North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-05-17

down the doctrine tn ct oil men were created
equal, and had certain inalienabls rights that
among those were life, liberty and the pur~
SUIT of happiness. Now, il seems to me, that
party, mn intelligent party that understands
all the doctrines and princip pies of.o Cow
ernmeut, in this does great injustice to that
instrument and to the trainers Of the Consti-
tuition Of the United States. When we take
the Declaration of Independence and connect
with il the circumstances under which IL vas
written. is there man throughout the length
| and breadth of this broad Republic who be-
lieves for one instant that Mr.. Jefferson. when
he penned it had the negro population in his
mind Notwithstanding, he says that 1'sil
mer are created equal, and that they are BY
their Creator endowed with certain insiiens-
bic rights, that among these are life, liberty,
| and the pursuit of happiness" is there an ia
telligent man throughout the whole country,
is Senator. when he has stripped himself Of
ell party prejudice, who will come forward
and say that he BELIEVES that Mr.. Jefferson,
when he penned that paragraph Of the Dscla-
ration of Independence, intensd ii to embrace
| the African population h there sgentleman
in the Senate who believes any such thing
Is there any one who will stake his reputa-
ton on the assertion that is the correct in
terpretion of the Declaration of Tndepen-
dence There 10 not man of respect able
intelligence who will hazard his reputation
| upon such an assertion. Why then induieu
in this ad captanduns discussion 2 Why try
to deluds and deceive the great mass of the
people by intimatins that Mr.. Jefferson
meant Africans or the African Eace 2 How
were we situated when MIR. Jefferson pennsd
the Declaration of Independence Did hs
no: own slaves 2 Did not most of the persons
in the Congress which adopted the Dsclars-
ton own slaves, and, after the Declaration
was adopted, by way OF giving correct in
depreciation to it, what do we find incorpor.
atod in the Constitution of the United S,atcs
Were negroes then considered the persons
who were embraced in the Declaration Of In
dependence 2 In fixing the representation,
slaves were regarded AZ property, and only
three ffths of them were TO bc counted
clearly recognizing that they were one Of the
forms of property, and not persons intended
TO be embraced in the Declaration of Inds-
pendence, as contended by some. think it
is clear.
What more was provided in the Constitu-
ton of the United States, by way of giving q
clear construction to the Declaration of Tnde.
pendence ? 1t was provided that vfugitiyss
from labor should be restored to the States
from which they escaped upon demand being
made. Does that look as if this description
of persons were embraced in the Declaration
OF Independence, and were considered equal
to the white race 1t is evident to nv mind
and must be SO to everybody else, thas Mr.
Jefferson meant the white race, and not,he
African race. The Constitution givesit that
Interpretation. And his own acts, and those
of his associates, when they were framing the
Declaration of Independence, owning slaves,
and afterward passing laws and making wills
which provided for their regular descent 40
confirm it. Then it seems to me
that this does not avail the Senator much.
Very oound argument and just conclusio
Negroes were not Considered aa citizens when
our Government was formed !; but mo an in
ter'or and dependent racc-just a. Democrats
aud white Republicans now hold them TO be.
MR.. JOHNSON NOT AN ALLYor SENATOR WADE
CT OHIO,
am charged with being an ally Of the
Senator from Ohio I, who, from my earli.
est infancy, OF from the time first. csmpre.
hended principle, down to the present tims,
have always stood battling for the same great
principles that contend for now NV peo-
pie know me they have tried me :. they
have tried me and your little inusndoes and
your little insinuations will not scare them,
it even nfuristed seeding Southern men dare
to intimate that am an ally of Mr. Wade-
The Senator charges me with being can ally"
while he and the leaders of Abolitionisn are
uniting NIL their energies to break shis elori.
Gus Union. an ally! Thank God, I am
not in alliance with Glddings, with Phillips,
Garrison, and the long list Of those who are
engaged in the work of destruction. and in
violation of the Constitution OF Che United
States. s-f
Excellent! Let President Johnson toll
and show to the country that he in not in
alliance with those sbliton fanatics and 9th.
ers who were and are enemies of tho Coneti.
tuition, and he will find that oil conservative
Union men ara with him. -"s.e '.7
HE is OPPOSED TO cEssIoN-AAoLIrfoxlsrs
....sr ARE DIsUNIoNIsrs.
In most that shall say on this ocession, I
shall not differ very essentially fron ny
Southern friends. The difference will con-