The Portland daily press., 1863-01-03

To the Editors Of the Press:
In one your recent issues, which / cannot
command, noticed in some of your animad-
versions upon the Eastern Argus, reference
to credit claimed by that paper in behalf of
shareholders, that though they had the power
when our government was established to per-
petuate slavery in every State, yet with great
liberality and generosity they have, since the
Constitution was formed, actually abolished it
in majority of the States, thus voluntarily
placing themselves in powerless minority so
far as the whole Union is concerned. This.
do not say is the language, but l believe
do not misrepresent the sentiment of your CO.
temporary. The claim, indeed, is one have
many times before heard put forth in behalf of
shareholders by democratic politicians. But,
as amatter of history,i it true that shareholders
in any Sta to have abolished that institution?
or, even, is it true that any State, either by
the votes of Shareholders those opposed to
slavery, has abolished it since the adoption of
the Federal Constitution? If, Messrs Editors.
you do not deem it your duty to affirm and
prove that it has, will you ask, or allow me to
request, the Argus to name the States that
have abolished slavery under the present Con-
stitution, and give the dates of their legislative
action to this effect? Such an item of histori-
cal information have never seen published in
any of fournewspapers, and fit is in your pow
error that of the Argus, tofurnish it, with its
datal proofs, it would be ofreal service 10 the
chapter of facts. My own impression is-at-
tribdte it to my ignorance if you will, but l
beg you will enlghten me with the contrary
facts you can-that all, or nearly all, the abb
clifton OF slavery which has ever taken place
in this country, took place before the federal
government was instituted, or at least, before
the democratic party came into power under
Thomas Jefferson. II since that time a single
State has abolished the accursed institution, |
am ignorant of the fact, and would be thankful
to be enlightened. 1t is well for political. as
well as other writers, to "be sure they are
right" before they ''go ahead md especially
before they undertake to Justify and apologize
for what Wesley called "the sum of all villa
MES"
But suppose it is true that a majority of
States, since the adoption of the federal Con-
sttution, have abolished slavery thcrefrom, it
occurs to me to inquire why this fact should
be plead to the credit and advantage of our
southern Shareholders. Have they abolished
it? Certainly not Why then should they have
the credit and praise for what Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania have done? ? 1t seems
to me that the abolition of slavery in those
States should inure to the credit of the op-
ponents ofsavery who have purged themselves
of that sin, rather than to the praise of the re-
naming slave States who refuse to put it away
from them. | confess, never could see where
fore the good acts of the free States should be
plead as IA reason why we should commend
and be thankful for what the slave States have
not done. Why should the shareholders of
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South
Carolina, Georgia, &c, have the credit tor their
generous lberality Of abolishing slavery in
Massachusetts, Connecticut, r. Island, N.
York, N Jersey and Pennsylvania? Can you
tell? ID