Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-17
a Ecaleasoagu IegNseseea.

words uttered By Mr.. Daniel Ncns,er I,l lo,'U
~ say. that standing here, (renarked Mr. y :,
the soi,oI of Virginia, beneath an Ocooef sun
in The n, es OF this assemblase before my chLll'
country, and upon all The responsibility winch oe
longs 10 me. say, that there is no power, uIee
or indirect, in Congress or The Genera uots ~,
ment. 10 interfere, in the slightest degree wiz" "''
institutions Of The South" Ten yea. Ell, :.
a srceoh which he made in reply 10 Mr.. Hsyhs
Of Souih Carolina Mr.. Webster used this ian
guaoe: aThe domestic slavery OF The SCUM,
leave where find tin the hands OF iheiI owl
Governments. Ii is their affair, mol mime. ~
1910. he reiterated The sentiment, ana aeGeI,
hold lha, Congress is absolutely pfccludea ho',
interfering in any manner, direct or Indirect
with this as with any other OF the institutions .
The South" The Southern people concloe WIN
a dSins uisled son Of Massachusetts IN 'heSe on
nicEs. 10 reon,e
peaceahly 10 assemble and 10 petition The Govern
imenl for a redress of grievances; but iley con
lend that slavery is "lheir affair" ana FOL sle,
ance 10 the Norih that Congress has no r'S" !, -
leris!a,e on The subject; that The cilzeiis o. lnc
free States abuse and perveTtihc rish' o. le:..on'
ana by invoking Legislative action, ale seehlns .
use he Government as an engine oi asi'a,uion,
dangerous 10 The peace Of The South, as wen a.
to the pcrpetuiiy of The Union. Unless the on'o''
itself be grievance TO The people on '"c NH ,n;
slayeholdinc States, We do Eot see why'liev snn"o
co,nnl,in Of slavery, rs they have necessarily no
corncxon with H. save through The provisions VI
The Constitution OF The United States.
In ratfving the Constitution, The peeps, o.
Massachusetts, as we'll as those Of me o.Eef
States gave their assent 10 every paHoi the LOT
stitulion. and bound themselves 10 comply iahh-
| fully with all The obligations which il imposeu
upon them Tie Massachusetts Convention &c. de-
| clared iha. its members, HAVING lihPaf'.dll,,
discussed and fully e0nsidcred the Cohsli.u.,oI,
were willing 10 ratiiy the same, "acRno~ie ss
inc with grateful hearts, the goodness OF The Sn'
nrema Rnlcr of the Universe in atiordIns The
| neop,e Of The United States an opportunity,
! deliberately and rcaceably, aritioht ffara 81 s"f-
py,M. OF entering into an explicit ana soitihh
| compac, with each other BY asserting 10 arc
! ratitvipg a new Constitution, in order 10 form a
more perfect union establish justice, insn1c do-
mesi,c iranqni!iity," &c. No ratification couid
we'll have been more deliberate and solemn. II
Massachusetts has changed her opinion OF the
Constitution, she has no right TO expeclolhei STATES
to follow her example. Until Tue CONSTITUTION Is
altered Massachusetts is bound 10 fulfil every
duty which that instrument requires from her Gill
zens. No new views Of liberty, no feelings OF
philanthropy. no new scruples OF religion, will
constitute a legitimate defence for the direct or
indirect violation OF her piish'cd faith and honor
In speech delivered in The House OF Repre-
senia,ivcs in January, 1910, by Mr. Slade OF Yer
mont. now Gov. rnor Of that commonwealth: he
used the following language: "By coming into
The Union, The North made slavery IN sense is
oWn-ti.a, is, 10 the extent Of The express stiEuia-
lions 10 which have referred Again, lin adopt
ing The Constitution the North entered into ST.
puiaiion 10 deliver up !ugtives." We hope MIR.
