The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-07

D. ne cledtlOh OF ] lerflloTlal government
for New Mexico, with like provisions
/. The adjustment Of the disputed boundary
with Texas.
). The abolition of the slave trade in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
.. The fugitive slave BILL
These measures in the judgment of Senator
DOUGLAS are just to all parts of the country,
and ought to be satisfactory to the people. And
yet seditous opposition to them is stimulated at
the North, on the ground that they sacrifice the
rights and interests of the North, and surrender
every thing to the South and resistance, Sc
cession, and rebellion, on their account, are
threatened at the South on the ground that they
are base surrender to the North of all South
ern rights. To use the language of the Senator
" At the South these measures denounced as
disgraceful concession to Free soilism for the pur
pose of securing Abolition votes. At the North the
same measures denounced with equal violence
as total abandonment of the rights of freemen for
the purpose of conciliating the slave power.
For these contradictory the people at
each end of the Union appealed to, to resist by
violence the laws of the land and the authority of
the Federal Government, even unto death and dis.
union.
"The Southern nulifers repudiate the authority
of the highest judicial tribunal on earth because
they allege it to be plant and corrupt instru-
ment in the hands of Northern Abolitionism
Here told that the same exalted tribunal
is a corrupt and supple instrument in the hands
of the slave power.
Strange and irreconciable positions Both
cannot be true, and | trust In God neither may
prove TO be. We have fallen on evil times when
passion and prejudice So far blind the iudg-
ment and deaden the consciences of men that the
truth cannot be seen and felt.
"The people at one end of the Union or the other
acting under fatal deluson upon this sub
ject. Should not pause and reconsider, and
reflect whether it is we they that have been so
grossly deceived 1t is my purpose this evening
TO give candid and impartial exposition Of these
measures, 10 the end that the truth may be
known. Ii does not become a free people TO rush
madly and blindly into violence, and bloodshed,
and death, and disunion, without fret satisfying
our consciences upon whose souls the guilty CON
sequences must rest"
This is correct statement of the views and
feelings Of the extremists in the two opposite
sections of the country. Is il not reasonable TO
believe that they are both mistaken; and that an
adjustment which is alike condemned by the
GARRIsoEs and GIDDINGsEs, on one side. and
TIE RHETTs and VE.ABLEs on the other, is
about as fair and equitable a compromise Of con-
licting interests, opinions and passions as could
well have been obtained7 We are sure that we
cannot be far wrong in sustaining such com
promise when it is as5ailed by such antagonists.
In his speech Senator DOUGLAS reviews with
great ability the numerous objections that have
been made To the Fugitive Slave law, and cen
sures in severe terms the extraordinary action
Of the common council Of Chicago, in its at
tempt at notification. As this portion Of his
remarks may be read with especial profit in
quarters where similar movements have been
advised and recommended, we copy il entire:
"The common council Of the city Of Chicago
have assumed 10 themselves the right and ac-
tually exercised the power, Of determining the
validity and consttutionalty Of an act Of Con-
gress, and have declared il void, upon the ground
that 1t violates the Constitution Of the United
States They have gone further: they have de-
olarcd by solemn official act that an act Of the
American Congress fought not 10 be respected by
an intelligent community and have called upon
the police Of the city 10 abstain from rendering
any aid assistance in its execution What IL
this but naked, unmitigated notification An act
Of Congress nuhed by the common council Of
the city Of Chicago! Whence did the council de-
rive their authority have been able to find no
such provision in the city charter, nor am aware
that the Legislature Of Illinois il vested with
any rghtfol power 10 confer such authority. I
have yet 10 learn that subordinate municipal
corporation IL licensed 10 raise the standard Of re-
bellion, and throw Of the authority Of the Fed
eral Government at pleasure This ia wonder
fol improvement upon South Carolinian nullifca-
ton. II dispenscs with the trouble, delay and
expense Of converting legislatures and assein-
bling conventions Of the people, for the pur-
pose Of receiving themselves back into their
original elements, preparatory 10 the contem-
plated revolution. II has the high merit Of
marching directly 70 its object, and by a simple
resolution, written and adopted on the same nj Rht
relieving the people from their ath and allegiance
and Of putting the nation and its laws at defiance
II has heretofore been supposed, by men Of anti
qpated notions, who have not kept up with the
progress OF the age that the Supreme Court Of
the United States was invested with the power Of
determining the validity Of an act Of Congress
passed in pursuance Of the forms Of the Constitu-
ton. This was the doctrine Of the entire North,
and Of the whole Union, when IL became neces-
sary 10 exert the whole power Of the Government
10 put down South Carolina notification But
the spirit Of the age il progressive, and is by no
means confined 10 advancement ia the arts and
physical sciences. The science Of politics and
government is alec rapidly advancing TO maturity
and perfection. II is not long since that hoard
a distinguished lawyer Of this city propose an i'm
portant reform in the admirable judicial system
Of the State, which he thought would render II
perfect, II simple and eminenly prscti-
cable that ii could not fail 70 excite the sdmira-
ton Of even the casual inquirer. His PROPOSE
ton was, that our judicial system should be 90
improved "a 70 allow appeal on all constitu-
tional questions from the supreme court Of this
State TO two justices Of the peace. When that
shall have been effected, but one other reform