Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-08-29
Letter of Justice Rr0HlSol.
4. ALBANY. July Is.

/ 9, albany, July l5,. 1913, :;
GENTLEMEN:-I received your letter
inviting me to be present and address .
meeting to be held in the Park, in the
city of New York, on>the 18th inst, "for
the purpose of ratifying the nomination
of Martin Van Buren, for the Presidency,
and of. contributing to the extension of
free soil" ~. ~,
When twas appointed a justice of the
Supreme Court, something more than IL
years ago, | deemed it proper 70 withdraw
from all active participation IL the politi.,
cal conflicts of the day; and to that res.
olution have ever since adhered. My
democratic principles and opinions have
remained unchanged; but have had very
little to do with political affairs beyond
giving my vote at elections. Notwiih-
standing the change which has rseently
been made in the mode of selecting iudg
es, shall stiIf Ieaye the strife o. party
politics to others, SO long as Iremain ip
a judicial station. You will, see, fieourse
that cannot accept your invitation. L. a
But it is not perceived that there can
be any improperly in expressing my o,
pinion upon one OF the topics to which
you have alluded. 4. Lam utterly opposed
to the extension OF slavery into any fer
ritory of the United States where it does
not now exist. But do,not think it ethics
necessary or expedient 10 call upon Con,
gress to legislate on the ,spbiest. The
relation Of master and slaves does NOT
exist by the law of nature; nor has the
claim of the master, like the right to pro.
perry in general, been recognized by all
civilized communities. Slavery cannot
exist where there is. no positive law to
uphold it, 1t is not necessary that j.
should be forbidden; it is enough that it
is not specially authorized. 1.-THE owns
er of slaves removes with or sends them
into any country. state or territory. wbers
slavery does not exist by law. they will
from that moment become free men, and
will have as good right to command
the master, as he will to command them.
State laws have no extra territorial air
thority; and a law Of Virginia which
makes man a slave there, cannot make
him . slave in New. York, nor beyond
the Rocky Mountains. -,
Entertaining no doubt upon that guess
ton, / can see no. occasion for asking
Congress to legislate against the. exten-
sion of slavery into free territory, and.
as question of policy think j. had bet-
ter belle alone: IF Our Southern breth.
ern wish to carry their slaves to Oregon.
New Mexico or California, they will be-
under the necessity of asking law to
t1,a rropk -. ouJ = .x,;Il thar ho in finao
for ths free States to resist the measure.
as cannot doubt they would with uH.
wavering frmness. ,e,. :.
{ | would not needessly move this cues
ton as it is one Of an exciting nature,
which tends to sectional division, and
may do us harm as a people. * would,
leave ii to the. slave holding States to-
decide for themselves and on their own,
responsibility, when if ever, the matter
shall be agitated in Congress. 1t may be
that they will act wisely, and never move
at all-especially as it.seems pretty gen.
orally agreed, that neither Oregon, New
MeGiconor California, are well adapted
to slave labor. But if our Southern
brethren should make the question, We
shall have no choice but meet il; and
then whatever consequences may follow.
trust the people of the Free States will
give united voice against allowing sla-.
very on a single foot Of soil where it 10
not now authorized by law. s9-o
% am very respectfully,
D5a. Your obedient servant .sot
-qss g q GREENE C. BRONSON.
To Messrs. JoHa CocHkAN and ofhsfss
Committee. Ca