Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-10-23
The Fugitive Slave Bill and the Boston


The Fugitive Slave Bill and the Boston
journal.
The Boston Journal is very wise indeed. 1t chad
supposed that Congress made the laws" and seems
much surprised at statement that the administration
had the power to make the Bill, passed by Congress
relative to fugitive slaves, Law, not, its pleas
The Journal, however, does know, that the ad-
mnistraton responsible for every law that made
Congress may pass many bills as it peases, but the
President, alone confer vitality upon them, and
MAKE THEM LAWS. 1t is the highest and most
sacred trust imposed upon him by the Constitution
That instrument has conferred on him the power and
made it his most solemn DUTY, to examine all bills
passed by Congress, judge of their erpdiecy as well
as constitaonalty and his oath of Office binds him to
do it. He solemnly to exercise his best judy
ment on the fugitive slave bill and all others, to sane
ton them if the public good required it, and to VETO
them If they were Unconstitutional unjust, unwise, or
nexpedient. This latter duty is as imperative as the
former and he is perjured man if he attempts to
evade it, He is only perjured, but is entirely unfit
for the station he holds. On the oath which he took
he has approved Of the fugitive slave bill, made it
Law, and thus made himself and his party response
bic for it.
We should have been surprised, if any thing con-
neced with political matters, in the Journal could sur
prise-but it has long been evident that the formerly
wide awake Sleeper Of that paper, longer prepares
ig P3 R5 s 9E an Of SOME can f has
hner-we say, that but for this we should have been
surprised at the fippancy with which the Journal ia TX,
about the constitutional duties of the President ant
speaks OF those duties being Defined established or sci
aside, by the vote for against candidate in con-
tested election, where various and conflicting issues are
involved, and where the for the same candidate
given, by some men, for entirely different reasons from
those which influenced Others to vote for him.
But, says the Journal, ''the veto power was made a
distinct issue in the Presidential election and the pepe
decided that it should be exercised serce in cases
Of clear violation Of the Constitution or manifest haste and
Want Of consideration by Congress- Indeed! And hon.
did the people so decide? Supposing, for moment
that such grave and important constitutional question
could be put to them, and decided in such loose and
uncertain mode what the decision in this case?
Clearly the Of what is claimed in the Journal
1t was the friends OF Gen. Tayor who made that issue
and the popular vote, by east majority, was agans
INN, and consequently, against any such limitations
the Presidents constitutional powers duties and obi
cations.
Again, the Journal displays its ignorance or its dis
position to asy and deceive by representing that the
bill which President Fillmore signed had been long be-
fore Congress- and thoroughly discussed at various
times, that "its provisions thoroughly under.
Stood" and that president Fillmore must have beer
convinced that the bill was not hastily or inconsider
ately passed" There is the sembance of truth in
these statements as respects the BILL which was passed
by Congress, and became law by the Pres;dcn,s s,
nature. The BILL so long before Congress. wa, anotb.
er, and widely different one in its provisions. This.
which passed, and which is now the law Of tbe land
was substitute for the other, offered at the las, mn.
ment, by Lynn Boyd and adopted under the instant
phcatlon oil the gag-the previous question No de-
bate at all was allowed; the reading of it. when
asked tor, was refused; and large proportion of bc
members who voted upon it, did so without even knowing
what its provisions Il war the most summary act
Of legislation records and more clearythan anv
other. eyinced "ane haste and ,oant of consideration
by Congress" On this ground, alone, if there were
not teniod more weighty for it, the Presden
ought to have vetoed it, and would have been fy ms
tilted in so doing But il was part of his policy to
have i pass, and so 1t received his approval.
The Journal must have but low estimate of Tho
dscernmen of the people, if it supposes they are to be
mised and dnped by such pretences and suberaes as
are set up in its article. The attempt to make il an
pear that the administration is not responsible for It's
own acts, is miseraby poor one. They may thrash
and founder much as they please, it will be Of no
use. The people wH hold the administration respons;
be for the fugitive slave BILL as well as the party which
put them IN pswcr and susaiDs them. This right and
just. 1t is the only means by which a wholesome re-
srant may be imposed by the people on the acts of
tbcir rulers.