The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-01

IN
quietly and peaeaby snbait TO the laws, and thus To-
put end TO all further agitation on this subject Bat
am afraid that the work which you sommeneed 2. lee
last session is not entirely finished You Wi nave 70
buckle on your armor again, and you VIII DC unuei
the necessity OF continuing the good hgh' i9r me PUT
pose q making permanent he Re who take par h
this movement, and those who concur WIN u.s. VIII use
every effort in power 10 sustain YOU leags our
our best 10 confirm those laws. and prevent as lar as our
influence goes, any tendency To- dissolve Inc Union.
Three cheers TOT me so vrsa, w ans va
shal endeayor far cam TO cheer you those
Al public duties which you shortly TO enter upon in
Washington, We bid you, therefore, hearty welcome
Mr.. Wood here sat down amid great cheering.
General Cass was then called upon and in response
that distinguished gentleman spoke as follows:
While expressing 10 the committee my thanks Tor the
honor they have done me on this occasion, cannot
fran, sir from expressing 70 YOU personally my gra,
Gallon al the able and patriotic view you have presented
OF present condition and future prospects, and OF the
duty which devoves upon every true American citizen III
this crisis oil our country; and the obligations feel for
the attention OF the committee enhanced by the con-
sideration that have the honor 10 be associated IN
these proceedings with those eminent citizens, hon,
ored and esteemed through the whole country, and
who have labored with equal zeal and ability in
the patriotic task OF Terminating the evils which aict us
now, and threaten still graver consequences ior Inc ~
tuTe. Applause The spectacle exhibited al the last
session OF Congress, and since renewed through the
country and day again displayed in your own proceed
ings is dear to the heart Of every true American who
believes that this confederation and the constitution
which established and maintains II, are among the most
glorious works OF man. securing TO US greater measure
Of prosperity and freedom than any other people ever
joyed and Offering cheering example 10 the oppressed
nations OF the EARTH struggling TO regain the rights OF self
government which have been wrested from them Men
divided all their lives by the party topics OF the dayay
many OF them arrayed against another for half
tury with all those excited feelings which mark po
litlcal contestsnow find themselves side by sde pro-
tectng the ark OF freedom from the perils that have
gathered round IT, All other objects give way this
highest and hottest OF American political dues-this
.xAfs So Ifpnp as tntaa he
events OF the recent session OF Congress brought out
bold relief this characteristic feature OF insttu
tons, and were marked BY spirit Of patriotic devotion
ample it offers. And is this precious heritage of liberty.
acquired by the services and snersgs OF our fathers and
crowned by the blessing OF fathers Colds it to be
rejected, and the performances OF the present and the
promises of the future to be equally committed 10
those stormy passions whose calamitous results are
written upon every page OF human history And where In
the long annals OF manknd do we find people 80 high
u favored as we are at this moment when we to
be struck with judicial blindness-almost ready, may
say in the language OF Scripture to rush upon the thick
bosses of Jehova's buckeri The shole upon
country free and as prosperous as this, where human
freedom finds less oppression, the human intellect less
restraint, or human industry less opposition. And what
overpowerng object before which would justify The
sacrifice of all these blessings Why one section OF
the country arrayed against another and why
found in who both ready 10 sever our constitutional
by the sword and 10 commit the future OF this great
republic to those dssensons whose consequences man
can toresee Is there any advantage which dsunon
would make greater! Is there any evil 1t would make
lighter any security for the present, any hope for the
future, which would be increased by separation None,
none repeat, then, whence this agitation, this alarm,
these excited feelings these hard thoughts, which are
spoken in hard words and fast leading hard deeds
Why is that the OF adopted al the last
session of Congress, reasonable and equitable under the
circumstances, and approved by large majority OF the
community-why is il that these have failed to calm the
excitement and to restore harmony and tranquility the
country These various acts formed parts oil plan OF
compromise, and should be regarded pedging the faith
of every portion of the country to their faithful observance
and N w
look forward to that good old fraternal feeling which
brought us together, and which alone can keep Us
together.
But, unfortunately the public mind in the North has
been much excited by the passage OF of those laws
that for carrying into effect the provisions OF the consu
ton the subject OF fugitive slaves; and has been
quoted and msrepresented with such holiness OF perver
sion unknown before political controversies, that
its repeal is loudly called for in portion OF the
try and feared, il not anticipated in another For my.
self believe the repeal OF that law would dissolve this
confederation as certainly as to-monows sun will rise
ton Of constitutional duty, which would leave inopera-
tive great constitutional obligation, and gross viola
ton OF political faith, which would destroy all confidence
Tor the FUTURE and that they would seek their remedy by
assuming an independent station among the nations OF
the earth And believing this for one shall oppose its
repeal am among those who acknowledge the stability
OF the constitutional obligation TO surrender fugiiiyes
from justice and ugtiyes from labor am among those
who believe that the constitution is law high enough
rights and duties, subject to the exposition OF the
proper tribunals. And | am satisfied that the act of
1873, on the SUBJECT OF fugitive slaves as nave already
taken occasion 10 say the Senate had become inei
cient, and almost useless. and principally from the adj
verse action Of the. Stale legislatures. And nothing
could more strikingly demonstrate the truth OF this
proposition than the fact stated by Mr. Webster and
confirmed by Mr.. Quincy, that in the State OF Massa
chusets where The opposition 10 the present law has
been most general and violent no fugitive slave has
been surrendered since the adoption OF the consi-
ton. II is difficult TO deal with such state OF things,
and al the time preserve respect for those who
seek TO make political capital out of this agitation
tery unsuted TO the occasion And what renders this
course the extraordinary is the fact that has
been shown so lar as know, that single per-
son, not slave, has been surrendered anywhere
under the constitution. And yet, 10 read the violent
speeches and upon this subject might suppose
that the sending Of free persons into bondage was
every day which called for universal ndg
since the new law went into effect, and which show
fugitive slave population IN The slaveholding States
far beyond what any had anticipated, is the best
commentary upon the nehciency OF the former statutory
provisions, and the best justification for the complaints
OF the South.
What, then, my fellow citizens, do we want We
want the restoration OF harmony and tranquility TO every
portion, however scattered of this great republic stretch
ing IRON the shores that look upon Europe TO those
which look out upon the islands and continent OF Asia
All want the peaceful enjoyment OF our priceless insttu
Mons and especially 50 do we. who approaching
years and ten who have passed our lives hap
PLY under this government and who desire of the
fearful apprehension that long have lived we may
from the cradle God sgood lime hope todescend
American citizens the grave, with the conviction that
after the religion OF His Son. leave children the
richest herifaQe that descended q n peOple We