Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-12-21
ion of the Federal Constitution in 1890.

tent. and pervades every rank and condition
in lite, and unless alayed and other counsels
prevail. collisions between government and
people may produce civil war, of which no one
can predict the consequences to the General
or State Governments, or to freedom through
out the world.
The question of human slavery is, and ever
has been, a subject of discord in the relations
the several States bear to each other, and to
the General Government, which is bound to
protect the constitutional rights and interests
,of each.
The Democratic party ever has and ever
will oppose either the diffusion or extension Of
slavery into any free territory of the United
States by every legal and constitutional
means, and would rejoice if any mode, not
doing violence to others, could be devised "to
overthrow and eradicate the evil"
That Congress, having by the Constitution
authority to legisate for the District of Co.
lumbia, "in all cases whatsoever" may rhere
abolish it, entertain no doubt; Congress is,
by the Constitution, the local legislature of the
District, and all cases within the legitimate
sphere of legislation are embraced within the
terms ain all cases whatsoever" as used in
that instrument
Congress appears to me to possess the same
Legislative power over slavery within the ten
miles square, that may be exercised by the
legislatures of the slave States over it within
their jurisdictions and that it has been con-
Esidered in those States, proper subject of
legislation, their history furnishes the most sat-
Iisfactory evidence.
have ever viewed the abolition of slavery
in the District, not only measure of expedi-
ency, but of absolute natural right to :he col
ored race The South would doubles acqui-
esce in such a measure; for if we expect to re-
main one people there is an absolute necessity
of adhering to the decisions of Constitutional
majorites, within their legitimate spheres Of
action.
But the abolition of slavery in the District Of
Columbia, and in the slave States, in my opin-
ion, stand upon different grounds as to the
power of Congress over it.
The Executive of Vermont, in his late mes
sage to the General Assembly. intimates the
opinion that Congress may abolish slavery in
the States where it now exists. How far this
opinion prevails | am not informed. but be-
ieve the exercise of any such authority by
Congress would be followed by dissolution
of the Union. The South would then be driv-
en- to it, to preserve their peculiar institution
under their own local authority.
The entire South, and believe a large ma
jority of the North, would look upon such ac-
ton as an unwarrauted usurpaiion by Con-
gress, for which there is no authority, express
ly granted or fairly to be implied, from the
Constitution of the United States.
The excitement to which have before re-
ferred, appears to have entirely grown out of
the passage, approval, and partial execution,
in few instances, Of what is called the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, by Congress.
Conventions have denounced it as uncon-
stitutional The Clergy have declared it in
opposition to the higher law of God, and there
fore void The slave and the citizen have
been advised and invited to arm and oppose
the execution Of this law, to the shedding of
human blood, and all this is done in the peace
able and orderly State of Ohio and think is
the result of mistaken judgment; if not, and
the law is actually void, they are right, and
could justify the noble impulses which prompt
interference between freedom and servitude,
in opposition to law, whether white or black
But let US for moment search after truth,
and if, we find it, acknowledge its force. Let
the ground we occupy, at least, be well con-
sidered, before we hasten to results calculated
to weaken the public confidence in the su-
premacy of our laws and the wisdom and sta
bility of our institutions
There is, think, no doubt, that the Su-
preme Court of the United States will sustain
every provision OF this law, as constitutional,
when the occasion shall arise. One of its nor
thern members has already done SO, in the
case of Garnett
L. al
conclusive on all others, on questions growing
out of the constitution of the United
States. 1t is the national tribunal, and its
opinions 6nal There is no appeal. If am
right in this, whosoever commits any over acts
of violence against the execution of this law,
is guilty of misdemeanor; and if death en-
sue, may be guilty of murder!
But cannot drop the subject here. With
a natural aversion to the institution of slavery,
and the evils that believe it entails, on any
people, should be false to myself and false to
truth, if did not express the opinion, that the
law is consistent with constitutional obligation,
between the States.
The Constitution provides, in the last clause
of the End section of the 4th act, that mo per-
son held to service or labor in one state, under
the law thereof, escaping into anetheF, shall,
in consequence of any law or regulation there
in, be discharged from such service or labor,
but shall be delivered up on claim of the par
ty to whom such service or labor may be due"
It is matter of public history, that this
provision was inserted in the Constitution of
the United States, as the result of a COM
promise, and for the purpose of enabling the
owners of fugitive slaves to recover them, in
the free states and that, without it, no consti-
tuition could have been formed. The provis-
ion, 1 believe TO be binding upon the states,
and upon the people of the states, and every
public functionary is under the solemn obliga
lions of an oath to obey its mandates. By
means of this, Congress had the discretionary
power to legslnte, to carry out the designs of
the provision, not infringing on any other ar
ticle or section in that instrument; and this
constitution, and the laws of Congress and the
treaties made in pursuance Of it, are declared
to be the supreme law of the land
If the late act violates this instrument, in
what does such violation consist? Not in es-
tablishing new nor unusual rules of evidence,