The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-14

,bess several acts as parts OF an entire system, to
be adhered 10 and maintained as whole, pro-
ceeding on the basis Of compromise, and intended,
by permanent adjustment of so many critical
questions, to heal the public agitation and per-
petuate the Union, they have received our acquI-
escence, and have inspired US with admiration Of
those eminent statesmen, who, rising above the
influence of party and sectional considerations,
perilled their well earned regulations for the en-
during welfare of their country.
Ath That the vigorous and faithful execution
by the general government of all the laws, made
in pursuance of the Constitution, is its primary
duty, and affords the only security for the Just
projection Of The rights and property Of the clt-
zen, and for the permanency of this Union and
it is equally the duty of all good citizens TO en-
courage and support the officers OF the govern
ment in the execution ofthe laws and 70 discount
tenance and rebuke the effort ofthose who seek to
subyert them. And while, therefore, we enter
tain every proper confidence in the ability and de-
termination of the Chief Magistrate OF the Union
faithfully to perform his duty in the present cr-
SIS and take the opportunity to tender 70 him our
assurance, that, in any emergency that should
require il, he may safely rely upon the cordial
cooperation Of the people of Maryland, we can
not withhold the warmest expression or our hrm
and continued reliance upon the patriotism OF
those Of our countrymen, IN all sections or the
Union, who have fearlessly asserted the constitu-
tional rights of the South and, in view OF the
calamties which must ensue II those rights con-
tinue to be violated, we would earnestly suggest
to the governments of the non-slayehoding States
the propriety and the importance of enacting such
laws as will facilitate the recovery of fugitiyes
from labor and upon the citizens of every State
we would anxiously urge the absolute necessity
OF maintaining and enforcing each and all of the
measures Of adjustment adopted at the last session
of Congress.
5th That of the aforesaid series of laws that in
tended to insure the restoration Of fugitives from
labor is the only one protesting to protect the Pc
Gull rights and institutions of the Southern
States from the mischievous hostility of wicked
fanatcism in other portions of the Union, is but a
tardy and meagre measure of compliance with the
clear, explicit, and imperative injunctions Of the
Constitution and holds out the only hope that the
protection which the South was authorized to ex-
pect from the union Of the States to this species OF
property will be afforded to them, and being the
chief inducement to the South for its accession TO
the Compromise the repeal Of that law, or the fail
ure to enforce its provisions, could only be re-
garded as evidence Of determined purpose In
other States to violate the sacred charter Of our
rights, or want Of ability in the General Govern
ment to enforce the laws made for our protection;
and in either event there would be a failure to
comply with the solemn obligations which give
to the Constitution its chief value and binding
force, and which could not be violated or delibe-
ratey evaded without leading to a dissolution OF
tho ITnon