New-York tribune., 1866-12-26
SLAYERY IN MAINLAND.

We have briefly noticed the startling fact men-
toned by our Baltimore correspondent that the slave
trade was being carried in Maryland by the judi
cia and executive officers of that State under the pre-
tended authority Of the Maryland Code and in alleged
accordance with the National Constitution. Advertise
ments announcing the sale for term Of years in pur-
suAnce Of the sentence Of Court and the authority OF
sheriff will excite feeling Of something moro than
surprise in the breasts of hundreds Of thousands who
for more than year have been accustomed to thank
God that Slavery in America had been constitutions
ally abolished. They believed that they had lived to
see the day long prayed for when in his westward
course over our ocean-grt Republic the no longer
rose upon a master set upon slave. But here is
new and hdeous vision Of auction blocks in front Of
Court Houses for the sale OF " slaves and other cat
"tler with sheriff as auctioneer fourishing his
judicial record and pointing to the Constitutional
" Amendment abOshng Slavery" as confirming its
validity. Even those whom the olden time had so
conquered their prejudees to contend that Slavery
was not crime, must feel that its unbushng revival
at this moment and in this form is to say the least
blunder.
The responsibility for the existence Of this anomaly
which tends to make us contemplate in the eyes OF
the world and despcable in own, rests primarily
with the Congress which, in proceeding to amend the
Constitution for the abolition of Slavery, and intending
that abolition 10 be total and final, neglected to
words that indicated their intention. Earnest
suggestions to this effect were met by. the
reply that it would be more historically
interesting, and would exhibit more con-
tinuous and uniform legislation TO adopt and
incorporate into the Constitution the identical pro-
hbition Of Slavery framed by the Fathers Of the Re-
public and embodied in the ordinance that secured
freedom to our great Northwest. To the indulgence
of this sentiment, which thought then, and which
we still think parOOk rather Of idle pedanry than Of
sound statesmanship is the country indebted for the
fact that American Slavery and the slave .ade are
carried on to-day under the shelter Of that amend
I ment. An absolute prohibition Of Slavery, without
exception, would have passed Congress and
would have been ratified by the people of
the States as readily and certainly the which
was adopted and yeti its place We have the
following article authorizing and justfyng Slavery in
class of cases which, If left to the decision of the
Rebel States, may be enlarged and extended until
Slavery is made once moro their peculiar institution;
| "Art. Kill, sec. 1.-Nether slavery nor in.
voluntary servitude except as a punishment for
"erims toLsreof the party shall hare been duly con-
"vietsd, shall exist within the United States
"or any place subject to their jurisdiction" :"
Until some new amendment shall abolish this ex-
cepton, seryitude for crime will be permissible under
the National Constitution; but what we have TO do,
and what we can do is to see that it is inflicted as
punishment only for crime and not for color This
subject may properly engage the attention of Congress
under the second section Of the Amendment empower.
ing them 70 enforce the article by appropriate legisls-
ton. But the true remedy for this and other abuses
to which the blacks subjected by State legislation
inspired by Slavery is in exposition by the Supreme
Conrt of the United States of the true meaning and
effect Of the Constitutional Amendment, in giving to
the Republic National policy of equal freedom and
equal justice.
The allowance by the Amendment Of Slavery as q
punishment for crime may seem to initiate against
this view bat IL should be remembered that, by the
first article Of the Constitution apportioning repre-
sentaves and direct taxes persons bound TO service
"fOr term Of years were expressly included among
the number of free persons" and that it not
common for the German and other "redemptoners, :"
they called thus to bind themselves to sort Of
Slavery Ear labor and obedience concerned.