Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-14
BLASTS FROM THE NORTH AND BLASTS FROM
THE SOUTH.

Republican for the first knowledge of the passage
ct any such act by any State Legislature as that
which it describes
"FUsITIyE SLAVE LAW IN VERMosT.-The Legisla-
aizfs Of Vermont its late session. passed law with spe-
Gid reference giving those sinhabians Of that
sd fugitive slaves the benefit of the habeas corpus and
ut possible legal defence II devolves upon the circuit
Ege OF the several judicial courts the power OF issuing this
~ heretofore vested in the judges of the Supreme Court of
she State, and makes it the duty Of the State attorneys
n the several counties TO apply to either class of judges
courts in the of any nhabtant fugitive
isve when the judge court applied she'll
sae ss OF habeas corpus eurnabe to the supreme
9 court when in session, or to judge Of either court dur
Erg vacation If under this writ issued during the vacation
by judge the person arrested and imprisoned afugve
be not discharged he entitled appeal the next term
of the county court by furnishing proper BAIL The
Sxhick appeal made which the writ originally
made seturnsbe, directed upon the appca of either
srty interested to allow trial by jury Of all the facts Is
sIe between the parties. The law makes il the special duty
N the States attorneys in the several counties every
Rw means to the acquittal of every person arrested
sxnd cAimed within their districts fugitive slave and in
r0ct all judicial and executive officers, who shall know
nave to believe that such is intended give
immediate notice thereof the attorney their county, that
he may timely take the that devove upon him for
4seaanng the rights Of the arrested party"
We have never been more surprised than at this
recent blast of Abolition from that most respectable
and heretofore always Wing State, VERMONT. We
are mortified and astonished that such an enactment
should have not only received the concurrence of
ahe Legislature, but the sanction of the Governor.
We noticed his Message at the opening of the ses-
sioa of the State Legislature, which we thought
spectacle and unexceptionable. Governor VIII
xIaxs, who consented TO the law, has been many
years Judge, and, as we have understood, an emf
aent Judge; and we entirely at loss to under
stand how he could regard such law otherwise
alan as directly repugnan to the Constitution and
Laws of the United States. This act of Vermont
plainly and intentionally overrules and sets aside
die Constitution and Law of Congress. We hold
rf to be our duty, as persons attached to the pre-
servation OF the Constitution and Government, to
protest against such unlawful State action, come
from what quarter it may. Our surprise would
nave been less, and so would have been our mort-
acation and indignation, had this enactment pro-
&.seded from confessed Abolition or "Free-Soil''
source. We hear it said that this law passed al
most unobseryed through the forms of legislation
and this idea gets some support from the known
fact that there has been manifestation of discon-
1eat no exciting agitation in Vermont on the sub.
sect of the Fugitive Slave Law. But this apology,
IL true, is very poor and lame one. Measures Of
zlch importance as this can hardly pass silently
and unobserved among Legislators who are duly
conscious of the importance of their trust.
The Joint Resolutions which we subioin to
these remarks were introduced and passed in the
same Legislature and every reader will see, in
1hese carefully-considered Resolutions, proof al
nost conclusive that the passage Of the law to which
we refer could not have been deliberate act, but
rather surprise upon the Legislature. For how
mach more in accordance with its duty to the
Union, and with the conservative character of the
State, would it not have been had its legislation par
GaSen of the spirit and temper of these resolutions
We honor the mover of them, whoever he was, and
suish we were able to proclaim his name to our
headers, ard sincerely hope that their patriotic and
haternal spirit may spread and exinguish the dis
ssya principles and feelings of the act which has
I'D inauspciously received the sanction of the
Legislature. ~.
And, 10 !! there comes at the same time blast
eu1m the South, in the shape of threat from SOUTH
CAROLINA that such discrimination shall be made,
my her authority, within her own territory, as to
grices and taxes between domestic articles and for
eagu articles, shall exclude the former from con-
sumption by the People of the State. If this be
mot equally bold and barefaced with the Northern
fiasL THAT is the Vermont law it is more insdi-
t,Hs and equally repugnan to the Constitution of the
United States. As this unlawful offspring of the
asat-bed of mischevous notions appears to be find
ing some favor in other portions of the South
(Which we would fain save from the folly of copy
ing so perncious an example, it demands to be
created with more consideration than it otherwise
oxoaid, or than we can give to it at this moment;
and we shall return to the subject at an early day.
Meanwhile, we will only remind our readers that
every act of State Government undertaking to re-
galate, directly indirectly-n direct words or by
necessary onsequence-commerce among the Sc
rernt States, is in direct conflict with the prov.
saSas OF the Constitution which declares that Con-
esaEss shall have power to regulate commerce
=znaong the several States" and is otherwise in
conflict with the letter and the spirit of the Con-
SdMton.
VERMONT JOINT LEGISLATIVE RESOLVES.
-ResotutiOns on so much of the Governors Mes
sage as relates TO Slavery, &c.
L. RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives
That VERMONT has position take the subject
al slavery Her views are record they remain unchang
cd Now, before she regards the system as a priev-
wrong TO the subjects Of vitality hostile to the pros
pty of those States in which it is cherished and as inu-
in all It's bearings to the best interests of the whole