Slade will Eecp:these truths IN remembrance, anu
1 Sipy thpfn NJ
minds of Northern men. The North certainly
did enter "inio a stipulation 10 deliver UP 'ugi-
tives" and that provision OF the Federal Consii-
tuition received the unanimous support oil The lc-
deral Contention. In 1893, Congress, apprecia-
Ting the dnlv of aording protection TO the rights
Of The citizens oil saveholding States, passed law
10 encble them 70 recover their fugitive slaves
The people Of The non->ave-holding States knew
then and know now, that The Federal Govern.
mcnt possesses the exclusive right 10 regulate The
manner in which the "claim" OF master 10 his
fugitive slave shall be made; and they know fur
ther, tina, all State legislation, which, directly or
indirectly limits or Restraints The right oil recovery
OF fugitive slaves on "claim" as defined and pre-
scIibed by The law Of Congress, is utterly nuia and
void The Southern people, having the consi
utional right 10 recover their fugitive slaves, and
Congress having provided method 10 enforce
that rish', j, Unqucstionably became the duty OF
ll.e MISUNDERSTANDING States TO inicrpose no OBJ
siacle 10 the certain aud prompt execution al
law cnInating from a Government, the laws OF
which are the supreme law OF the land. To pre-
vent The enforcement OF the law providing Tor The
recovery offuCire slaves, By clamor, menace,
OF violence, is 10 nulliy an act passed in confer
nifty with one ofthe planrs, provisions Of that
Constitution, 10 which line non.slave holding
States have given their deliberate and weil-ccn-
sideied assent. In substance, il is equivalent 10
saying iii is true, that We citizens of The non
holding States are bound BY The Conslin-
ton and laws passed il pursuance thereof, 10 Ie-
sore 10 you your fugitive slaves, but We believe
slavery 10 he sinful, and therefore, W. will not
obey the requirements ofthc Constitution ami laws
in this regard, but should Congress pass any laws
which will advance The interests oil The North,
you Southern men must not obstruct their en-
iorcement, and il you 10, wewiil dcnounce you,
and urge Congress 10 pass a law coercing you
into submission atthe point 0! the bayouei. We
will mol incur the odium Of nIlliiicaion b. call
ing State Convention, and passing an ordinance
setting aside the law in relation 10 fugitive Slaves,
but We will accomplish the same end is Icsorl;ne
10 legal Cui!bes mob ordinances, and oher expo
dienis, which we have oiien employed with entire
success" With truth, might Mirabeau say, That
words were things, for the history OF The world al!
fords many striking complications
In dlG.US dnG escape VI
slaves from time 10 time, The citizens Of The non
saveholding States thus engaged, have conlempi-
uousy dsresar,.et The injunctions Of the Consli-
tuition, violated The supreme law OF the land, and
manifested their want Of respect Tor The rights Of
their Southern brethren. Not content with with
holding their cooperation in enforcing the law Of
Congress disdaining TO he passive, citizens of'he
free States have againand again openly denounced
the law, excited spirit OF opposition, and Ivy c'a-
NOR or force, evasion or fraud, sought TO render il
perfectly imperative. To aid fugitive slave in
making his escape is regarded as prasewor!!:y
10 arcs, him. criminal, by those who, uninindin
especially careful 10 see that those powers by
which. The Federal Government cen benefit the
| North, shall be fully exercised and persevering
| IL maintained in despite Of all opposition. No
candid and intelligent citizen OF The free States
will deny, that The security Of the rights oi pro-
rcr,y is one Of the most important objects Tor
which government is Instituted. That The Con
siiluion in authorizing the recovery OF fugitive
slaves, recognizes them as property, is equally
tue and inconuovenitlc. Respect FOR the rights
of property, and perfect obedience 10 tie !aws;ic-
signed 10 enforce those rights, are among he high
csi obligations OF every American ciiiZcn. Es
lieious scrupcs or speculative views of human
rights AFFORD no valid ground Of opposition 10 The
| laws OF The land, since men differ widely as 10
human rights ans equally as to The true nierpre-
lalion of The Bible. Anarchy, dscord and rcvo-
| luton are the consequences OF allowing each IN
dividual 10 obey or disobey The laws. according 10
his perception Of right or wrong. Religion does
not command US 10 bid defiance 10 The laws Of
the land, in order that individuals may test their
theories Of social happiness nor does morality
teach US that We DO right when we deprive our
fellow citizens of that which The laws recognize
as property stranger, tell the Laccdnmonians
that we lie here in obedience 20 their laws" wa,
The brief inscription 10 commemorate The heroic
devotion of Lconidas and his faithful band al
Thermorylr. Those gallant men had not only
been obedienl 10 The laws Of their country but lhe
erowning act Of their patriotism was that they
were otcdient even unio death. Deeply 10 We
regret, thai the people of Massachusetts and ether
States are so little dispose /. follow an exam
u.L eli, i..as han1ar