The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-11-09

force to the oil one What do they gain, therefore
unless they propose 70 repeal the old law also and
make no provision ior carving the Constitution III
Ia ciirct This must he the object OF all men who
take this position. To this II luus, come IN the end
and that soon. The real objection j. not TO the
law. nor to the old one, but 10 the Constitution IT,
self I'hos- OF you who hold these opinions do not
mean that the fugitive from labor should be taken
J back. That Is the real point OF your objection.
! You would not care tarthlng about the new law
the old law, any other law, or what provisions
1t contained II there was hole IN II big enough tor
the fugitive To slip through aud escape. Habeas
| Corpusrs-1rIas by Jury-Recoris from other
states-pains ana fenalues-Ihc whole catalogue
OF obJrcuous would be- oil noonshlne II Oh. Negro
not required Ia 20 back 10 his master. Tell he
frankly Is not tins the character oi your ohcc-
i!onl
/ Hers several gentlemen gave affirmative an
Swer.
Mr. Douglas said he wol,d answer that objection
by reading portion at tne constitution OH United
States. lie then rCsd as follows
mo person held 10 service or labor in one state
under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall
IN consequence of any law or regulation therein, be
discharged from such service or labor, EUT SHALL RI
DELIVERED Up on the claim ot the party 10 whom such
service or labor may be- due
This l. the supreme law Ut the land speaking to
every citizen 1.-THE Republic. The command is mn
pcralye, ! here is no avoiding. noescaplng the OBJ
legation long live under and clam the
protection oi the Constitution. We must yield mn
pcit Obedience or must take the necessary steps
TO release Ourselves from the Obligations to obey
There Is no other alternative. We must stand by
the Constitution OF the tnion with all Us comprom-
Uses, ar We must abolish II and resolve each state
back into is original elements. II i, Therefore
question Of Union and Disunon. We cannot ey-
pect our brethren OF other states 10 remain faithful 10
the compact and permit us TO b. i,lthess. We arr
prepared therefore. 70 execute faithfully and honest
ly the compact our fathers have made tor Us The
Divine Law has been appeal led TO as authority tor DIS
regarding our most sacred duties 10 society. The
CI;y Council have appealed TO II A. an excuse Tor
nufying The fugitive slave law, aud committee
embodied the same principle in their resolutions TO
the meeting IN this Hall last light, applicable both
to the Constitution and laws. The grneJal propo-
siuon TINT there Is a law paramount TO all human
cnactments-the law OF the Supreme Ruler oi the
UnverSe-l trust tina no Christian aud civilized 2cO-
pie are prepared to question much less deny. We
should al! recognize, respect, and revere The Divine
law
Mr. Douglas exposed and coniamned IN strong
terms the doctrine that the Divine law vas To he u
sed pattern tor disobedence 20 The laws oi the
lind. lie believed their was law paramount to
all human enactnlenis. which II was the duty OF ry-
cry man TO recognize, respect and revere but That
law taught obedience not resistance To the coust-
tu,ed authorities. tie believed the Constitution Of
the United States and all laws necessary TO carry il
into effect IN harmony with the Divine law and
that man performed his moral and religious duties
by beng hlihtul to society TO hls country, 10 the
laws and his Ca III, not by violating all that was sa-
cred IN pretended obrdIrnce to q higher law than
the Constitution lie also explained the circum-
snnces which rendered his absence unavoidable
when the vote wns taken on the Fugitive Slave Bill
IN the Senate. lie wished % avoid no responsibility
on account OF that absence and therefore desired II
distinctly understood tina, he should have voted inr
the bill II he could have been present tie referred
to severn of our most prominent and respected cti-
zcns by name. rs personally cognlzanl OF the fact,
that he was anxious al that time to give that vote.
He believed the passage OF that or some other eff
hcien law n solemn duty imperatiyey demanded
by the Constitution. In conclusion. Nr, ID. made
an earnest appeal TO our citizens. rally AS one man
10 the defence OF the Constitution and laws and
hove all things and under all circumstances, To put
down vOlenc. and disorder, by MAINTAINING the SUI
premacy 81 the laws lie referred to our high char
nctpr for law and order heretofore and also 10 the
favorable position of our city Tor commanding the
trade between the north md south through our ca.
nals ami railroads, To shows that our views and prin-
cIpes faction should be broad, liberal and national
calculated TO encourage rniun and harmony instead
OF disuncn and sectional bitterness. tie concluded
by remarkng thnt he considered this questioned f.
deity 10 the Constitution. and the supremacy OF
laws Ms so far paramount 10 all other considerations
that he had prepared some resolutions TO cover these
points only, which he would submit 10 the meeting
and take their Judgment upon them. Ii he had
consulted his own feelings and views only. he should
have embraced IN the resolutions specific approval
OF all the measures OF the compromise, but n the
question OF rebellion and resistance To the Federal
Government has been distinctly pres ntei, II has
been thought advisable to meet that issue on this
occasion, distinct and separate from all Others.