Communications: Is The Constitution Anti-slavery?: For The S...

Mkssrs. EDrroRS: - l observed in the Sig nal of the ISth inst. an article over the sig nature of S. VV. Poster, with the followinj capitón: 'The national government mus abuiish slavery," and containing the follöwjnj worde, 'The liberty party cantiot accomplisfi by their politica! power, the entire nbóütioi of slavery in the United Slofe?, without ar amendrrent to the Consthution thnt shal prohihit the existence of slavery in ony ol the States. Ii is not pretended by nnv, (01 at most bwtby very few,) that under the pres ent Constitution tho Liberty party, with the entire control of the General Government couJd abolish slavery within the limits of tb original States; while it is admitted by all that the Constitution requires the Government of the United Stotes (o suppress insurreciione ín any of the Sta:es." I aai glad that Mr. Foster has presented this subject to the. consideraron of the many y readers of your excellent paper. I like his caption. The di9cussion of this topic will probably elicit light, and aid in forminj correct conclnsions in relation to the uieaning of nome portions of the Constitution, and of tho duty of Liberty men under it. I aui o_ne of the few" alluded. toin the paremhesis. II the "few" are in error, discuseion may set thetn right, or, possibly, tlie many may be tet right. The "few" ore increasing their ntiraber with considerable rapidicy jn this region. Let politica! heresy, with whomsoever found, be exposed and rrjected. If the Constitution be proslnvery, it merits the detestation of mankind: if anti-slavery, there is error in its general construction, and Liberty nien ought to be disabuaed of that error. The Constitution cannot be amended but by the consent of three fourths of Ote States. Suppose, tiién, that three fourths of the of the States should become so abolitionized as to consent to the euggested amendmeid. what should it be? Why in Mr. F's. own words, it must "prohibit the exiatence of slavery in any of the States." I will venture to suggest, in form, an amenHaiory article to that effect, viz: JYo person teithin the Unilcd States shall be deprived oj Liberty, excrpl or the commttsion of crime. This, it is con ceived, would bea prohibhion equally binding upon all of the States; would take from the Slove States, at once, their power over the subject of slavery, and invest the General Government with power to exlinguish Slavery in the United Slaiea. If this be so, Mr. F. would be pleased with it. It would be the very thing he asks for - a constituí iona) abolition of Slavery- -that the conslituti..nal .duty of Liberty men to abolieh slavery, by Jimply enforcing the constitution, might b clear. Shall we then have such an articJe appeno'ed to the Constitution? The "few': on swerno: Why? Because such an , fftënt, added to-morrow, would be of no more , ,fprce than if added fifty-five years ago, aboui , w,hich time the twelve articles of amendments , wee added, the fiTth of which declares thnt , 4No .person ehall be deprived of Jife, liberty, or property, without due proceso of law," and that process ahvays proceeds in reference to j life and Ijberty, on the allegation of crime.- Has not ibis ai)endment abolished Slavery so ( far as an #ojendment can do it ? Is there a legal slavtf j the country? To enact the same over agajn in th,5 same, or a different form of words, - anü tjone, it is apprenended, can be t more explicit and unequivocal than the words E of tliia artjp}ei-would. peither make tbs Con e titutiqn "tronger, nor the power and duty of t the General Governmont cleareria reference rto tl.at matter. lf these views are corred their immediate adoption by the Liberty part is important for eeveru! reasons. 1 Poüticd reformers ohotild onderstand thi system to be refonned; for if the Constituí ioi be right, hey should direct their effort. ngainst its misconstruction and consequent mal-administration, an.l not againet the Con stitiiiion. 2. If the Constimtion be right, Überty mer should be its friends, not it e ene:nies. S. A unisón of opinión now may conduce te liarmony in the Liberty party hereafter, and 6ave rnuch effort and prevent perplexity. I have tsaid tiothing of putting down 6ervlle insurrectOF)d in "any of the States,' Tor if the Constitution enact the überty of all, thal, as an objection, goes by the board.