The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-19

| y.
| assistance herein, rest YOUR servant.
WILLIAM BERKELEY"
"vfaalS,A, the 18th June, l644."
| This principle, coeval with the first establish.
| ment OF our free and religious ancestors in the
Western World, md nc know ledged and acted up-
on a sort of voiuntary family conpact, sprin9ina
out OF the relations Of kindred and neighborly in
tercourse among the colonies, was after the Of
our National Independence, converted into a SOL
emn and binding cuntract among all the States, and
now forms OF the chief of our pre-
cent constitutional Union The single question 10,
shall this contract be fairly and faithfully performed
by those who entered INTO il, who still live under
the protec tion OF the Union OF which il a fun
dauental condition. and who pledged TO each other
their sacred faith 70 abide by and fulfil all its obi
cations.
say the question il reduced 70 this, for after the
utter failure of every attempt to impugn the con-
stitutonality Of a law identical in principle with
that Of 1888 which has already passed through the
ordeal of repeated judicial decisions, it is apparent
that the real objection felt to the present law Is that
it is somewhat better adapted in its details than its
predecessor to carry into effect the object OF the
constitutional Injunction Has it not, indeed, been
openly proclaimed by the preachers of this
| crusade that there Is law ''above the Constitu
tom which absolves from the obligations of
| a solemn oath taken to support that instrument A
sacrilcgous perversion such this never, am
| persuaded, find either apologists followers
among the true descendants of Puritan ancestry.
Admit that disagreeable and painful circum
stances may sometimes attend the enforcement OF
| this law any other, indeed, which may be made
| in pursuance of this article Of the Constitutional
| compact. am not ignorant Of nor would con-
denim, the sensibility which is painfully affected
| by these things The obligation OF fidelity to a
solemn engagement, the sanctity of our oahs does
not the less remain. 1t seldom happens in this life
| that the path of duty is strewcd all along with How
| ers. We must take things the all wise and mer-
ciful author Of our being permits them to exist
| leaving to his over ruling Providence, amid the
| mixed conditions Of humanity, TO 'educc good out
of evil" Here stands before us in the plain impcr
alive letter of the Constitution the solemn engage
ment that fugitves from service labor shall be
delivered up on claim of the party 10 whom such
| service labor may be due" However disagree
able the occasional performance of this engage
ment may be in individual cases, good faith,
honor, duty, the obligations of law, morality, and
relgon-all require that engagement thus
zoemnly contracted should be faithfully and stern
| y fulfilled. The captive Roman General, who was
| permitted TO accompany the Carthagenian Am
bassadors TO Rome on mission OF peace, upon his
promise solemnly given to return into captivity II
the mission should fail, did not hesitate, when the
contingency occurred, to go back and assume bis
letters again, though pontiif was found TO absolve
him from his oath on the same plea that snow put
| forward by our modern political casusts, and
though the almost certain consequence of his stern
| fidelity to his plighted word was the cruel death
which he afterwards underwent. The perilous
crisis at " hich have arrived in the progress
ofour national destinies calls for something OF this
elevated Roman virtue, with recurrence to the
cient good feeling, and the ancient good sense in
which our happy and noble Union had its origin
What ID there in the mad rawlings of fanatcism or in
| the cunning devices of politicians contriving new
schemes, by popular agitation, for their own ele
walton, to be put in competition with the inesti-
M ble blessings OF this Union to all its members,
and the vast Issues Of civil and political liberty,
and of social progress throughout the world, which
depend upon its preservation? There those,
! know, who say the Union is in no danger, happen
1 what may to the Fugitive Slave Law. ] am
political Cassandra, as you will bear me witness.
Such is my devotion 20 the MON and SO profound
is my conviction of its vital necessity each and
ali its members, that my faith in lis stability has
| hitherto dched every apprehension. But am now
compelled to say that, if the law in question,
| toned and demanded az it is by the Constitution,
and forming integral and import mt part Of the
critical adjustment made during the last session OF
Congress, should, from any unhappy influence be
repealed essentially changed in it's character,
the Union, in my humble judmcnt, deeply rs l
should depiore the catastrophe, could not survive
| the blow,
Southern States already are whether upon suff-
Gent grounds not, will stop TO inquire,) by
some OF the measures which entered int that Just
ment, and that secession from the Union Is open
ly and vigorously urged upon them the only rem
edy for the alleged wrongs to which they have been
subjected. Others Of the slavehoding States, how
ever animated by devoted and predominant at
tachment to the Union, have manifested willing
10 accept and abide by that adjustment q
,ohoie adhered to and fulfilled in all parts with
loyalty and good faith by the other parties. In this
category may mention IN y own State Yirg nia, with
Maryland, Kentucky North Carolina, louisiana,
and Missouri All these States have shown a hearty
disposition, down to the present time, to acquesce
in and susain The compromise of the last session of
Congress. These, however precisely the States
/ which, from their position, are most Of all in
terested in the maintenance Of the Fugitive Slave
Law; and II such fragrant breach OF the recently
concluded Compromise as well "a Of the long
standing obligations Of the Constitution should be
contaminated as the repeal or material alteration
/ of that law would present, IL cannot be doubted
that an indignant sense of injury md wrong would
at add all these States TO the active mass of
discomfort already existing at the South, and rem
der the preservation of the Union, under deplo-
rable condition Of things, hopeless and impract-
cable.
! II becomes patriots and rejecting men in every
quarter Of the Union, whether in public or private
life, seriously contemplate thcse dangers and TO
guard against them by timely vigilance and I'M
shrinking firmness. Let the sad abyss of slavery
agitation which has Of late fearfully yawned up
/ on Us, be hencctorward closed forever.
The compromise Of the last session Of Congress
sealed az Il was by much Of patriotic devotion
both OF the North and South, Of the East and West,
consecrated and adorned by some OF the brightest
and proudest names In our annals OF both political
parties and ratified by the grateful acclaim OF the
Intion-wisely anticipated and settled every qucs-
ton which can ever reasonably arise in connection
with this sensitive and distracting theme.
Let the PEOPLE (for the remedy - happily with
them) frown upon every one who would seek to die
turb that compromise, or reopen anyofthe questions
settled by IL, enemy OF the public peace, and
OF that Union which lie the "brcath Of life" ell
pursuits, az IL is OF our glorious hopes and proc
poets in the future.
noble and cheering voice. rising above the roar
Of the ocean, and publishing to the world the mag
nihocnt resolves of the great popular meeting at
Castle Garden, has just reached us in this distant
land trust IL will be echoed and prolonged by
every city, and town, and village, and by volunta-
ry gatherings Of the people, amid the peaceful hill.
and valleys of our country, till every discordsnt
note Of faction shall be rcbukod and drowned in
one universal and o,ulting cry Of Tue CossTITU-
TIoN AND THE UsfoN FoREvsRy
Thanking you again, my dear cir, for your into
rest in this patriotic work - remain.
Very truly and faithfully, yours,
W. C. RINPS
To CoLtN VI. INsERsoLL,. Esq,
New Haven, Connecticut
The North Carolina Legislature has appointed n