The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-30

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but the other day shedding blood TO obtain
the constitutions under which iveconsttullons OF
our own choice and max ingand now we are unsheain'
ing The sword 10 overture ihem The thng s so unac-
countsble that hardly know how to realize IT, or to per-
suade myself that am no, under the illusion oil
dream" sfe
/ This was the state OF public affairs under which, IN
January, 1885, this convention assembled They ioresaw
that this great instrument presented Tor their adopon
would accomplish what IL has accompaniment that "
would form more perfect Union that il would es-
tabsh justice; that il would insure domestic tran
qdilliys that il would provide for the common de-
fences that would promote the general welfare ana Sc
cure The blessings Of liberty 10 the people OF this Com
i monweal,h and their posterity.
On the hand the evils on the other the bene-
ts and they called upon TO choose between them Tor
the people Of tins Commonwealth during countless gen
eratons.
enough rise in that convention and say see these
eys-they great now, and threaten 10 become m
toleabei see these benefits believe this consiil.i-
ton will perform for Massachusetts all that promises
But deny that Massachusetts, a. sovereign and CIVIL
zel States has the rgbfu power 10 make this compact
for here is stipulation in ii that persons held to service
in States foreign to US. escaping hher, snail De
given up TO be curred back again. cannot pre-
tend, ellow-cxens 10 give any idea Of the treat
ed from the great and powerful minds OF that con,
ven,ion believe they would not have let vestge OF
il eartno, nor ihe material 70 make gnost Oh 70
rise from regions below and frghlen some OF Their de-
scendanls But needs no uncommon ability and ds'
cernmcnt 10 sufficient answers TO this objection
In the first place, not these persons foreigners az 10
us and wha, right have they to here all against
the will OF The legislative powers OF this Sates And y
their coming here or remaining here Is not consistent
with the safety OF the State and the welfare OF the cit
zens in the oil all that is naiiona may we not pro.
hibt their coming or send them back II they come
Il we have right 70 say 70 those who have oeea cen
ground down BY the oppression OF England you must not
land shores BECAUSE your presence Is injurious 70
u.s. have not right 10 avoid enormous evils ana se
cure lncacuiable benefits otherwise attanabe, by
compact, article OF which agrees that our Stale snail
not be an asylum for fuyives from service:
To deny this Is to deny The r,sht OF ell.preservao
to State. II strikes at the heart OF every civilized COM
muniy II makes its preservation impossible and 'hrows
us back at once into condition below the most de-
graded savages who have semblance OF government
No sane man reflect, and then make such denial
that there be but possible question: ana hat Is
SIMPLY question whether the emergency was such as
called for the exercise Of the power Upon this question:
also unless we overtu principles necessary the ex.
sience OF civil society II is impossible TO DOUBT ina, we
precude and justly bound by the action OF the state
in I7SS Has not State the right 10 make comPacs ana
treaties and when they made are they mol 10 De kep
May the State make promise to-day. and Tomorrow
say on The whole our nlees, dld no. require a0, ~ Una.
Just man. that though be promises to ms har, he keeps
his promse good, ii not also applicable to Stale but
truth, there is occasion to rely on any snch ooga
ton for II il be once admitted that this Commonwealth
l75S had the rghtfu power TO assent TO the constiu-
ton. there cannot be two opinions among nose VINO
know the facts that the requisite emergency existed
am not about to repeat what have already said re-
specng that emergency. You know what was You
know that the great duty OF justice could mol Otherwise
be performed that peace al home and our saiey
from foreign aggression could not otherwise be insured
aud that only this could we Obtain tue blessings
OF liberty to the people OF Massachusetts and their pos
ierty may adj what now is great and glorious mo-
tive which fathers Anticipated and our eyes have
seen in no other way could we become an example o
and security for the capacity OF man safely and peace
fully and wisely to govern himself under free and popu
lar constitutions. But wish 10 ask your attention par
tculary thing which is more Intimately connected
ii to say that OF forecast must then have
foeseen aud subsequent events have demonstrated ana
tits now known. that without aa ooga.oa
lfntit Tram
Union or Union We cannot 1--we an peace WIN 'he
savehoiding States.
morrow ; sou may do il by civil war, or BY VIVA
| could never understand the method or the prulc
pies oi-wkat is called peaceaoie secession you
may do it in any conceivable or unconceivabie way
you may draw the geographical line between
slavebolding AMI -slayehoiding anychGsj bu
when shall have settled Sowni sSsS oS w,.l hsS, oo,
is as much fact as the other, One engages he IN
teess and feelings and passions OF men as much as h
other And how long can we live 10 peace sue oy s.oe
without some provision by compact TO meet th's case
Not year Any reflsctng man can saisiy hnsell o.
this by turning bis mind upon the acs and history prove
ii As early as l6i3, when the country was wndei
ness and the ot persons fros one part lt
another u0frequent and exceedingly diincu me COLO
nes OF Massachusetts and Plymouth Connecticut ano
New Haven found necessary even 10 that prniive ant
imperfect unioH which they founded, TO stay themselves
against destruction insert article substantially IKE
That any ssFvan run awsy 1@ ns such
case, (upon certificate from one magistrate IN tne ufs
dction out OF which the He'd upon other due
proof) the said servant shall be either delivered TO M
any other person that pnrsues and bnngs sucf
certificate aud proof"
But we need pause upon this very early experience
OF our New England ancestors. The government of TN
United States had been In operation two years. Whef
the necessity Of sucn provision, ~ some iorm,
preserve the peace OF bordering independent States wa
clearly proved You know that IN 1883 FLORIDA belonged
10 Spain, and stretched along the southern border o
Georgia Well, General Washington had not been twt
years in Office when the people oil Southern Georgia be
came uneasy account OF the escape OF Their slaves
across the border into Florida, 10 make very unlus
representations to the national government, demanding
redress and thereupon orders were obtained from ht
Spanish court arrest the further reception of the fu5
tyes and 10 make restitution; aRd President washing
ton sent special messenger into Florida to see TO the ex
ecution OF these orders.
Ii is unnecessary enlarge upon this II any one u
this age expects tove IN peace SIDE by SIDE wth ht
slayeholdng States. without efectua stipulation
wise ioresee events in way connected win human
experience foolish TO reject experience ana prop
abilities as guides of action.
II know il may be said, LET the contest come; we arr
ready for H. Let the blood OF the slaughtered be upoT
the heads OF those who in the wrong. When
look abroad over hundred thousand happy homes u
Massachusetts, and people such as the blessedsur
has rarely shone upon, so intelligent educaed, moral
religious progressive, and free to DO everything ou
wrong-wben call TO mind its admirable constitution
government and that as near 10 periecuon as I'M
lot OF humanity permits--when remember that ihes'
things the free gifts OF that awful Being who hold
peoples and nations in the hollow OF His hand, Tear
say that should not be the wrong to put all TINS al RISK
because our impassionate will Impels us to break
promise wise and good fathers made not TO allow
class OF foreigners TO come here, or TO SEND them oack