Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-16
Mr.. Bumnor on the oonstitutional
Amendment. 81

sen9te upon the anti SLAYER amendmsht
Of the Constitution
III, Sumter said thai the iifst, Thought
that would strike an. angel from the skies,
or stranger from AnotheF3plaee, iEeither
could be permitted to visit this earth with,
surprise, after viewing the extent and 70.
sources of qrfPeople, would be the fact
that there are four millions OF hubnon be.
ingSs held in ihez,most labjeoEs 6ondaRe,s
driven BY the lash like beasts, and deprived,
OF all rights, even that Of knowledge and
the sacred right offamily The stfaneer's
establishment would be doubly Increased
when be was pointed to theconStttution
as the guardian fthfs many headed wick
ton IN its true sense, aud say that slavery
could not exist by lis positive text. He.
(sumner) ooutendsd that the words
slave" aud .'slAvery"a did not appear in
the constitution, and IL the pretension OF
property In man turks anywhere 10 the
coastitutiou,it was under feiRuedinnme
He considered the preamble the 10y 70
open the whole Instrument t0ifreedom.-
BE would call attention to those chain
breaking words, mo person SHAH be de.
priVed of life, liberty or property without
duo process Of law" Scorniugl All false
interpretations and CLOSES, which may
have been fastened upon the con.
stitutiou as support Of slavery,
be would declare there was moth
Jog in the text on which the hideous
wrong could be founded. In dealing with.
this queslion.in th 10 past, It has not been,
the constitution. SO much as human nature
which has been at fault. Let the people
change, and the constitution would change
also, for the Constitution was the shadow,
while the people we're the substance. I'm
der the influences Of the present struggle
the people have changed, and in nothing so
much as slavery. Old opinions and preju-
dices have dissolved, and the Traditional
toothold which slavery once possessed has
been weakening gradually, until now 1t
scarcely exists. Naturally this change
must show itself in tho Interpretation Of
the constitution, md il is already visible
10 the concession OF powers which were
formerly deuted, and the time has come
when the constitution, SO long inter-
proted for slavery, may be Interpreted
for freedom. He couteuded, among
the concessions for power over slavery as
q military necessity. Many join with Pat
rick Henry, who, 10 the Virginia CONVEX.
ton, declared the power of mauumission
1 was given to Congress In the constitution,
and argued against it on that ground
Slavery receiving no support in the COZ.
situation, be commended, was clearly under
the control Of Congress, under the giving
Congress power 10 "prOyide for the CON-
mon defence and general welfare" To all
who would deny the power Of Congress over
i slavery, be referred to the words of Pat.
rick Henry, when he said on that subject
the constitution "speaks to the point."-
tie commended that under the war power
no one could deny it's complete efficiency
in enfranchisiug the soldiers. slave aud bis
family. 10 the words of Shakespeare,
when he makes Harry, on the eve Of the
battle Of Agincourt, say to his men to en-.
courage them: For he, TO day, that sheds
bis blood with me shall be my brother; be
he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his
condition"
He eonteuded also that the clause guar.
anteeing republican form Of government
to each state made it our plain duty to
abolish slavery, considering the essential
elements that constitute il, ne understood
BY our fathers. The clause that ne person
shall be deprived of life, liberty or proper
~, without due process of law, throws
protection over every person, with tut re-
gard to color, class or condition. He held
that this was not only guarantee against,
bat prohibition Of slavery. Ou the very
face of the constitution slavery Was an
outlaw, and in its express provisions be
bad shown from sources power, which.
if executed, rendered it impossible. Moth
ing but hesitaucy and delay in eradicatipg
slavery was unconstitutional. Slavery
was not only nuisance, but public en-.
envy and traitor in the rebellions states,
lending succor to them, and holding out
blue lights to encourage and direct their
operations, aud it must be abolished.
In reference to the question of compen.
sation, founded on the shameful assump
ton that there was property 10 man, there
was time when be was willing to pay
money for emancipation, But it was as a
ransom, and not compensation. Money
was no longer needed for the purpose. The
time bad come for the old tocsiu 70 sound
"Millions for defense; but not one cent for
tribute Millions of dollars and strong
arms 10 defend sur country against slave
masters; not Que cent for tribute for them.
Every dollar for Compensation paid should
go to the slave. he coutended that the
pretensiou to compensation for the re.
annexation OF system too disgusting to
picture or detail, was odions. Slavery
must be overthrow; FIRST, by the courts
! declaring aud applying the true prin.
I ciPles Of the Constitution; second, by
Congress in the exercise Of the powers
which belong TO 1t, and that by the people
BY amending the constitution to that end.
As the courts had failed to do their duty.
Congress, by single brief statute, viii
sweep slavery out of existence. If Con.
gEess may not do this, let the fugitive slave
law be repealed and all others conflicting
Nth the right of colored persons. But
beyond all, the people must put the cap.
stone on the glorious structure by an
amendment to the constitution. i bile
be was DESTROYS Of seeing the great rule
OF freedom which we were about 10 ordain
Iembodied in text which should belize
the precious easket toAtbe more pecions
treasure, be was consoled by the thought
that the most homely text containing such
rule would be more beautiful far than