Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-09-02
From the Old Guard, (mouthy)
RIGHTS THAT ARE OLDER THAN
THE CONSTITUTION.

nlCt our unhappy country proceed from 3
violation Of rights, which are not only
abnudanlly pro ected by the constitution.
but ere admitted 10 As older than the con,
gutu'ion itself,
Interference with slavery has brought all
this death upon our land: not sl1perg as
is strangely affirmed by Mr. Bancroft ard
Mr. Everett, but b,terference with slavery
is the cause of the civil strife.
Slavery is the cause of the wDr in no
a other sense than money IS the cause of
theft. II is true that men would not
eal if there were no money, just as men
would not destroy our country with an
\ agitation about slavery, If there were no
\ slavery.
But we do not nrnpose 10 abolish money
or property because bad men will steal it.
Nor is it n rational demand that slavery
should be abolished, because mishevous
fanatics will abuse the laws by agitating
against it.
The constitution Of our country recog-
uizes slaves as money or property. It
taxes them as such and in many ways
throws the protection Of the laws over the
institution.
We committed as great an offense
land, when we attempted to disturb our
Southern fellow wcilizens in the safe and
caceable possession Of their property in
slaves, rs they would have comuliivd mad
they attempted to disturb IA in our peace
ful tights of houses and lands We may
quarrel with our constitution, and fight
our laws-ue may say that the one Is o
F" covenant with death" and the other
"an agreement with heil"--but all this
ravjmg does not alter the constitutional
right Of States TO establish or retain sla-
very, according to their own sovereign
will,
1t is by the sovereign State will that
slavery has been abolished in the North.
I { is by the same sovereign state power
that it has been retained in the South -
Hour right 10 abolish, and theirs to retain,
springs from common fountain Of rights
which cannot be violated without destroy
ing the constitutional foundations cf the
Union II We destroy these rights OF
property in slaves, the whole grand struc-
ture cf constitutional laws that protecs
our right OF property taIl9 TO the ground.
We cannot beat down that aalf OF the
tempe Of laws which protects their heGlS.
and leave standing that hllrwhich shell
lers our own Were we 10 attempt such
athing, we should imparl sacred justice
to Reyolution-nRy, we should ms ke Hon-
rsvohii0n crime against liberty and right.
Possibly we may dislike slavery. But
that is our own private affair. The gov
ernmenJ was not founded for the benefit
Of our likes or dislikes Other States APP
provo cf il rs much o. we condemn it !;
and the constitution extends an equal
protection over all. We have no more
right to punish them for approving, than
they have to punish Us for diiapproying
IT, The Federal Government has 20 more
right to oonfscate slave property in some
States, than il has TO confscate church
property in other States.
Our hatred ur slavery does not invali-
date one Of its claims 10 all the protection
guaranteed toit In the constitution and
laws of the country On this subject
there can be no grounds for dispute
among honorable and intelligent men,
The constitution does not leave Us in
doubt
Article l., section %, OF the constitution
recognizes slaves as persons TO be repre-
sented b. their masters, and as property
to be taxed.
Article l.. section Sth, authorizes Con-
gress to Suppress iHSurrection; which clause
F.. was intended, says Chiet Justice Story, as
. - protection to the save States.
Article l., section 9,hl prohibited Com
gress from suppressing the slave-lrade
prior to 1903, and gave Congress power to
impose tax or duty upon each slave im-
ported before that time.
Article w., section ID, eompels the
States to give up, OH claim, Fugitive :lavei
to their owners
Article w, section 4tb, again makes i
the duty Of the Federal Government Il
protect any State applying to 1T for aiC
" against domestic violence"
Here are no less than fve sections o
the constitution, which recognize an'
give protection to slavery.
Notwithstanding this, madman by tn
name Of PoEerOy, Of Kansas, recently
declared in his place on the floor OF Con
eress that he . did not believe that AM
slaves were held by any right or any law.
If this man ,Pomeroy) we're the only
mailman in this North Of orrs, we should
not be noN at war with our sister Stat es
IL Is because we have had millions %
4 IOuleFONes WHO uuNo Oceu HEbA'bE tli
constitution and laws Of the Republic
that we are now perishing by civil war.
Millions of our Norlhern people hav,
been so misled on this subject of slavery
that they are entirely blind as to Ia,
rights OF the slave-hoiding States. w,
everywhere hear them talking Of wha
they are going to do about slavery a
though il were reslly in their power to d
ANYTHING about il, without a violation 9
Law, and Of the sacred rights Of our siste
States.
Slavery is q matter over which the nor
slaveholdng States have no cohtrol, an
with which they have, legally. nothing t
do, except 10 obey the laws and respec
the constitutional rights OF the States
Those rights exist, not merely under 10
constitution. but over il. They existe
before the Union was formed. and, in tn
Articles Of Confederation, no iota OF thos
rights was relinquished The consinl
ton was sanctiooed by them. rather tha
thy by tho constitution. Had not this
instrument admitted the sovereignty {