, than saddle posterity wit
onch CONSTITUTION.
In the same convention. speakin
in favor OF the slave importation
clause, EIls worth, Of Connscticu'
said:
), III we stop short with prohibitin
their importation, we shall be upjus
, to South Carolina and Georgia. =
Let us not intermeddle. As popu
alton increases poor laborers will b
40 plenty ss TO render slaves useless
Slavery in time will not be a spec
in our conntry."
Ellsworth wished to allow tn
Q North to trade in slaves for the Der
= eft of the South. His commercil
enterprise overtopped his humanil
ss we'll ss his political foresight.
, The following brief speech fro,
Mason, of Virginis,to which the OF
just quoted was 9 reply, is worth
Of consideration, on account Of /
ecprce, aud especially on accoun.
y the hit it makes at British folly {,
\ tot using the slaves OF the Americs
; rebels against their masters:
"The present question:" he sal
IN "conce.nS not the importing stst