The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-05-12
s9,OO PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.
NUMBER 40.

limit the equality of man, or the right to life
and liberty, to the white, to the brown, Or OF
the copper-colored races. 1t includes all ra-
ces. 1t excludes none. .-sa
We do not deign to argue with you OH the
terms of the American Constitution; and yet
we cannot help asserting that, in that Con-
stitution, the word Slavery" or SLAVE" is
not to be found. There areindeed, the words,
''persons bound to labor" but it is not said
how bound. And constitutional lawyer or
judge, constituting the American Constitu-
| ton with reference to the Declaration of
Independence, which is its basis would not
| hesitate to decide that ''bound to labor
on ght, III a court of justice, to mean ''bound
by contract to labor;" and should not be held
to imply 'forced or compelled to labor" in
in the absence of all contract, and for the
exclusive benefit of Others.
However, we repeat that we do not deign
to argue this point with you, as we proclaim
to the world our conviction that no constitu-
tional law can create or sanction slavery
Slavery is repugnant to the first principles
of society; but it is enough for us to say, as
regards Americans, that it is utterly repug
nant to that declaration of the equality of all
men, and to the inalienable rights Of all men
to life and liberty. To this declaration the
free citizens of the United States have,in the
persons of their ancestors, solemnly pledged
their sacred honor"
We shall at once show you how that ''sa-
cred honor is basely violated, and also dem
onstrate how totally devoid of candor your
address is, inasmuch as you rely on the Con-
stitution of the United States as precluding
the abolition Of slavery, while you totally
omit all mention Of one District, which the
constitutional law alleged by you does not
reach. We mean the District of Columbia.
In the District of Columbia there is no
constitutional law to prevent the Congress
from totally abolishing slavery within that
District. Your Capital is there. The tenn
pie of American freedom is there-the hall
ofyour Republican Representatives--Ihe hall
Of your Republican Senators-the national
palace of your Republican President is there
and slavery is there, too, i'll its most re-
voting form! The slave trade is there
human flesh is bought and sold like swine
in the pig market-aye, in your Capital
as proud as they please, this black spot is on
their escutcheon. Even under the shade of
the temple of their Constitution, the man Of
color crawls slave, and the tawny Ameri-
can stalks a tyrant. 2tr
The cruelty of the slave principle rests not
there; it goes much further. The poor and
paltry privilege of prayeris denied them; and
you, even you, pseudo lrishmen are the adj
vocates and indicators Of such a SYSTEM
What I! would not you, at JeGsl, insist their
groans should be heard.
1t is carried still further Even the free
born white Americans are not allowed to pc
tition on any subject including the question
Of slavery; or, at least, no such petition can
be read aloud or printed. And, although the
Congress is allowed to abolish slavery i'll Co.
lumbia, the door for petition, praying that
abolition, is closed without the power of be
ing opened.
We really think that men, who came from
i generous and warm-hearted Ireland, should
shrink into non-entity rather than become
the advocates and defenders of the system
Of slavery. But we trust that the voice
of indignant Ireland will scatter them, and
prevent them from repeating such crime.
In another point of view, your address is,
| if possible, more culpable. You state that
| before the Abolitionists proclaimed their wish
| to have Slavery abolished, several slave-hold-
ing States were preparing for the gradual
emancipation of their negroes and that ln-
name individuals in other States were about
| to adopt similar measures.
We utterly deny your assertion, and we
| defy you to show any single instance of pre-
paratory steps taken by any State for the
emancipation of negroes before the Abolition
demand was raised. You violate truth in
that assertion. There were no such prepa-
| r. &c n tnl ~,
Shareholders out of their un ust luminosity tC
the Abolitionists. 1t is said that tie fear Of
Abolition has rendered the Shareholders more
strict, harsh, and cruel towards their wretch
ed slaves, and that they would be more gen
tie and humane if they were not afraid Of
the Abolitionists. We repeat that tins is
not true and is merely an attempt to cast
blame on those who would coalesce to pat
an end to Negro Slavery.
1t is in the same spirit that the criminal
calumniates his prosecutor, and the feon re
viles his accuser. 1t is, therefore, utterly
untrue that the Shareholders have made The
chains of the negro any heavier through any
fear of abolition.
Yet if you tell the truth, if the fact be tina
the negro is made to suffer for the zeal 0
the Abolitionists if he is treated with in
creased cruelty by reason Of the taunt Of tn
friends Of abolition, then, indeed, the slave
holders must be truly Satanic race. Ihei
conduct, according to you, is diabolical.-
The Abolitionists commit an otfense, and tn
unhappy negroes are punished. The Adolf
tionists violate the law Of property, and tho
penalty Of their crime is imposed upon the
negro Can anything be more repugnant
to every idea of justice? Yet this is YOU
statement.
| We, on the other hand, utterly deny the
truth of your allegations and where we fine
you calumniate the STAKEHOLDER, we become
their advocates against your caumny. You
calumniate everybody-saves, Aboitionists
and veholders-framers Of constitutions,
makers of laws-everybodyl The slave
| holders are not favorites of ours, but we will
do men justice, and will not permit you tt
impute an impossible crime to them.
| You tell u.s. with an air Of triumph, thai
public opinion, in your country, is the great
Iaw-giver. fit be so, how much does it en-
hance the guilt of your conduct, that you
seek to turn public opinion against the slave
and in favor Of the stakeholder. that 20,
| laud the master as generous and humane, anC
disparage, as much as you can, the unhappy
slave instead of influencing, as lrlshme1
ought to do the public mind in favor Of thu
oppressed You carry your exaggerations tx
a ludicrous pitch, denoting your utter igno
rance Of the history Of the human race
You say that 'the negro is really inferior al
a race; that slavery has stampedit debasine
influence upon the Africans; that between
him and the white-almost century would
be required to elevate the character Of The
one, and to destroy the antipathies Of tn
other You add-we use your own words
''The very odor of the negro is almost insult
ferabIe to the whites; and however mucf
humanity may lament it, we make no rash
declaration when we say the two races cannot
exist together ON equal terms under ouI
Government and our institutions"
We quote this paragraph at ful1li!ength, be-
cause is it replete with your miscellaneous err
rors and guilty mode Of thinking
In the first place, as to the odor OF the ne,