Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-02-27

some such very silly questions, that l should
deem them too foolish for reply, were it not
that knew them to be the result of want Of
examination and reflection.
"Does not the Constitution give the right
in some States to hold slaves2"
Give mo, pray you, particular attention
while answer tbis question, for never was
there greater fallacy. or one more pertina.
ciously urged than this-that the Constitu.
tion somehow confors the right of slaveholding
l have carefully examined the opinions o
men who have written ON law and the rights
OF man. and all my thoughts and research
have tended to one result. All the Constitu.
tions that were ever framed, or that can be
framed by man, have never given or can give
one single right whatever. Rights, men and
brethren, einanate from God himself, the eter-
nal source Of all good, and from nowhere else.
God has endowed men with rights. each aud
all Of which are absolutely inalienable Man
may, by crime. forfeit the power to exercise
his rights, or by tyrants bs debarred their
use; but the ri gilt remains and shall remain
when the earth on which W. tread, and all the
countless starry host that surround Us shall be
swept into eternal oblivion. Constitutions
and laws are made to define aud protect rights.
not to originate wrongs. The Southern
thieves know too well what their fate would
be, were law to have full sway FROM bench
of uncorrupt judges. When, some twenty
years since, the State Of Massachusetts, sought
to test even in Southern court the right Of
South Carolina to imprison and snslavs the
citizens Of Massachusetts. her agent was driv.
en- from the State in imminent peril Of his life.
and plenty Of Copperheads were then found
to approve the act.
But the slaves do not wish to be free !;
they are happy and contented as they are"
II this were true, which is not tue case. 20
much the worse for the accur.ed system. Men
have no more right to be slaves. than We have
to make them so. All the faculties Of man
were given him for his use and improvement,
and the possession of these faculties carries
with it the duty to improve them for his own
sake and that Of his posterity. II there were
no other charge against slavery than this,
that it makes its subjects willing victims, it
would for that alone demand our unqualified
execration.
But why meddlc with slavery here in the
Northl Why not let it alone. or let the
South manage their own affairs ?"
We cannot let it alone If we would, and
ought not If We could. It is our concern a.
members of common humanity, and our es.
pccal concern as citizens of one common coun.
try, nation and government. AS men, what
ever concerns man concerns us, and we can-
not iniurc or permit others TO injuro tho -.oct
humble Of our fellow men, without suffering
injury ourselves. But ss citizens, we are
equally responsible with the citizens Of the
South for tho continuance Of the crime of
slavery. am not sure but VIC arc in fact
more so. for while they are the Marc-0~me1s
W.T. are the sIare-holtlcrs. SIare.OwRers un-
ders.and this well enough. They have al.
ways claimed our interference, not indeed to
abolish or amend, but TO perpetuate and de-
fcnd the accursed crime. And for nearly
hundred years We have granted their impu-
dent demands; and tho very war they arc
now waging against us is because Of our re-
fi,sal to yield further concessions in favor Of
the iniquity.
But some say: 1--WE nre for prosecuting
the war with vigor; to fight on and to fight
ever until peace is conquered, and then We
can arrange the slavery matter"
That would bc to prolong the war, while
fragment Of either portion Of the nation re-
mains. Effects will follow their causes to all
eternity; for it is an eternal law that they
shall do so. SLAVERY, AND NOTHING ELSE,
Is THE CAUSE OF THIS WAR; and while the
cause remains the effect will follow.
Our good, bu. sometimes misled President,
was slow to discover this plain truth; being
prrblind by long looking through slave.toler-
alton spectacles. But the stern logic Of events
has taught him that justice is not only q
moral but a military aecessity. He is begin.
ming to see, and the nation is being made to
s-e, through rivers Of sorrow and oceans Of
blood, that tho cause Of all our woe must be
rcmored. Covering it up won't do. Blind
folding our eyes will not destroy the light.
Men and brethren, your eyes must b. opened
to this truth: Slavery must DIE. that We may
Ire. With al tho earnestness that all hold
dear can give. with all the solemnity that a
life fast verging to the grave can impart. en-
treat. implors you, tear off the vail Of preju-
dtce that blinds you. The poisoned arrow
Of slavery that has been fostering in the body
of the nation for century has been poulticed
and blistered. puked and purged. with no
effect but to undermine the CONSTITUTION.
Let such quackery cease. While the arrow
remains tho patient languishes. and must die
unless soon relieved Tear it out! Shrink
not at the pain! Death is the alternative
Fear not to do right, which is always safe
Fear to continue longer the accomplice ol
crime, which il always perilous. Give the
nation chance to live and her natural vigol
aided. by her STRONG CONSTITUTION, will soon
heal all wounds. whether from misguided
friends or open enemies. Again ! say, give
her the only chasce for life. aud God will make
that chance q certainty.
"But does not the Bible recognize slave.
ry7"