Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-09-30
END OF
SLAVERY
FORESEEN
In concluding "Reminiscences Of Negro who was familiar
Of Jefferson Bruce Grit relates how slaverys end
was predicted

ready possesses and restore them 10
the states. l would leave to public
opinion the correction of the errors
into which one or more states may
temporarily fall. The. general gov
ernment is now too strong. The in
dependence of the states may be
crushed by it, This Is a matter upon
which my opinion has long been
formed and ! do not believe l shall
ever alter IT,"
Il grant you." said the chief justice.
that the general government in time
OF peace Is strong--by means OF its
patronage in this office-loving coun-
try. perhaps II is too strong. For
here. as all men profess to love the
Ipeopae. AL man are anxious 70 serve
jthem ust1nd alUayeAeleycz czu be
well paid: but In time Of war the case
is far different In a free government
there always will be parties holding
different and adverse opinions. ma
jority OF the people OF Massachusetts
honestly. as l believe. for ! agreed
with them. thought the last war with
Great Britain was unwise IL not un-
Just and wished TO terminate it. A
majority of the nation equally honest
beliexed the war necessary and prop
New England states. expected. as she
had a right to do. all her constitution
al power TO place the national govern
ment In a condition which would in
duce IL to make peace. The states
severally possess all the attributes OF
independent government. Each state
has Legislative and executive de-
partment; II has treasury. judic-
larry, " means of its chartered banks
1t has in effect the power of coming
money. and 1t has its militia. whose
officers II appoints, an organized
army. The New England states
therefore had all the means. IL | may
SO express myself. of legalizing rebel
lion against the general government
They refused. as they had consu;u-
tionally the right to do. to loan their
money to the nation. and in conse-
quence of II the money of the nation.
in the shape OF balance or accounts,
flowed into their Golfers and was
there boarded. When the news of
peace arrived. the credit of the gen.
eral government was PROSTATE, its
regular army was reduced to less
than 5000 effective men, and 1t could
not recruit that army because the ma
tional treasury was bankrupt and not
n dollar In coin could be furnished
to pay the soldier Hence II Is most
evident from experience as well rs
from reasoning that the more power
YOU confer on the individual states
the more you weaken the defensive
power of the nation. and the more you
endanger division of the Union"
Before Mr.. Jefferson had time to be-
gin a reply, MIR. Dexter said he did
not apprehcnd any danger of sep
aration of the states from any DIFF
ference OF opinion as to the ordinary
measures OF government. The people
OF every state are strongly attached
to the Union and to prevent d.
vision both parties will always yield
a little. Public opinion will force
leading politicians into a compromise.
But there Is one evil continued
Mr.. Dexter, from which apprehend
that dreadful result mean slavery
In the southern states and the slave
representation"
"Oh." said Mr.. JEFFERSON. dismiss
your fears ON that subject; slavery
will soon be abolished in all the
states"
Never" said Judge Marshall;
never by the voluntary consent Of
the slave-holding states.r
Il regret" replied Mr. Jefferson.
that 90 attentive an observer ~ you
should entertain such an opinion. l
we'll knew that e the time American
Independence wls declared no NOM
ber, either North or South. expected
that slavery would continue ~ long
a. Il has
u can we'll believe that" said Mr..
Writ. for thsy must have felt that
The uontinuance q slavery Was direct.