The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13


bugs were trodden down without imped-
ing his course. There was no music in
their ''Passing knell." So slight were
they in this regard, one could scarcely
know that in unfolding the Unions in
speaking for his country, her banners,
her glory, her history, the happiness of
her people, and theasafety of her genera
tons he strewed the wayside with the
bones of small dabblers, and big ones, too,
!. in agitation, and little fomenters of vii
lage treason.
The triumph of a statesman was never
more complete or more conspicuous. 1t
could be seen everywhere. The counte-
nance but now overcast with gloom and
shadows, gladdened up like opening spring.
II was acknowledged, and more felt than
acknowledged, that blow had been
struck for the Union. 1t was regarded as
though the crisis had been passed that
the tempest-tossed and billow-beaten bark
had come safe to harbor. The slate-pen-
Gil politicians, who cypher out the prob
lem Of disunion like sum in tare and tret,
were bid to hang their satchels by night
time upon the black hemlock. 1t was not
feared that the delegates to the Nashville
convention would disturb the ashes of the
first strangler Of rife rebellion another cry
was heard in the land.
II tha la~;,lo%.or oc <bo co,,r&r,, mo,
conducted in the catholic spirit Of Mr..
WEBsrER's speech, there would be a
closer union Of States and people than has
yet been; closer for conflicts escaped and
difficulties overcome. Whatever may be
the first impression produced by it in the
North, the truths which have been spoken
will sink into the minds Of pure men, and
the result will be good. But if Mr.. WEB
sTER should forfeit the support Of his own
constituents by his manly and patriotic
Course thing impossible to be believed
sacrifice was never made in nobler cause,
or risk encountered on a more glorious field.
A certain New York paper, which is
the exponent and advocate of every new
heresy and ism produced by the moral
theories and commissions of these extraor-
binary times-and which has undertaken to
interpolate new tests, new doctrines, and
new practices into the creed and action of
the Wing party, and with SO much success
as at times TO render its faith doubtful
thing-says, in substance, that the provi-
sions of the Constitution for the recovery
of fugitive slaves cannot be enforced in
the free States, because it is in conflict
with the law of God. Has the editor
considered the consequences, imme-
date and certain, as well as remote
and contingent, of such propositions
Garry out the idea, and where does il
leadl A short time only would be re-
quired to fritter away or modify practical
ly every stipulation and feature in that in
strument. The standard for judging OF
the concord and conformity between our
magma charta and the laws of God must
be arbitrary, of course, and according tc
the feelings and sentiments of the judge
himself. Every town and hamlet in the
country contain men as wise in their own
eyes as the editor in question; and their
exception to any other constitutional re-
quirements may be just as well taken a:
are his to that which enjoins upon the
free States the duty of aiding the master
in retaining his runaway slave. Admit
the right Of State to evade or disregard
this plain constitutional provision, and you
render the Constitution a nullity--an in
strument of no more binding force or effec
than so much waste paper
The Co,<rjer md Eno,firer thinks there