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New Mode Of Abolishing Slavery

New Mode Of Abolishing Slavery image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
April
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The prosperity ór destruction ofnations, like that of individuals, mny often bc traoed lo the occurrence of on e vent in its history, or to the establishment of a single principie in its government, the iiifluence ot which was pcrhaps not at all nppreciated by those who first observed it. He is the greatest slatesman who can most rcadily discover these elements of power, for good or evil, in their incipient state, and best mould and fashion them for the accomplishment of national purposes.Anti-slavery rnen should be on the vvntch for Ihe development of these principies of power and encrgy,and be ready to seize them, in thcir inl'untile state, for the purpose of hastening omancipahon. And they will do wel), in attacking Slavery, to notice those parts of its fortification about whichhe defenders are (he most solicitous. We must attack it where if is most vulnerable. We are frequently asked, liow can you ubolish Slavery constitutionalïly We have lieretofore pointed out several methods of doing it. We now j)iesent anothcr, in the words of an able and experienced Wliig Slaveholder - a method which only requires aerty President, and a major ity of on e in eack branch of Congress. Listen to Mi. Rivks, of Virginia. The following extracl is f rom bis speech in the Señale on the Texnsquestion: "But more than all, and beyong all, he would ask Southern gentlemen how they vvould then stand in regard to that great. fundamental act, which constituted the sole securily of the South as to the retention of thejr slave property ? He referred to the act of 1793. It was the act for the delivery of fugitive slaves; and gentlemen must remember. that it had been solemnly decided by the Supreme Court in the great case of Prigg vs. Commonwealt.h of Pennsylvania, that the power of enforcing such a delivery was exchisivehj in the hands of Congress. Theindividual States had no power to pass such a law, and if they did it would be under thaí decision;nuíl and void. Now, if gentleman senctioned the right of a mere majority to consummatesuch an act as now proposed, involving consequences so important, another majority might take their ready revenge in repealing the ac of '93, which would in practice amoun lo a virtual PROCLAMATION OF U NIVERSA.L EMANCIPATION!"Here. then, according this statement ot Senator Rives, we have the means placed before us of successtully "proclaiming Universal Emancipation"! We think the gentleman has not overrated the efficiency of "that great fundamental Act" of 1793, and we shall doubiless be ready to improve upon his suggestion. The passage of such a law was not required by the Constitution, and several of its provisions are entirely repugnantto that instrument. The Slaveholders may be assured that this act which Senator Rives declares to be the "sole secuiuty of the South as to the retention of their property" will be repealed as soon as we get the power to do it. There can be dispute about the constitutionality of repealing it.[fa majority of Congress can make such a law, it is plain íhey can repeal it. The immediate effect of its repeal will be to make a Canada for the fugitives through all the Free States. And what will a slave be worth who can be free whenever he pleases to step over the line of the Free Slates - a line that will be twelve or fifteen hundred miles in extent? Emancipation will follow a's a matter of course. When the master can no longer get his ground tilled.by whipping his laborer, he will pay him for doing his work.We cali on Liberty men to remember that. according to Mr. Rives, ihis law is the "sole secuiutv" of the accursed institulion. Let us take away this prop, and it will fall. We give notice to the Slaveholders and all their serviles at the North, that we shall do it. There are means enough for abolishing Slavery. - It can be done by two thirdsof the States: by anti-slavery political action in each Slave State: by excluding Slaveholders from all offices, State or National: and by repealing the act of 1793. Here are four ways of doing up our work polilically, in addition to all the means of reasonand argument that we can use with the existing political parties. Many more sourcesof successful altack against SJavery may yet be developed before we sball be prepared to usethem. We shall not be confined to one method. We can use several or all of them at once. - "Where there is a will there will be a way." Let Liberty be in lhe same national ascendency that Slavery now is - let her have the Presidential Ghair and a majority in both Houses, and she will ded out blows u pon her adversary that will need no repetition.CC?3 The Whigs in New York city now sustain the attitirtde of a third party. At the recent city election the Whig vote for Mayor was about 7,000, the .Native 18,000, the Democratie 24,000. The Democrats have a small majority in the Council. Inthis discouraging minority, Greely of the Tribune ad vises his friends to hold fast to their principies, whether thcy be victorious or defeated. He does not seem to be at all afraid of "throwing away votes," or of "voting.for somebody who can't be elected."

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News