The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-30

The question comes home to us to-day, whether, by
acquescence in measures that the best wisdom OF Con-
gress has devised quiet and settle The Union, we shall
lend aid avert the like caastrophe which must
happen ii the constitution of our fathers, ffamed
freedom and 10 the world by the sectional divisions that
have already strained il TO its utmost tension.
Mr. President il is singular fact that we are here to-
day delloeraiing upon issue which threatens the
U1on and endanees the supremacy OF It's laws that had
no place IN the deliberations the apprehensons OF the
The fourth article OF the constitution which provides
Tor the delivery oil fugtves from labor, scarcely
discussed in the convention and wa, adopted by the
unanimous vote oil every State, and without dissenting
from the North. In the Massachusetts convention
OF l7ss upon whose action then depended the ratification
OF constitution by the requisite number OF States not
word uttered by the most jealous opponents OF the
constitution against that provision. The whole and only
discussion touching slavery turned upon the provision
Ca much repugnant than that we called
permit TO be enorced,) and the enumeration OF
slaves in the representation; and yet, when all was
consdered met the appreciation of the wisest men that
lived among Judge Dana SAID: "From survey
of every part Of the constitution think il the best that
the wisdom OF men could devise" And the Rev. Mr..
ackus apostle OF that day and generation, declared
that '.such door is opened for the establishment OF
righteous government and for securing equal liberty, as
was never before offered 10 any people upon earth =
lis Instructive, too orecall the fact That the only COM
mon principle. the only union platform upon which our
fathers could meet and make that constitutions was the
Identical ground upon which the friends Of The Union OF
all parties agree to stand vz with
the domestic of each State and full recogni-
ton OF the only sale republican doctrine Of free govern
nent viz the right OF every State to establish lis own
form OF governments, provided 1t be republican, and TO
regulate it's own modes OF labor and all It's Internal con-
cerns .@ @
As single instance, permit me to quote the language
of MAJOR General Heah ia the Massachusetts
on-one who had fought bravey for the liberties he
knew well how TO preserve Upon this very question
Of slavery he said "li we raty the constitutions shall
do anything by act to keep the blacks IN slavery
or shall become the partakers Of other mems sin
think 9eher of them Each State is sovereign and inde
pendent certain degree and they have right to and
pyil
appear proper and shall refuse to eat drink or be
united with those who do not think act just we do
Now, ii one extreme at the South claim more than s
in the constitution for their peculiar institution OF slavery,
and il another extreme at the North deny and resist
what is plainly IN the constitution in order 10 sustain
their peculiar institution of abolonism where shall the
friends Of union take their stand but on the middle
groundthe broad platform of the rights OF the States
IN their domestic relations, and good faith in carrying
oat pledges OF the constitution and the laws made TO
enforce them
Allow me remark point; for it is the only
that intend 10 touch upon in the provisions OF the fugitive
law. which some OF our fellowc citizens have avowed N
this hall is TO be treated like the stamp act and never to
be enforced in Massachusetts,
IL that means anythng It means Just what our fathers
%nsn ey s sap ss aaf e
1t is revolution il puts down one government and, BY
organic laws, frames another. That is the only Amer
theory OF the higher law that is not rebellion, but
sacred right of the people. ii only resss law and
obsucs It's officers while il seeks no new organic form
Of governmen, in The collected will Of the people s
risks IL must risk hanging for It, sN 1s ..e'' Fl
is the higher law Of Daniel Shay 10 the rebellion OF
17S6. who, with thirteen wrils his back for debt,
sembed armed mob 10 stop the courts. and sent his
message the judges OF the supreme court then about
to hold their session in Springfield ordering them not 70
open ther court, ndct the rebels. The Judges
OF that day answered, the Judges Of this
day. and The commissioners too if need be- am sure Of
modern higher.law party. .that hey woutd faithfully
ereee the iaics Of the country agreeabfy 10 their os.s
But the point TO which would refer IN the fugitive
1sIo t,e sad ona IN
New England feeling, is that IL calls upon the citizens to
aid the slave in capturing The fugitive do not 90
understand it, No man is called upon, or can be called
upon, unless there is resistance to the execution Of
process of law II no citizen ressts the laws no other
citizen, except the officer with his warrant will be
called 10 lft fnge Now, suppose the oicer is re-
sisted the prisoner rescued the court invaded, the wit
assaulted the magstaa driven from his seat, and
81 s whep ss
Law or anarchy, the magistracy or the mobocracy
That is the practical question, and that you must an
swer
/ Repugnance to the execution Of law is one thing
That you may have and be good citizens Bot resisance
to the law and is oicers rs ls quite another G ,nGg m n.'
munity, allowed TO go at large Again, Just persons
enough resist law encouraged and protected IN
that resistance by few, and the rest OF the CON-
muniiy fold their hands, and let the laws be overhown
by orce that anarchy; and by the same rule you may
be turned out OF your own houses aud lands by house
less and landess appealing TO heir higher law OF
inheritance frsm Adam Remember the old Proverb-for
all awess put down law like chickens that
always come nome 10 tnOSe VINO rear tnem 10 foOst
Mr. President have incidentally alluded TO Shays
rebellion, memorable IN our history as test Oh con-
stu,ional law, and whether i should be construed by
4 the mob or the legal tribunals. Massachusetts, went
through that crisis 1885, just six years after the adop
ton OF her Stale constitution. We all know the result
and how noby the constitution OF the State was sustain
ed then, the constitution OF the United States will be
| now, here in our midst
There is an incident in that history most honorable TO
Boston and s vicinity, and glorious precedent for what
we doing here this day, with energy and unanmiiy
worthy OF the descendants o the OF those oublous
times At that crisis in the affairs OF the Common
wealth, when least third part Of the citizens either
aided would prevent the resistance made 10 the sit
constitution, assembled together in aid Of the laws They
addressed the governor in the unequvoca man
declared their determination to cooperate IN support
oi constitutional government They also sent circular
10 the inhabitants of every In the State and hed up
the sacred pledges OF life and fortune made to support
constitution which inestmable as the oood tnat
4 had purchased it,
Most OF the replies from the towns conveyed union
OF sentiment and tender OF aid TO support the consuu-
ton; and from that hour the rebellion fell on
Two years after ihis Massachusetts, adopted the cons
tuition OF the United States and well did that lesson OF
stern experience teach her It's inestimabe value.
/ And now, sxiy-two years from that evenul day, We
the citizens OF Boston and vicinity. called upon 10 up.
hold and perpctuae what fathers dearly purchased
and wisely framed well becomes then, to appeal 10
the people OF this Commonwealth 10 act and 20 10
guide public opinion az to give 10 sister States the
wed pledge that Massachusetts Is in the Union and
will abide in the Unon-hat her patriotism is not selfish
nor her philanthropy fanatica but that she will put
down notification Of unpopular laws in her own borders
with as firm and faithful purpose as rallied her elnzens