The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-25
A Legislator Above the Law.
"HAMILroN, October Ia, l,


Legislator Above the Law.
''HAMILToN, October H. 1850
'DEAn Sin: have just received yours of the
18th. have an important suit TO attend to in the
United States court at Columbus, and have been
notified that must be there to try it the latter
part of this week. 1t would give me the greatest
pleasure to attend the meeting at Wilmington,
but cannot, for this reason. AS to the Fugitive
Law, l condemn and denounce it on all occa-
sions. am against its UBIQUITOUS and unjust pro-
pisions and against all ioho sustain ii. 1t is
the greatest outrage ever perpetrated upon iber-
'ty. / ioouid rample il under foot. have no
right to dictate to others; but for myself, say
tpM utterly disrtgard its obligations and will never
cease my opposition until it is wiped from our
sta tute book. This is the position took in the
feip speeches made before the election; and in
maintaining j: hereafter, / shall not stop to in
quire what effect my course will have upon my
success politician. Political success has no
charms for me when purchased at the sacrifice of
justice and right
every truly, yours,
"A BRooK. L. D. CAMPBELL
The above letter was addressed by the wri-
ter to a committee of seven gentlemen, who were
appointed by the citizens of Wilmington, Ohio.
at meeting held to consider the propriety OF
obeyng the Fugitive Slave Law. Mr.. CAMP
BELL is a member of the House of Represents
tives from the Second Congressional district of
his State. He has taken an oath to support the
Constitution Of the United States; and yet he
proposes To trample under foot law which is.
in its main provisions. mere re-enactment OF
the Constitution. lie may look upon an oath of
this kind in the light in which an old smugger
regards custom house OATH and the violation of
il may set as easily upon his conscience; but,
unless he values his personal character as lightly
as his political success" he should not have
published his own disgrace.
We have not been much surprised at the an-
tics played by Mr.. THEODORE Parker, and
some other clerical candidates for notoriety in
this matter To be sure, Christianity incu-
Gates submission to lawful authority, and these
gentlemen recommend resistance; but we know
that they do il merely for the sake of being
talked about; and, that though their Christianity
may set as lightly on them as his constitutional
obligations do upon Mr.. CAMPBELL, they are
innocent Of any designs against the Common
wealth. We have no fear that Mr.. Parker
would come into personal collision with any
constable in Boston; and if he did, we are quite
sure that he would have the worst of it,
The trouble with him is, that he does not
know what he is talking about, and, perhaps,
imagines that a score Of the females Of his con
gregation, who applaud his dainty phrases and
well-tuned periods, can master the police Of
the city
But Mr.. CAMPBELL has no such excuse. He
is lawyer, we presume, by profession; for he
avails himself Of his letter to the committee to
advertise that he is employed in an "imporiGnt
suitp in the United States Court at Columbus
It is evident that, in the Juror Of his entusy
musy, he does not lose sight Of business. The
leather Of the law peeps out from under the vel.
vet Of philanthrophy IL is to be presumed,
therefore, that, as lawyer engaged in Gin
portant suits" Mr.. CAMPBELL understands the
law Of the land and his constitutional obliga-
tons. and knows that neither, as a citizen, can
he violate the law with impunity, nor, as a rep
resentative, his oath to support the Constitution.
Mr. CAMPBELL is Of the opinion that he may
be law to himself that he is at liberty to de
eide for himself whether he shall obey law Of
the land or 'rrample it under foot" The
right that he claims for himself in regard to a
single law he Of course comedies TO all other per
sons with respect to every other law. We pre-
sumo that he claims no special exemption from
obedience TO the laws, by virtue Of his being
Mr.. l.. ID. CAMPBELL. a representative from
Ohio in the House Of Representatives lie re-
cognises, therefore, the right of every citizen to
nullify law, and trample IL under foot at his OPP
ton. No law in his Judgments binding on man
which he does not approve. How, under these
circumstances, he can reconcile it to his con
science to undertake an "important suit, )" with
the view Of bringing some unfortunate defend
ant to judgment on the provisions Of a law
which he no doubt repudiates, we cannot IN
derstand. That very defendant perhaps has
been exercising the privilege which Mr.. CAMP
BILL claims Of "trampling the law under foot y
and Mr.. CAMPBELL is conspiring with Judge
and Jurors to punish him for it, or TO compel his
observance Of the law. Mr.. CAMPBELL for the
future should confine himself to the line Of de-
fence, and should set mp the inherent right
which he has discovered in all men Of tram
ping the law under foot
The Hon. TRUMAr SMITH, of Connecticut,
and lady, have arrived in the city. and taken
lodgings at Wizards Mr.. Senator MANGUM,
Of North Carolina, arrived in this city on Fri
day night last, and took lodgings at Gadsby =
Hotel. Mr.. CABELr., Of Florida, and lady, are
at the National Hotel
This day week Congress will convene
the Congress Of the United States.