My own opinion is, in view of the great principles of civil liberty out of which the constitution grew, and which it was designed to secure, that this law cannot be fairly and legitimately supported on constitutional grounds.
Mann expresses his belief that certain laws cannot be justified on constitutional grounds based on civil liberty principles.
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These are but specimens of what the Fugitive Slave law has already done, before the public mind has become familiarized with its brutalities, and while there is yet some sensibility to the claims of justice and mercy left among us.
Better be debarred from the privilege of voting at all, than to be mocked with the form, while cheated of the substance.
But such largesses to slavery as kings could not afford to give, and the robbery of an entire race of all its rights,--yes, and with authority, too, to make us help commit the robbery,--these are “factitious and imaginary” causes of…
Why, fellow-citizens, the ballot is worse than useless, if it be not FREE!
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