The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-10


MADISON.
From the National Era.
The Compromise Of the Consultation.
No. l.
The compromises Of the Constitution, which
were originally made in favor Of the Southern
or saveholding States, were, first, in the repre-
sentation in Congress, by which three fifths Of
all the slaves allowed and counted as free
nen. The effect of this concession is, that the
-layeholding States, have, under the census Of
1910, twenty-one members in the House of
Representatives, that they would not have if
the freemen Of the slaveholdng States were re-
duced 10 the same standard Of political power
which is allowed TO the freemen Of the non
slGveholding States. As an illustration: New
Hampshire contains 2s4 ,573 free persons, and
sends four Representatives TO Congress. South
Carolina contains 26o 800 free persons, and
sends seven Representatives to Congress-ihss
making the vote Of one free man in South
Carolina nearly equal to two free men in New
Hampshire, or any other free State.
These tweniy-one members in the House Of
Representatives are equal TO the whole repre-
sentation Of the States Of Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Thus virtually DISTINGUISHING in that branch Of
the Government five OF the free States, or in the
State Of Pennsylvania seven out of every eight
free men, or every man in the State Of Ohio, or
one in every six throughout all the free States
Of the Union. This compromise Of the Consti-
tuition, which in effect DISTINGUISHES ,e42 $50
free men In the free States Of their political
power, Is felt to be sufficiently humbling and
ouerous to induce, at least, the inquiry whether
the Southern States have any Just cause to CON-
plain Of the want Of power anc influence in
the House Of Representatives.
But in addition to this, with a population of
less than ohe-third Of the whole, they have an
eqaal number of Senators, with the remaining
two-thirds Of the people Of the United STATES;
whilst they have been cautiously INDUCED with
holding the Executive chair and the disuensa-
ton Of its patronage for forty eight out OF sxty
years, the whole time our present form Of Gov.
eminent has been in existence. Truly. our
Southern sisters seem querulOus and hard TO
satisfy. They declare their int al on 10 dlssolv.
the Union Of the States, and leave us, If we re-.
fuse to give them one or two more slave States,
with the consequent majority In the Senate, 10
enable them TO control and restra the legisla.
ton Of Congress. Will they leave us for sucb
a eause7 Patriotism aud common sens, an.
swer, No! But "quOs Deus ruh perdsrs pr,us
dementat."
The next compromise in the Constitution in
iavor OF the slaveholding States is contained 10
the following clause: mo person held 10 ser
vice or labor in one State, under TIE la,cs thereof
escaping into another, shall, in consequence OF
any law or regulation therein, be discharge6
from such service or labor but shall be deliveries
up, on claim Of the party to whom such SER
vice or labor may be due"
Congress 10 by the Constitution invested with
the power TO make all idps rhiek are necessary
and proper TO carry into eject not oHIv tAis p,o.
rision in relation 70 fug,fire sapes bIf an erbs,
po1cers rested by Il in the Go,,,nmsnt AZ "A.
United States, or any other department. or ot5c,y
fhereof. In the exercise Of the power inns
granted, the Law Of 1893, prescribing the means
oy which fugitive slaves should he reclaimed
ana delivered up, was passed. This Law i'm
posed certain duties and obligations unon tba
ofhcers Of the States, to aid the G aimant of n
fugitive slave in the recovery of hi, per.o,
thus constituting the officers Of the Sta,s. m.
ofhcers or agents of the General Government
me provisions OF this law were passively ac-
qu,esced In until within few years, and faith
iuiiy carried into execution-in some cases "a
luctantly, but in others most willingIv h.
magistrates and constables prompted bv n.cn.
mary rewards. fN~"
IL was found, however, too tardy and exp.n-
sve In its operations, to meet the views Of ali
siavenolders, and the system of kidpann;n.
without form OF law, was resorted to. Tina
negro was surprised, whether in reality an .h-
sconding slave, lawfully held to service or Iabo,
or free man, and hurried into n alavs STAT
where the laws declare the color Of the skim
pfesumPtive evidence Of slavery, and the prooi
Oh MS title to freedom thrown upcn himself
'gnofan'' without pecunIary means, and with
public prejudice against him. Out az a casa Of |
this kind arose the decision of The S.n,s,'a
Court OF the United States, that the law ~ 200
was altogether unconstitutional and void. so f,r
as u imposed duties and obligations, either unon
states or their officers, and that the General
government and its officers alone must be Iook-
% TO- Tor the means by which slaves can ba re-
claimed and delivered up-a decision nrsc;..i,,
% accordance with the principles Of the noli,i.
,ai text-book Of .he South, the eelebra.osi I-.o-
~ r'ons OF tne Virginia Legislature Of res
ne Jaw Oh 1888 10, under this decision, found
'" sunc'ent 70 answer the demands of the slave
holders Of the South. Their pow.r. an G.
'ress, notwithstanding their excess of renrsssn
ation IN proportion to population in one branch
mo an equality Of numbers In the orher Mir
resident OF their own political school. have
,o' ye' enabled them to surmount the diff,euI-
les thrown In their way by the Supreme Com,
ihey soughtto obtain the decision that = mar
as right to take a slave "toho Queen him ..r-
ace or faoor," wherever he can find bim-snd
ney got It. The on-slaveholding States bsv.
cquissced IN the decision. They now say
ome' and take all the slaves who .ove ~,
srvIce or labor" In conformity with m. CO,
'itution and the decision Of the SunI.m. ,
our'-out hrst show your title! Make n oood !
such evidence as is required in all Other ca
y OF property; not only in the non.slaveboIS.
% ont also in the slaveho.ding States. Tim. :
10 relation between the slaveholGinp and m.
on -slaveholding States at the present s,ma
I'm respect to fugitive slaves. The highest ;n' 5
ciai tribunal known to the Coustituiion h.. q
'c'oed the question. The slaveho older can /,
'me and take his slave, and il he shinSs mon. !,
can invoke the officers of the C.ns,.I G
nment to aid him In 90 Going.
Inc same decision has informed Tia S,.,..l
az they are under no constitutional obligssion c
!, s'a or facilitate the delivering up Of psr,ons
'la 70 service or labor BY the laws of snotbs, =
s.e. Inc only obligation remaining with ~.
.'es u, to sec that their Sovereignty, ,lisn,sv
q 'noependence, are not impaired. by hsvip,
eur citirens kidnapped and carried into .la. o.
~, wnnoetths party claiming and srrestiny Ia
nsving proved that the person claIme5
~, -. ~ sns laws Of Some State. .o,ve him
Lei i % sspPossd that Congress .hsl .,.c, Ia
NEST s'he'snt Law that he Cepseitntisskl