The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-08

North which refuses to obey the laws OF Congress be-
cause IN their apprehension those laws in violation
the Divine law opposition to the legislative power and
authority Of Congress, like the doctrine OF assuming
the responsibility Of executing the law. according to my
tment OF Gen. Jackson.
i Mr. FO0TE understand General Jackson to have
assumed, as think very properly, that he felt himself
bound TO execute the law he understood it, In other
words that he should comply with his oath Of Office
conscientious man. according to the best lights that the
God OF Heaven had vouchsaed to supply him with. Sir,
that is very different from the conduct Of those men who
mpousy and profaney and indelcatey declare that they
understand their duty but that they will not perform ii
that they realized the obligations OF their oahs bat that
they preferred perjury to the performance OF their oaihs
that they understand the requsitions OF the Fundamental
law Of the land and the acts Of Congress made in
astounding they feel themselves authorized to disregard
the constitution and the law, the imaginary ground
that they suppose that their obligations TO the principles
OF the law OF nature authorize them pursue that
Their difficulty s not in relation to the meaning Of the
constitution but II regard to its obligations Gen Jack
son never denied the obligations Of the constitution but
constitution, as | think we must all do
! Mr; UNDERWOOD. The idea wish to enforce is,
that the highest man in the nation the President Of the
United States, as well the humbest Citizen equal
y under obligations to obey the laws Of their country,
consituonally expounded by the Judiciary That is the
tenet wished TO enforce And say that according to
the manifestations given in many quarters and especially
in letter which have addressed to the senator
from Massachusetts,, Mr. WEBsrER,l the ground is dis
purpose Of enforcing the obligations which the non
slaveholdng States under the constitution to the
slavehodng States, is to be disregarded the principle
slavery and therefore violates the laws Of God Sir these
people, who profess to live up to the laws Of God with
such strcness forget the doctrine which is taught in the
hottest OF all books that government is ordained OF God
that is duty to submit to the powers that be- and
render unto Cesar the things which are C3sars. The
G and rfSSs Ss s 6gah the laws 9 c
reconcng his love and duty God with his obedience
to the laws Of his country. If these laws are morally
them through the balotbox and right OF suffrage; but
submission to them, while they in force, is duty
and he is no more 10 be regarded in the light Of crm
person who under duresse, with the pistol his bosom,
to save his own life plays the part OF hangman for the
assassin or pirate in taking the lives Of his companions
There is proper and constitutional mode by which bad
laws may be assaed and repealed But, until repealed
they must be obeyed or there is end Of government
any one citizen is to be permitted to set up his ind
ydua sense OF duty and bis Interpretation OF the cons
tuition and laws, In opposition to the legislative and judi
ca action OF the constituted authorities, then every other
mas ss same % and s saSh en- and all may ss
society, IT, indeed, there could be society where such
doctrines prevail To tolerate such principle in action
that Se ssse & CO pass
cient bill for the reclamation OF fugitive slaves, the
second, sober thoughts Of northern feowcitizens
will induce them submit to it, and comply with its pro.
visions
A few remarks further. and quit the subject Unfor-
tunatey for this country, the question OF slavery has
fallen into the hands OF politicians and the political press
And when the press and politicians take hold Of SUBJ
Ject and begin TO weld for purposes OF party advantage
and gain and for the promotion OF the fortunes Of ind.
errors Excitement is the element in which the political
press lives and moves and has its being Excitement is
its meat and drink and daily bread Its subscription list
increased IN proportion 10 the excitement prevailing in
the public mind. When the passions OF roused
they must have the newspapers in which the cause is
discussed Grim. con. or murder case is rich har-
va oFQah do
agitaons and threats Of dissolving the Union The gen.
teman to my right Mr. HALEl has avowed in his place
mat the politicians o. the North and South very great
very out OF which TO make capital for their elevation
The history OF our race is history Of excemens and
revolutons and generally, when daring, talented and
bad seeks political elevation. his first step is 10 get
up an excitement about something He knows that
scum and sediment have equal chances to float when
The caldron Is bubbling and boiling. When men
phrensied, Danton, Robespiere, and Marat rule.
Excitement passion, Impulse are the rounds in the lad
der which elevate some men to distinction Te alarm
the people OF the South with The loss of their slaves and
then to make them believe that their safety depends in
eminent degree upon sending The alarmst to Congress to
soanisac Gov ne oeoons anh may be mastery policy IN
from obscurity In the North the obscure asprant may
kinde his fire with essays against the sin OF slavery, and
in favor OF the right of rebellion against human laws
which contIavene the laws OF God, and thus hope to
show that the surest and most direct for the graft
hcaton OF northern sympathes and the accomplishment
OF northern schemes is TO send him to Congress. But,
sir, in all this agitation by scheming politicians, per-
ceive very little than the selfish tricks and devices
OF unhallowed ambition. Such proceedings may have
their effect upon the fortunes OF individuals and political
parties but see in them nothing to cheer the heart OF
the true patriot or the true Christian, TO promote the
real welfare OF either our slave or free population. In
country, where freedom OF speech and OF the press
constitutional rights. such agitations have alu
ded to cannot be suppressed; and know that, smu
lated by the desire for Office, for political elevation and
for the emouments OF official station men will to
secure those objects, continue 10 agtae and excite upon
every and all subjects which may present grounds OF
hope and prospects Of success TO their ambition.
As this agitation cannot be suppressed, what, then,
can be done All that do TO inform the think
ing working. unofficial portion OF fellow citizens
those who not in the pursuit OF Office; those who
wish 10 support their families BY honest industry those
who look TO government and only ask to have life,
property, and character protected contracts enforced and
crimes punlshed-all that do is to enghten these
masses OF our citizens, by exhibiting truthully
the true condition OF affairs II that be done, calm
coservave reflection must and will follow; and the
the domestic institutions OF the several States TO be
aged in their own way without aunt interference. and
will faithfully comply with every constitutional require
ment Slr, hope II may be done hope that we can
get the thinking portion OF the people to agree TO let
each others affairs alone nermeddlng s the evil OF
which, more than all others. we have right to complain
Many years ago I addressed a lengthy article TO my
constituents the right OF petition ! attempted IN that
article TO show that the right subject TO certain im
ations insisted that there no right OF petition
where the body peiioned had power to grant the
prayer Of the petition am happy to say that propo
son so clear has been vindcated during the present
sion Of Congress- BY rejecting petition asking for dis
solution OF the Union, the ground that the Congress
he Statea had m, ife