Page:The Barbarism of Slavery - Sumner - 1863.pdf/79

 73 the Constitution becomes still more apparent, when we read the Constitution in the light of great national acts and of cotempo-

raneous declarations.

First

comes the Declaration of Independour history, which in

ence, the illuminated initial letter of

men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable familiar

words announces that

" all



that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Nor does this Declaration, binding the consciences of all who enjoy the privileges it secured, stand alone. There is another national act, less known, but in itself a key to the first, when, at the successful close of the Eevolution, the rights





Continental Congress, in a solemn address to the people, loftily

announced



"

Let

it

be remembered, that

pride and the boast of America, that contended were the rights of

the Author of

these rights,

human

has ever been the

it

the rights for

By

nature.

which she has

the blessing of

they have prevailed over all opposithirteen independent States."

and form the Basis of

tion,

Now, whatever may be

the privileges of States in their indivi-

dual capacities, within their several local jurisdictions, no power can be attributed to the nation, in the absence of positive unequivocal grant, inconsistent with these two national declaraHere is the national heart, the national soul, the national

tions. will,

the national voice, which must inspire our interpretation of

the Constitution, and enter into and diffuse itself through the national legislation.

all

Such are the commanding authorities Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,"

which constitute "Life, and in more general words,

Human Nature," without distinction of race, or recognition of the curse of Ham, They need no adas the basis of our national institutions. " the Eights of

ditional support.

But

in strict

harmony with

these are the

many

the Convention which framed the Constitution Morris, of Pennsylvania,



utterances in

of Gouverneur

who announced

concur in upholding domestic Slavery ;

it

that "he would never was a nefarious institu-

tion;" of Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts,

who

said "that

we

had nothing to do with the conduct of the States as to Slavery, but we ought to be careful not to give any sanction to itf of Eoger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, and Mr. Gorham,