Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-11
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

brief review OF the civil history of the United
States from the Declaration of Independence
to the formation of the Constitution, setting
days, and showing wherein our modern states
men have departed from the spirit and letter
Of the Constitution as it was understood by
those who framed it, and by the States which
ratified it, The writer shows conclusively
that, both under the articles Of Confederation
and subsequently under the Constitution, the
Union of the States was designed to be per-
pctual there was no provision for dissolu-
ton OF the Union, and Of course no right Of
secession from the Confederation or from the
Union.
Oftho question Of Slavery the writer says
that under the Articles Of on'ederation
"there was no right on the part of any State,
or Of the people of any State, to control or
interfere with slavery in any other State nor
was there any power in Congress to regulate,
or interfere with, the domestic institutions Of
any State" Under these circumstances the
Constitution was adopted aud ratified by all
the States --"by the people Of the several
States, acting primarily, and not by the State
authority under the State Constitutions and
by ts adoption they became one people for
the purposes therein specified" The Con-
stitution thus adopted, became the paramount
law for ALL OFT the provisions Of the Consu-
tuition he says:
the Constitution leit slavery just as it found it,
except Boz two or three particulars u PROVIDED Tor an
apportoumeut Of representation upon a certain slave
basis but tl did not alter the STATE" OF the slave, Or
give Congress any power Co change OF modify IT, IN
gave auhurty f1 Congress 90 pfohnii the slave trade
thcr ls0s, lui h authority has been exercised 10 inn
posed the duty 0i delivering up fugitive slaves consul
uunralIy end legally speaking. DO De- as right that this
duty should oo pert Irmtd A. Do BE- ihAi lf power i' pro-
hiut the sayc-trodc should be exercised without ihc
Constitution, neither The power nor One duty would cN-
i.ted The instrument which confrs DE one. equally
imposes the other TO exercise enc power and refuse go
perform the duty, is not merely Unconstitutional
fraud All State laws therefore, enacted with design
~ cyading thc performance % the duty are violation
Of constitutional o legation, and can neither Do Jus'h-
cd hy law nor excused hy any CODE OF morals Inc Cons
sututon binds the United states on appcan9n go pro-
tect each state against aom',uo vDienge, "hen may
include serFc iusurecnnn nul ths does not chauBe
the relation % master and slave
or tno power of Congress TO emancipate
'~
the slaves in any state, he SAYS
. ... ...
" he United states nave mo- au,h''l9 I" Snahc'pate
me slaves ln ant o'tte, eAe'p' a. ~ '", W Une w u
suppressiouo 80 lnsurrccou ne persons VINO reoel
may he punished t,""Sh 'h,i' properly auN ln uet''
mining NhAt y 20 oe iyAUutu ~ pup.' =! ielsr,li.t
may De haa 70 me avs OF 'ne 'tte IN ~.N ut "ru,e
was committee ih' COINS A'Yu ~ 49, nay VIZ
ioie De p'ts ~ tis pun'si , ~ s,i '' a.
fence uhs pnnl,nWeu' 'i 'lnu''A.l'h ~ itI as
n D. ei,l' punishment mus, '' 1''s o". m W. A-
manner AZ "'h'f FNurh"'hls are, "1 k"'IN ave l'I
t1ai. conviction. ana judgment lheie s ho more Au
tnHn} 20 Hce.,re' by g'uei" Jaw hal We si.F,s
40 .. hos shall Doc fee' "tont provision iof ua OF
sHn''Ai A" ih' A 'eo''' s""" '' NA"s'' "''"'N ''1
Pf4,ls'h l'f lnel ....... e.. .-....
rato the slaves except as part "i hs mlAiy opera
tons and tuese cannot extend u'S'Nu 'he A'N power
oi emancipation as means ~ 'ne ll.u'
rc.u"nf b. cnheN uuea'oi) 0oiai "@ us nl.'aY Mi'l
extends, So iaI m'fuAl "a" pl.'aa' A'l H'I''n 'H
snpefsedes' lof te ume n.lhe' 'n' '"NmSSp.' l.N' W.
those particulars in which there is conflict between
them.
me ,.c pa5 DC STATE s~' owes 10 81. master is
o5mi9a'a 'r che me being ADa me ''ye a,a' nv h,u
rau. To- afee state the clause Of tho Consultation re-
s 10 e5ree return becaa.e F. j. aot applicable to
, case q slave, "ho,e geg 81 ,eTs' n s.miha,sa
control over them When ne master cease. ,opto,de Tor
an, claim. 5. f. aoau tie government, whose m,sry b.
5 a sns , s.. ,t s, b 9s. ..ys s c S az e.
ery rsoel master could maintain no such lain u
him, L OF bis liberty, he canno, rghua be sent beck
d ',e Hd me martial law ceases or tie
master % case Of hl' hspt' r,,a5ns s"e i',ones m
ouc DO r-h, 10 freedom could aterward be asserted
ny mal,. Is would BE- only temporary upon he sub
J,.'maet. Aod YOU'D n3 eDae' '''' circumstances
+ .Hr noplrt Of the duty u 'he commanding officers
ea'sa tat o'eo may enter ~ maintaining be- posses
DID,. a