The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-10

duOplcu Ut CIoNueu duJOuTueu meeting at inc
same place, consisting also of white and colored
men:
"Resolved, To organize a League of Freedom,
composed OF all those who ready to resist the
law, and protect the slave, al every hazard,
and who remembers that
whether on the scafIold high,
Or in the battles van,
The fttest place where can die,
Is where he dies for man.
''Resoced, That any commissioner who would
deliver up fugitive slave to a southern highway
man, under this infamous and unconstitutional
law, would have delivered up Jesus Christ to his
prosecutors for third of the price that Judas Is
CARROT did.
We might quote other resolutions of pubic
meetings in this city, and also declarations of the
press equally inconsiderate and violent But the
intensity of excitement is even at higher pitch in
some other parts of the Commonwealth. We have
heretofore alluded to the incorporate and seditous
language used, and resolutions adopted at
crowded and excited public meeting in Spring
feld-language which doubt not those who
used it will deeply regret, after few days of cool
reflection. At Worcester the excitement appears
to have risen TO still higher pitch. At meeting
in the City Hall on Friday evening, which is pro-
nounced by the Daily Spy 'fhe largest and most
earnest audience" they had ever seen assembled in
that immense hall, it is said that men of all parties
and colored, present, including more or lees
fugitive slaves. At this meeting there was a dis
play of highly exciting eloquence from number
of speakers, several resolutions adopted, and
a committee of vigilance Of forty persons was
chosen. The following are two of the resolutions
adopted:
"ResolUsd, That the recent enactment of Congress
is q violation of the Constitution of the United
States, and gross infringement upon the
eighty of the several States, and that feel under
no obligations to obey it.
''ResoIped, That inasmuch as the most desperate
efforts are being made TO reclaim fugitves from
slavery, feel called upon by every consideration
Of duty and philanthropy TO retain them TO free
dom, and that as God is our helper, will not
suffer any person charged with being a fugitive
from labor to be taken from among US, and TO this
resolve we pledge our lives, fortunes, and our
sacred honor"
1t will not fail TO be Observed that these resolu-
tions, well as those quoted above, invite to d.
rect resistance of law Of the United States-a law
which is indeed declared in of the resolutions
10 be in violation of the Constitution but without
pretence Of showing in what respect-but which it
is not proposed to resist in any constitutional way.
Such recommendation is greatly to be lamented,
az il must tend to encourage class of the commu-
nifty who need better advice, to expose themselves
10 severe penalties. Il is not to be supposed that
in Massachusetts,, the power of the law is to be
prostraed by a mob, that a resolution passed in
the City Hall, at Worcester can repeal law passed
by the Congress Of the United States
II deserves TO be remarked that this excitement
has been produced in part by series Of tho most
outrageous falsehoods. II has been repeatedly as
serted that slave catchers from the South were
busy in this city, at Worcester, at Springfield at
Lowell, and in other places, preparing to seize
their prey under the fugitive act. II does not ap.
nea that wa he eli "a; TO-
those stories in any instance in this State. They
were evidently invented and propasatcd for the
purpose of producing alarm, agitation, and finally
riot. We have no doubt that the number Of fugi-
tves from their masters who now resident in
this State is greatly exaggerated, for the purpose
Of increasing the excitement. But il there were
tenfold the number pretended, 1t should be rca-
son why the laws and Constitution of the country
should be surrendered to their dictation or that of
their friends.
Should cases of severe hardship arise under the
law, az they doubtless will, although il does not
yet appear that single has yet arisen in this
Commonwealth, let them be met in dispassionate
and reasonable manner, with a view Of alleviating
the hardship, and not by bringing about a Of
conflict and instruction. II is no way to relieve the
approximations of the refugee to encourage them to
the belief that they will be successfully protected
Dy iOrCc.
There are doubtless cases of men who have dc.
serted their masters and who have found friends
who in case Of need, will readily interfere to nc
gotiate for their release, by purchase otherwise
There are doubtless very many refugees who are
in danger of being pursued, either from a feel
ing Of compassion on tho part Of their masters,
from a conviction, from various reasons that they
would not get rcmunerated for the effort. But
however numerous the claims may be- il is very
clear that il will be the worst policy for these un-
fortunate men TO rely on being protected in this
State by force, in violation of act OF Congress;
for surely, the law will be found stronger than
those who may attempt to resist it.
But IL is not to these men that we address our
selves, in the expectation of producing influence
over their conduct. II is TO those who give them
advice, and to the leaders OF public meetings, held
for the purpose of giving direction to the public
sentiment, that we appeal with more confidence,
in the hope ofconvincing them that they
ly gain useful object, but nssuredly delay
ing satisfactory adjustment of the difficult qucs
ton at issue, not only by encouraging forcible
sistancc TO the law, but by opposing il as unoons,
tutonal, attempting to obtain its repeal by The
mere force of opposition, without proposing any
substitute On this subject shall take another
occasion to offer some suggestions, which VIC hope
may be thought worthy of attention.