Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-05-24
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

=. Wv" on"Si my mana tHlS ION DAY
February, lS47. H. WINGATE, J.P.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Frankfort. Ky, Dec. III, 1917,
Slr: The last general assembly adopt
ed the ANNEXED report and resolutions il
reference to certain proceedings had in
meeting Of the people of Trimble AM
Carroll counties in this State, which nov
have The honor to forward. agrceably t
the directions Of the legislature.
have the honor 10 be, very respectful
ly, your obedient servant.
WIN. OWsLEY.
Gouelnor.
w. D. REED,
Secretary Of Stale.
10 the Hon. Jos. r. Underwood.
These proceedings disclose state ot
things affecting deeply the relations OF
the States to each other and to their
common Union under the constitution;
and the rights and duties ofbo,h are es,
sen'ially involved. What laws may be
and a ought TO be adopted by Congress,
tor the protection Of slave owners, in re-
Claiming their fugitive slaves escaping
into nan slaveholding States, depends
upon the provisions of the federal con-
sl''ul"n and the laws Of Congress made
Tor their enforcement, as we'll as up
on the laws of the non slaveholdinp
States, that may in anywise affect or in
teriere with the remedies which the cil-i
izens of The slayeIolding States suppos-
ed were 10 be fund in, and were affects;
ed. by them. The second Il esolution ur..
ges upon CDR gress the Importance Of
passing such laws al jul Il enable
the citizenssof Kentucky, and the o,Ier$
slave States to reclaim those sslai as that
RofdTdg sFaies of'iilis Union; thai they
declared by the said.laws the severest
penalty (ur their violatson that the con-
stilulion OF the ,Uuited States W II toll
crate. :.
This plainly expresses fearful truth
that the laws now in force are made
quate 10 remedy the 'evil; or that the
non sIavcholding States will not recog-
MIA and enforce them according 10 the
obligation which it was intended they
should impose on the parties to the fed>
cral compact.
That compact originated in the inte.
rest, and was intended for the mutual
security ofits members. 1t was adopt.
cd by wise and practical statesmen in
mutual spirit Of concession, Of compro-
mise and of iustic..7 and the abiding
guarantees for its harmony and preser-
vation and perpe,uity, must be GOOD
FAITH. When thar ceases to operate
on the confederate States, these guar
antics will lose the sustaining breath
Of their life. They will be appeal
ed to in vain, when their is reluc-
tance or aversion 10 observe and en-
force them: There was some elements
Of discard. arising from dissimilarily Of
sectional interest, TO be adjusted by
those who framed The compact. But
The great and wise men upon whom the
task devulved did not look upon these
elements as theoretical philosophers, or
speculative legislators. Nor did they suf-
fer sectional prejudice, much less Sec
tional bigo,ry, to control their counsels.
All the different parties had their pecu-
liar rights. and it was the object Of all
to respect ard secure'lhem in subservi,
cncc to the common dcsire-mutual sc.
curily-as one people involved in a
common destiny,
The slavehoIding States at that time,
the strongest portion, but from obvious
causes, likely 10 have peculiar position
would not have entered into the confed-
cracy without express recognition Of
their Institutions, and without what they
supposed, some practical guaranty OF
their rights to use and enjoy them ca.
pabIe of enforcement Whilst they re-
served 10 themselves the right Of deter
mining their own policy in reference to
slavery, they claim The right in the con-
stilulon Of prohibiting Congress from
interfering with them. Nay more, that
Congress should protect them against
the interference Of others, both against
foreign powers and against the legisla-
tion Of their confederate members. The
latter entered into a constitutional pledge
10 give 10 the slavehoIding States The
full dominion and control over thei
slaves escaping into their territory, will
express slipulations 10 "dsliver up" tt
their masters or owners, such fugitive
as might effect their escape into fre'
territory.
The clause of the constitution NOR
Immediately involved in the suhjec
, matter Of this report is as follows: