The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-06
GUBERNATORIAL HONESTY.

entertain somewhat paItlal anu Incohsistent NJ
tons of the obligations imposed by our national
compact. Under that clause of the Constu-
ton which prohibits Congress from passing any
law impairing ",he right Of the People peacea-
bly, to assemble and petition the Government for
redress Of grievances" they conceive that
they have a right to beseige one branch of the
Government with endless petitions, to the seri-
Gus interruption, or, if they should so please,
total destruction, of its proper functions; and
until, by subjec,ing il TO sort of duress, they
succeeded in extortng compliance with de-
mands which could not constitutionay be ac~
coded to. THY pretend to believe that the fra
mers of the Constitution have luckily for them
but most unwittingly, inserted clause in that in
strument which exposes other carefully consider
ed provisions, and, in fact the whole instrument,
TO be assailed with impunty. The clause in
question might, indeed, be perverted TO the &C
complishment of any other purpose, as well as
Of their designs on slavery and, II the inter
probation contended for were admitted, we
might, in course of time, witness in Congress
scenes similar TO those which took place in the
French National Assembly during the Reign of
Terror, when the people of Paris insisted on
taking part in the deliberations Of that body and
terrified it into submission. Some Abolitionist,
perhaps, more bold or tanaical than the rest,
might claim the right TO petition orally as well
as in writing and insist haranguing Con
gress, day after day, on the sin of slavery.
On The other hand, those provisions of the
Constitution which were most expressly intend
ed and most cautiously worded for the purpose
of protecting the peculiar interests of the
South-about the meaning and spirit of which
no earthly doubt can exis-without which the
Constitution and our Union would never have
existed, and which, therefore, are its most i'm
portant provisons-are regarded as imposing no
obligation beyond the mere letter of them. 1t is
openly proclaimed by Governor Of State,
that they shall be construed like Shy locks bond
so, to use his own words, as not TO give one
sciuple more of living flesh than the bond re-
qures;" and State Legislature is recommend
ed to tax its ingenuity in order 10 discover means
of evasion.
The second section of the fourth article OF the
Constitution, having in view fugitive slaves
says" No person held TO service or labor in
one State, under the laws thereof escaping into
another, shall, in consequence of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such ser
vice or labor"
If the clause had finished here, it would have
been amply sufficient for the purpose in view, if
honestly obeyed according to its spirit; but it
goes further, and peremptorily provides that
Ill he. diacharu,b
" bu, shall be delivered up on claim of the par
~ TO whom such service or labor may be due"
1t enons not only passive but an active duty
The view which the new Governor of Yer
mont, his Excellency John Maitocks, takes of
the obligation imposed by this section OF the
Constitution, is such, we think, as the framers
of that instrument could hardly have dreamed
would occur to any man OF suihcleni moral or
intellectual capacity to be elected Governor Of
State. One third, or more, OF his recent Mes
SAGE. il occupied with the subject Of slavery in
our Southern States After deploring the exis-
tencc of slavery, in the usual exaggerated and
Gna,ical phrases, he say: "a State may not
infringe the compact as it exists on the subject
of slavery any more than other parts of The Con-
s,i,u,ion. We hare all s1rOrn 10 support that
instrument; and 10 attempt 10 Grade or repeal
the oath, by casuistical sophistry as 10 Ills
binding force, would be neither just nor wise"
One would suppose, that this express reference
to the soemnity Of an oath, and particular eau
ton against sophistcal evasion, would be a
natural a.d proper prelude 10 the recommends
ton Of some measures for fulfilling, according
to its spirit, the clause which we have quoted.
They would seem TO indicate a returning sense
of duty to the South, and a patriotic wish in
Governor Mattocks TO do his utmost to quiet the
apprehensions Of his felow-citzens in that sec
ton of the country. But, his ExcelencS though
Vermonter, sis not quite so green"-as he
would probably term any volunteer 10 the path
of honesty. His intentions are just the reverse
and he, in fact, gives the Legislature to under.
stand that he has been studying The subject for
the very purpose of discovering some "casuisIi-
cal sophis,ryn by which they may all encourage
themselves in an "atempt to- evade or re.
peal the oath" Of which he so solemnly admon
ished them. After discussing what he calls
"tbe unhappy decision" of The Supreme Cour
Of the United States made in January, 1912, in
the case Of Prigg rs. the State of Pennsy lvapia,
he deliberately offers the following recommcn-
datons TO the Legislature, as the most ingen-
Gus means that he can devise for evadny both
that decision and the Constitution:
al therefore recommend TO the legislature 10 pass
q law prohibiting magistrates acting under the
authority Of this state, from taking eognixapcs Of