Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-11-01
The Rendition Of Fugitive Slaves.

this question. The northern hcad, always
cool and reflective, eomprch.nds and VIII ds-
charge It's whole duty IN the premises Inc
requirements ofthe constitution, IN this eonnee-
ton, will be abided Nv and lived up to In good
faith by the north. lie who infefs otherwise
from the reccn, demonstrations in several o'
the northern cities, where tho constitution has
been denounced and notification threatened
mistakes the character Of the sober.minded,
law. abiding. union.lovIng people Of the north,
who revere the constitution Of the country as
tbs palladium Of their liberties and the ark OF
their political safety. They will rally around
and sustain il, against all assaults, come from
what quarter they may.
The issue raised, by these northern nullih-
er,, d,cs no, relate to Any particular provision
oC the late fugitive slave law, which they seek
to modify or repeal ba, It involves the law
gross, which they threaten To resist and over
throw. They denounce thu lac as rhot''
in object, scope aud design. Their oPPo'i-
,iou is not specially directed against this ia'r.
OF any particular provisions OF It, but !, al
iachcs to al Smiiar n,doimcni', looking to the
enforcement, Of the fugitive slave clause Of the
const,uton--nay, their opposition Is directed
against the contribution ns,y. In the teeth oi
that instrument, whose provisions are plain
and imperative, admitting Of no evasion OF de-
NAL, they declare that iugi,I'es from service
shall Hoi be delivered uP-thai they will re-
,ist the execution Of the law, and the cOnsii-
tuition, even unto blocdsled. And the quss-
ton stripped Of all disguise. Is distinctly pre-
.enied to the people OF the free States, wheth-
81 lhcy will give cuunlenancc aud encourage
mrnt to these threatened violations OF the la~ 4,
and medlta,ed rc,oIls against the constitution
OR more properly speaking, It Ia rather
whether tlcy will not indignantly irown up
ou, aud ctTrc,ually rcprcss all attempts to null
M, the laws aud ,uh,cu the constitution Ut
tic country. BE- the character of the fugitive
slave act. What It u.ay--,he proposition 10 VI
olalc aud iramplc upon the law Is none the
les designating and rcprchenslble. PoPu-
lar resistance To law, IA a rcpoblIc like ours,
Is treason To the principle, OF free govern.
mcnt. For Justly observe, a contemporary
Ill there o, one principle that i more vital
to fac, government than any other, It is the
inNolabc supremacy OF the law Its Par'lc'
'ullr character can Il 10 WISE affect In 'llldl'
Ity. Whether It be- good or bad, ~ long as II
stands, It - To be deemed thc authoritative Ell
PRECISION OF the public reason and conscience
aud as much j. to be- obcycd 10y every so,.
citizen. II law las no inherent efficacy ol ia
own, and is made In dcpcnd for its sanction or
every mans discretion, It's authority IL alto
gcibsr fictitious, aud the government that 90
dalns II j. daily exposed to anarchy and ruin.
We have never entertained bat one oplnlor
IN respect to this quesusn-an opinion that ~
did not hesitate to express long PRIOR 10 the FL
istence Of the prcsen, eIrlsemen, growing ou
Of the passage OF the fugitive slave bIll-anC
tina, opinion IL that the constitution imposes
upon the free State, a duty concerning ih,
surrender Of fugitive slaves, which had beet
hitherto bot imIeriecily performed, and ~hlol
ought hcncclouh to be more rigldly fulfilled
Bu, While We would do all thai the cunstl,u
ton. fairly interpreted, enIolns on the Oh,
hand, We are prepared To insist upon all 'h'
rights and privilege, which II secure. and al
lows. on the other In carrying cut one pro
VISION Of III. constitution, nc would not iolcT
ate the inractlon Of another pro'lslos. 4 Ia"
that shall prove effective tot the reclamation
Of fugliNes from service, the south are cnir
tied to demand and the north are under constr
iutioual obi CATIONS TO gran, a Law, at AL
events, a. elective ~ II eau be made without
violating any OF the constitutional rights Of tie
north, OF wlIhou, breaking down any OF 10,
bulwarks erected by the constitution ior the
protection oi the hbcn,rs Oi freedom. Audit
upon examination or trial, the Dcw lugllnc
slave law, shall BE- found to cuniaIn any pro-
VISION ~ conflict With the constitution, OF II II
does not sufficiently guard aud protect the
night. aud privileges OF the free eolored pop
ulaton II the north, let the free States, Which
have a majority 10 congress, iclrlcssly make
the requisite amendments. They can DO 80,
wIihou, exciting the suspicion of the south,
II they show dlsynsIIion,in advance, To per
form their whole constitutional duty aud u
that bs only their object IN seeking an amend.
meat OF the existing act, the south will not
only NO, object, but aid them for 10 no
section OF the Union does there exists great.
81 aversion To n,ln stealing than 10 the south
itself
llowe'sr hard II may seem 10 be to comply
With this provision OF the constitution, IN ca
s.s where the fugitive has been iur a long time
~ the free States. the instances where the
long-escaPed fugitive will be demanded, will
We ,pprchend be quite rare, az the south will
not be particularly ANXIOUS TO get back that
class Of iugIiIvcs, for every fugitive Who has
become indoetrlnaled with the spin, OF free
dom, will be like a missionary sent among the
slave population Of the south, to excite IN them
spirit OF discomfort, and desire to escape
from bondage. Besides there is no necessity
tina, the fugitive should be sen, back in'o ser
'i,ude, il the people Of the north choose to
ransom him, As they will do, and as they have
done in every instance so far, provided his
character and habits are such as TO commend
him to the favor Of the community in which
he i. known.