Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-03-29

policy II was an iafrsctiuu uf Ike spirit ~ the
ordinance Of 1877. and was doubtful exercise
of Constitutional p1wer, hs well as a species
of infdeity TO the national Union. The act
of 1850 abolished slavery, and alleged there
was no human right TO exact human bondage
The ordinance of 1887 prohibited slavery in
the territories of the then confederation aud
the reasons for It's enactment applied as forci-
bly, 10 the west bank of the Mississippi, as they
did to the north bank OF the OHIO. The ma
tional constitution contained nothing 10 au-
thorise the acquisition of new territory, and
the erection Of further slave institutions. On
the contrary, by It's provisions III reference to
the slave traffic, and the concurrent events at
tending It's formation, 1t appeared to mark linn
It's to the extent and duration of the Institution;
hence any action enlarging its boundaries was
an unwarranted assumption OF power. The
union of the States was endangered by the
erection of imaginary lines, tending 10 engen-
der and keep alive sectional ieaousies and
prejudces. Pennsylvania desired no new Ma
sons q Dixon's lime, To mark distinctive char
acters and tastes among homogeneous people.
In the powers of the national Congress ls
found 10 authority TO create slavery, unless It's
introduction formed portion Of treaty ac-
curing territory, or was the condition OF
grant Of lands The spirit Of universal liberty
guarded all soil blessed by the institutions Of
freedom and 10 establish bondage. positive en-
actments were necessarily required. These
sentiments of Pennsylvania remain unchanged,
and if their expression, with perfect wiling
ness 10 submit their accuracy to the supreme
judicial tribunals Of the country, were aggres-
sons on the rights OF the citizens OF Virginia
and Georgla-lf they were an lnractlon OF the
nationa. Constitution, or tended to the dlssOlu-
ton Of the Union. the demonstration thereof
has not been made manifest to ou. citizens.
The Governor then refers TO the powers
granted by the constitution to territories
and the District, which are as follows:
First New States NAV be admitted by Con.
gress in:o the Union. Congress shall have
power to dispose of, and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the territory or Other
property belonging to the United States: and
nothing in this Constitution shall be SO con-
straed as TO prejudice @y claims Of the United
States or any particular state.
Second, Congress has the right 10 exercise
exclusive Legislation in all cases whatsoever
over such district, mot exceeding ten miles
square,) as may, by cesson of particular States,
and the acceptance Of Congress, become the
seat OF government OF the United States.
And then asks
Which of these provisions of the national
constitution has been encroached upon by Penn
syvana There is no part OF her history, le-
glslatlye, executive or j0dcial, that shows any
interference with the rights Of representation
belonging 10 Virginia or Georgia No charge
has been made against her faithful observance
of that portion Of the Constitution in relation 10
the importation or non-Importation of slaves
The authority Of Congress to establish slavery
IN territories wherein 1t does not exist. this state
has denied, IN mid and friendly terms and ia
submitting heretofore to the exercise OF the
power when new sayehoiding States have been
admitted, 10 bitterness has marked her COM
plants and protests. The authority of Con-
gress to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia is apparent, unless the words en-
ployed comforting it gives less and different
power when inserted in Constitutions than
when used IN other portions of the written and
spoken language of the country.
The Governor next alludes 10 the laws
of 1880 and 1888 respecting fugitives-to
the act of Congress of l793-and to the
act of March 25, 1926, the objects of
which were the delivery of fugihves from
labor, the protection of free colored peo-
pie, and the prevention of kidnapping.
These salutary laws, SO far as enacted by
our State Legislature, were declared by
the Supreme Court to be unconstitutional.
This extraordinary decision is thus noticed
by the Executive:
This decision left to the master the authority
to claim as provided in the Constitution and al
80 authorised him TO seize and remove the in
dlvidual whom he alleged was his property, and
TO use for that purpose the official power of the
State, without permitting, TO her, the right to
control and regulate the manner of the proceed
ure, or TO determine the truth and Justice cf the
aliee ed claim. IL established the principle that
q stranger to the soil of Pennsy lyania, might
enter upon it, and by possibility, infict the
deepest INJURY upon her sovereignty by the
abduction Of her citizens on false pretences
The Supreme judcature having so decided the
question, our law abiding citizens submitted,
but with the determination that in the spirit uf
that decision the officers of this commonwealth
should not be made the Instruments, even by
possibility, on such slight foundation as claim
ants interested demand OF enslaving free men,
10 prevent this great possible wrong, the act
oil Sd March, lS4d, repeating all Legislation on
the subject aud forbidding the officers of the
State TO take any part in the recapture of such
alleged fugitive slaves, was enacted. Tho
constitutional provision and the act of Congress
onr State has endeavored to carry into full et-
feet. She has denied, and it is hoped ever will
deny, the power OF Congress to impose the per.
formance of duties upon her municipal and
Judicial officers without her consent
The message concludes with an eloquent
tribute to the devotion Pennsylvania has
ever shown TO the Union, and submits the
matter to the Legislature,
A CASE FOR THE LAwrERs-Aa ingenious
casuist in the Providence journal Wishes IN he