Democratic banner., 1850-12-09

edly heretofore lent a hand to impair the
true spirit and meaning Of the Federal COM
pact, by legislating adversely to the c%onsti-
right of pursuing fugitivss from la
Dor. That legislation has tended to bring
in question our fidelity to the fixed guaran-
~ Of the Union, and has in some degree
those who would chcerfully
trample down, or break through the Con-
stitution and rend the Uuion, if, by so do
ing, they can put an end to Southern slave
Are we not, then, bound, when we see
the Union in jeopardy, and when we as
semble to do what we can to save it-toin-
woke the Legislature to retrace its steps
to repeSl ell the acts inconsistent with the
integrity and harmony of the Union, and es-
peciaHy to repeal those laws which infict
penalties on such Of our magistracy asshall
aid IN sustaining our federal faith, and
which deny the use of our prisons to citi-
zens engaged in executing the Federal
laws? Can we stand absolved from re-
proach, If, at this alarming juncture, and
with ardent professions of patriotism, we
pause half way in the path of candid incul-
cation, and fail to do what / have thus hast
lily and crudely indicated? Really, l think
not. The Countrywide only country we
have, or ever can have-is at stake : and if
we move at ell to save it, let our movement
be frank, fearless and effective"
That is the echo, S~enstor, which comes
back to your cry of peace. It is the voice
of . jurist and statesman; of one who proves
himself to be the worthy son of q distin-
and patriotic sire. / take thepains
to transcribe his words, that every man in
Missouri may look upon them in immediate
contrast with your own. They seem 10
have been written to confute you. They
are the words of a man who, with the FORE
sight of a statesman, sees the danger we
must meet, and points out the only path Of
He does not seek to diguise the
peril, nor the source oft. He finds it at
the action of the free Stotes-he
finds it in the enacted statutes Of Pennsyl-
vanis, and he lifts up his voice for their
He calls on every Pennsylvania
to stand by the "fxed guaranty" Of the
Constitutional repeal all the laws on the
statute book of that State levelled directly
or indirs city against that "6xed guaranty
and he exhorts the patriotic Of his fellow
citizens no longer to encourage "those who
would cheerfully trample down or break
through the Constitution, and rend the I'm
ion, if by so doing they can put an end to
Southern slavery" He is not duly impress
ed, Senator, by the treason you have found
in q cotton field! His mind deals with the
causes Of that discomfort, and it is too log
ical and clear to confound the effect with
the cause.
He admits that the spirit Of Abolition
must be crushed, or the Union 10 gone, for
he assures us that, this fell spirit is bent to
purpose Of putting can end to Southern
slavery"
He says, let US "proclaim That the Fugi-
tive Slave Law is constitutional, just, and
expedient't-that it is a law not to be dod-
gsd, evaded, or resisted, but honestly and
faithfully enforced-wbile you pronounce
it to be "~injudicious and ineficacious."--
This gives moral support to those who resist
Indictment and suggestion to such
as WOuIO IAN Lnu q nav th lie AAc Sttco
''danger"-while you cry "~peace." He
utters reproach to the North, while you
lavish praise on the North. It staggers all
belief that this should be. 1t is as if two
sctors on the stage had mutually lost their
part, and each had picked up and spoken
the part of the other, in place of his own.--
George M. Dallas speaks and feels as the
representative off %slaveholding State should
feel and speak-while Thomas H. Benton
speaks as if he stood on Free Soil, either
sympathizing with Abolition, or fearing to
offend it. A vessel on the deep has just
narrowly escaped shipwreck, and is fast
nearing rocks more fearful than thoss she
passed; while pilots and sssmen are taking
courage and skill to avoid the new and
greater peril, one snarling old sea dog
turns his back to the frowning pIecipice,
proclaims the ship safe!-that he saved her
by not tacking, and in the moment of her
nost awful insecurity, seeks a quarrel with
the crew, because they nave n5t Iisiisu INN
sole deliverer.
In that mutinous and selfish tar, Senator,
you may see q picture Of Yourself. You
are as blind to the present peril ofthe Union
as he was to the rock-your quarrel with
public opinion, is his quarrel with the crew
and your agency on land, like his upon
"a N-