Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-07-06


slavery in the Territories. of disunion The al,erna
tive of refusal.
have endsavored consider this question Of aggression
calmly and justly In looking at controversies spreading over
thirty years indeed, may not carry their origin much
further back-l will say of the North what the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr Ross has just said OF the South,
but which is true, suppose of other similar in his
tory that she IS wholly without blame but will say, that
the result of examination has been sentiment OF surprise
the fvoousness of the complaints II my intention
TO consider, with particularly the alleged aggressons
OF the North but the clock gives warning that shall
only have time to touch upon single topic
The principal cause, believe, of complaint arises from
the alleged breach of our constitutional obligation with re-
spect the extradon of fugitive slaves OF duty in
this respect, speak in such manner that may
not possible misunderstood me here elsewhere. We
have promised deliver fugitive slaves their This
is portion Of the fundamental law of Government II
is not pleasant task might stronger language
the Union be formed anew, might absolutely re-
fuse assume it. But is plainly written il is part and
parcel of the compact and have to perform it.
Under such circumstances what is honest TO do
There two things may honestly do The first is,
stand by the constitution the other s to renouIce ito
enounce it toto, surrenderng its benefits the time
that be rejects its burdens. If believed with Carlson that
the constitution So compact with he'll should be
with Garrison disunionst-an open and avowed But
Garrison blends with his fanaicsn of justice he is
sophstca lrckster. He holds suppose, to the old
maxim, Give the devil his DUE" Certainly it has not
tered his mind that may adhere to the compact where
is for advantage and repudiae where il is dsadvanta
geous; take the benefit of spuaons in favor, and de-
cline to execute those that unfavorabe receive the re-
ward Of niquy, and refuse to do the Ubiquitous service To
his mind mne the issue is the constitution con-
suson union disunion. He chooses the latter altena-
tive He consistent his madness he is respectable IN his
folly.
But there are those who teach that the deliver
fugitive slaves is contrary the law of God and therefore
null and void and that in swearing TO support the constu
ton this clause may be considered stricken out This
theory, believe, had its origin in abolition convention
held at Buffalo, shall not attempt its reutation, for do
not think worthy Of very serious respectful notice. 1t
does not seem TO respectable. To my vision dishonesty
stamped upon its face In OF Pascas Provincial letters
the question raised whether honestly retain the
price Of murder. The Jesuit the question with dis
tncton 't" says he the party have fairly killed bis
man he may do So but otherwise not" agree with the
Jesuit upon the latter point If the bargain be SINFUL is
business refund the consideration money, we make
contract, to perform it, and receive and retain the
stipulated price Of engagement cannot purge ourselves
of wickedness by violation of faith The paths righteous
ness are not strswed with perjury.
grant guarantees; make new compromises
with slavery stand by those fathers made stand
by the constitution and the compromises of the constitution
He who will do is disunionist-a bold if he
avow his purpose, skulking if he deny it. am for
the Union, and consequently for the faithful discharge Of all
constitutional duties and hold this to be para
mount principle would not recognise any organization
counenance any party that should refuse expressly
knowledge and enforce 1t.
idle to sing praises to the Union and rail against the
constitution That is true worship. II is the constitution
that makes the Union; they nseparable. Neither
support the constitution by picking out the
parts that please As well might lecture his wife
the blessings Of matrony after ne had driven her from
his bed ard board r.
do doubt, sir that there good men, strongly OPP
posed slavery and strongly attached 10 the Unon and
who desire discharge their obligations God and to man.
who disturbed with scrupes to their duties under this
provision Of the constitution There is something strongly
repugRan to their feelings in the arrest and surrender Of
fugitive, not from justice, but from servitude respect
81,
partly in the character of the constitutional
QUESTION, and partly in shallow philosophy, that conuses
the boundaries that separate the acts Of which private
science the guide from those which falls within the pro-
vince of Government direct IF Governments be legit
they have their functions and to laws passed in the
ercse of such functions obedience is DUE This is duty
enjoned upon US equally by reason and christianity II is
not harder thing to surrender fugitive slave than to hang
innocent yet where the question of guilt inno
has been determined accordance with the prescribed
FORMS the duty of the sheriff the Of
the law Equally, in my opinion, is il the duty of soldier
TO fight in battle without subectng to preliminary review
the Judgment of his Government declaring Other
wise if every individual in the community sit
Judgment the of his Government and obey dis
obey according his notions Of what the law ought be-
should be exposed anarchy home and undended
aggression from abroad
have chosen speak very plainly upon this point Il is
time when public can be excused in paterng
vated sentiment though having its origin in benevolent
Impulse The defenders OF the constitution have
\
less popular opinion with which their trust invests
them, cannot be useuy employed than checking the
growth OF belief that the laws Of religion and morality enoR
4 the violation of the constitution.
But in what has the North offended Is in the admin
sation of the law Have judges and Jurors been false
the trusts imposed upon them If this 81, the charge
would have been distinctly made, and should have had
specifications Their ab ence, well positive evidence
the other side leads the belief that there ground
for complaint in this respect Certainly not to blame
II slaves sometimes run away, nor if having away is
easy to get them again. This is Inconvenience in
separabe from that description of property. Neither
States to be censured for the occasional acts OF individuals
entcing slaves from their masters Such acts usually
in the slave and not in the free States and their preven
ton is utterly out Of the power Of the latter.
But is snd that the Northern States have passed laws that
have made the constitutional provision referred to nuy
How is this will undertake Justify all the laws that
may have been passed upon this subject by Legislatures of the
Northern States believe that in this respect there is
ground OF complaint though much exaggerated But have
two remarks to make this point The first is that is by
no means true that ALL nearly ALL the Northern States have
passed laws of the character chiefly complained of which
understand 10 be those laws prohibiting State officers from act
ing in execution of the act of Congress Particularly my
State though often unjusty accused has such legislation
make relates to the under which these laws
enacted They passed consequence will not say
decision but Of an opinion expressed and delivered that Of
'ty of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United
States that the States have power egsate under the
provision relating to the exadon of fugitive slaves and that
all laws passed by the State supendng for instant though
FIR judicial Investigation, the right Of the the
dae possession of his slave null and void Under such
circumstance several Northern States, finding themselves
scharged from the litigation Of acting in aid Of the consitu
iona provision and denied virtually tile power protect the
of IN