Year: 1859

The Constitution of Georgia contains n provi.
sion in these words "fhere shall he no future
i'm mportation Of slaves into this State from Africa
any other foreign place, after the first Of 0c'
tober next Q79l). In the Legislature, not many
days ago, bill providing for the steps necessary
to the striking'out Of this clause was presented
and discussed. The principal argument in behalf
of the bill was that urged by Mr.. Atkinson, who
said


The time has arrived in the history of this
country for men to take position OH this 6ject,
and the southern people ought to pluck the beam
uu. of their own eyes before they attempt to cast
the mote out of the eyes Of cur Northern brethren.
If we first purge our Constitution and our laws of
these abolition hereses. VIC can then,consistently
ask the North to believe with US but while we
acknowledge the evil Of slavery by prohibiting it
from our shores, can we expect them to cali it any
thing but sin There Is but one way to fight
this question, and that is 20 place it the right
ground, the strong ground. We demoralize our
course by taking weak positions and making un-
founded admissions. l hayo not the slightest
doubt Of our final success if we take right ground
and shape our actions accordingly. If wo take
wrong ground, l fear all is lost. The fire of fa-
naticism is coming down upon US to resist it sue
cessfuy we must put on the panoply of law, and
arm ourselves at every point. This we cannot
do while we acknowledge that the means by which
We acquired it ought to be prohibited"


Mr. AtkinsOns logic is clear and unansw cradle;
the right TO hold and breed slaves at home in
wolves, ofcourse. the rishtfulness of importation
from other lands; hence the constitutional prOhib'
iton above quoted, and still more the laws of the
United States declaring the slave trade to be pira
cy, stigma upon slavery and Shareholders
which the latter, by every motive Of consistency
a.e required to remove. The BILL after hot dis
cussion, was defeated by ono majority--the vote
standing Al to 46. Subsequently, the question
was reconsidered- G2 nays 3S--with the un-
Outstanding that tho bill should lie on the table
and not be called up this year.A. S. Stand
ard.


A FucIrIvE SLAVE FITTED Our FOR CANADA IN
THE IIEREIyER CIRCUIT CouRr.--A Circuit Cour,
is now in session in the village Of Herkimer.-
Yesterday young negro was brought into the
Court from the Jail on the charge of stealing some
cloth. In answer to questions by Judge Bacon, he



denied the charge of theft he said that for thil-
teen years he had heen slave in Virginia. and
when arrested he was on his way to visit his uncle
in Canada His frankness and manner Of reply
10 the questions put to him. satisfied all presen,
that he was no criminal, and that his route had
been from Virginia by the Underground Railroad
Before leaving the stand purse was voluntarily
raised for the negro by the members of the bar, tU
which the Judge added on his "note," and the
slave was last night licksted by Underground
Railroad" to the residence Of his uncle in Cana
da, with some change in his vest pocket to proyidt
himself with sustenance on his route.


Without any idea of such material aid, the pool
slave replied to the Judge that he intended to walk
to Canada as soon as released from confinement
IN day or two he will fnd his uncle, we trust
and his freedom too, by much more eonvenien
and comfortable mode Of travel. But what shal
be said of a Judge who gives his money TO a poo
negro fleeing to citv of refuge p ttica Herald.