Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-10-31
A Thought or two on the Fugitive
Slave Law.

A Thought or two on the Fugitive
Slave Law.
There are two distinct relations in which eve
~ freeman stands to this law: to wit, as man,
and as a subject of the government. As man,
he will act upon his own views Of what Is term
ed " the higher law"-tbat is, the law Of God.
He who thinks it morally wrong to send fugi-
tives back 10 slavery, has the liberty of declining
that sers ice. But as subject of the govern
ment, each freeman, tn oil his political relations,
is bound by the Constitution; that is the high
est law governing these relations. The Consti-
tuition is plain: fugitive slaves must be deliycr-
ed up. We cannot get round it or over it. Un-
pala,able or unpopular though it may be, that is
the plain requirement of the Constitution: and
1t is binding upon US, as subjects of the gOrern
naeni, or as politicians, if you please. We may
go for repeal yet some law, fairly carrying out
the Cons i,ution,we cannot help asserting to, SO
long as we are subject to the Constitution. We
may demonstrate against the summary character
of this law.-and against the abuses to which ii
is l.able-and seek for notifications of it; and
we shall. hes, succeed by admitting fairly ali cur
obligations. and asking only what is right
Those who go beyond this, and talk of resistance,
and quote q the higher law" are stepping beyond
the limit of their political and constitutional
rights. Legislators and public officers manifest
" cannot do this, because their oath requires an
1c Thor
obey or re ign. Political parties cannot do it,
for The reason that the Constitution is the su-
preme rule of all political action: parties must
submit to that instrument, or become rebellious
and revolutionary. In all pOIiticol action, then,
let US clearly understand our obligations, pow
ers and rig ats, and observe them upon this ques-
ton as upon every other. A neglect in this
point, will not only put US in the wrong, but re-
tard rather than advance the changes in the law
which are go desirable. The law is not of our
choosing-nor the Wing party's choice but we
feel bound to say, let Reform be the word-a
word worthy Of Vermont; not Reteiiion-a
word which, we trust, nobody out of South Car
DINA will find occasion to adopt.
WHO MADE THE LAW:
The Burlington (free soil) Courier character
ICES the fug,iv law as the nullifying and I'M
constitutional bill, passed by the Fillmore and
Websier Naturalization"
The same day that brought US the free soil
Courier. also brought US bran new slavocraiic
lccofoco newspaper from Bellows Falls, called
the Republican STANDARD. The editor, in making
his first bow to the public, denounces abolition
ism, and free soiIism, as having Z" a more direct
tendency tl.an any thing else to bring about
dissolution Of the Union"-says of the fugitive
slave bill that IFS consiitutlonality cannot oe
doubted, and SO long it remains the law of
the land il should be faithfully observed"
in the next breath charges that this bill and
federabnisrule" are the result 81 democratic free
soil labors.
Perhaps we should be perfectly safe to allow
these allies in the opposition to stand thus Us
foils to each other-the fee sellers charging the
slave law TO Fillmore and Webster-and the To-
cofoccs charging it TO the free sellers. Truth,
however, impels US TO anattempt to set both gen.
The bill as not administration measure.
It was introduced by Mr. Mason of Va. (loco,)
and the subject of i, mot the billy was recognized
as one Of the Compromise measures agreed up
on by the committee of thirteen. The Taylor
administration was then in; and, according to
Mr. Clay, was opposed to these measures MIR
Fillmore did not come in until after this meas
ure was introduced, and it cannot therefore be
charged as measure of his administration
Mr.. Websier certainly proposed himself, before
he left the Senate, very different bill, carrying
out the Constitution fairly, and providing for tr
al by Jury. When the bill was before the Sen
ate, the most prominent opponents of the bill,
and the men who earnestly endeavored to obvi-
ate its most Objectionable feature, were Messrs
Dayton of New Jersey and Winthrop of Mass
both Wings. Except, perhaps, some South
ern Senators, Lcris Cass Of Michigan, (tolera-
bly, well known as . locofoco, We guess, was
one OF the strongest supporters Of the bill in its
worst shape. Aug. 18th Mr.. Mason called up
the bill, and Mr.. Cass advocated il. Aug. 10,
Mr.. Dcyson l"hig) moved to give ralAL BIZ yu.
ar: lost. ayes wings, 3 locos, 1 free soiler !:
noes, 10 loces "A from the North, and 8 South.
ern Wings. Immediately after, Er. Wsnthrop
moved to secure the right 20 the writ Of kobea,
corpus: lost,-syes 8 wings, 2 locos, and free
soller; noes ls locos "A from the North and g
Southern whigs Finally, the bill passed both
Houses bofk having nejer1ies sppssed 10 H. ~
.a"sssrstson- We have heretofore puhliua,,d sbe
e's ard viii nos yspess il. euales ! 8 ~