Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-02
LETTER FROM THE HON. SAMUEL A. ELIOT.


A. ELIOT, explanatory of his views on the subject
OF the Fugitive Slave BILL which received his vote
on Its passage in the House of Representatives, in
concurrence with the Senate, in which body II or-
ginaed. We trust his constituents and the Puohc
will do him the justice Of giving It careful peru
sal. They will perceive that he has not acted on
this subject, as he is incapable of doing on any,
without reasons satisfactory 70 MS
own mind, and such as are deserving of careful
consideration. Those who may not agree with
him in his conclusions will at least give him the
credit of having acted independently, according 10
his own sense of public duty.
The letter Of Mr.. ELIOT will be acknowledged
by every intelligent reader to be very forcbie'
not conclusive argument in support OF the pro-
priety and necessity of this law. The argument
rests Of course not on the ground of expediency,
or of policy as specially affecting the interest oil his
constituents but of positive obligation between one
portion of the Union and another-an obligation
which arises not only from the nature OF the rea-
tions which subsist between the Northern ana
Southern portions of the Union for their mutual benefit but
from positive engagements under the Constitution from
which members of the Union we cannot escape. The
Of this obligation is stated by Mr. Eliot with great
ceaness and ce and do not how any one, capable
Of understanding the state Of facts and the course Of reason
ing, escape from the conclusion at which he arrives
was simply, whether he would give effect to provision of
the Constitution important to the South which had been
rendered null by the legislation of the Free States whether
he would refuse to do SO He did not shrink from the obi
CATION of standing by the Constitution, and in doing he
adopted the which adopted by the people
of Massachusetts, 17ss, when they accepted the Cons
tuition.
For the purpose Of informing ourselves upon the position
which taken by the people Of this State upon this clause
of the Constitution, have recued to the report Of the
debates in the Massachusetts, Convention Of 1888, for the
adoption Of the Constitution of the United States. is well
known that this instrument then underwent thorough
tiny by the jealous friends of freedom of that day. The
Convention took into particular consideration the whole Con-
stution, discussing it section by section. There much
opposition many Of the provisions Of it. and although
ves made in the progress Of the discussion, it
finally passed by majority Of only 1877 against l6s In the
discussion by sections there good deal of debate
the articles which relate to the appoonment of Representa-
ves and direct free and slave population, and to the
prohibition of importation of slaves Several members OBJ
jeced that Congress restricted from prohibiting the mi
grafton or importation of slaves until 1908. But strange
may seem, the section which provides that slaves law
fully held inc State escaping another shall
discharged but shall be delivered ups passed without
opposition and without remark On subsequent day, how
ever after all the sections had been read in orde and had
been commented the pleasure of every MEMBER Gen.
HEATH, Of Roxbury, rose, in the Of general
dcusson and after remarkng that in consequence of his
absence for days from indsposon, he had been de-
prved of the opportunity of expressing his sentiments
of the subjects which had in the time passed
under review he proceeded to remark upon the article which
relates to the extradon of slaves in connexion with that
which relates the importation. Upon these subjects he
spoke as follows:
81 apprehend that is not in power to do any thing
for against those who in slavery in the Southern States
No gentleman within these walls detests every idea Of slavery
more than do it generally deesed by the people of this
Commonwealth and ardenty hope that the time will
come when brethren in the Southern States will
view as we do, andpu stop to but to this we have
right to compel them. Two questions naturally arise if we
aty the constitution, shall do any thing by act to
hold the blacks in slavery shall become patakers Of
other mems sins think neither of them. Each State is
sovereign and Independent to certain degree and they have
right and will regulate their own internal affairs, to
themselves appears proper and shall refuse to
drink, TO be united with those who do not think just
do Surely not. We not in this partakers
of other mems SINS for in nothing do voluntarily
rage the slavery of felowmen. restriction is laid
the Federal Government which could be avoided and
a union take place. The Federal Government went as
far they could The migration or imporaon &c. is
fded to the States ersng only; States
claim it, Congress, by their ordinance for erecting new
States, time since declared that the States shall be
republican, and that there shall be slavery in them"
We have here quoted om the debates every thing that
appears to have been said upon the article in question, in
Convention which continued its debates in daily forenoon and
afternoon sessions for than four weeks This fact
shows clearly that the provision question regarded
oversight which depended upon the
option of the people of this State, but indispensable
condition of the Union of the Sates the acceptance of
which they made their election in deciding that they would
become members Of the Union.
The necessity for this provision of the Constitution
exists at the present time, connected with all the motives to
the continuance Of the Unon which then induced its ora
tion and bound in addition its observance by our
acceptance Of the Constitution by engagement which
cannot annul, and which we have sworn to obey.
Mn. ELIOTS LETTER
Mr.. HALE The peculiar circumstances of the times and
OF position, induce to ask of you the of the
columns Of the Advertiser for brief explanation Of the
of the have recently pursued lido in the hope
and indeed in entire confidence, that my citizens know
well enough and have known long enough enable
them to believe the statement am about to make, and that
they will mpute to sinister ambitious motive for
what may not have met with their appreciation
1t is rather striking circumstance attending the excite
ment Of the present moment that among the several subjects
of importance which have been brought the attention of the
their fire. and excited much sympathy and indignation,
precisely the only in regard which there existed any
constitutional obligation. All the other questions to be
adjusted considerations of popey expediency but
this upon the Of duty aone The feelings are, at all
times very bad guides for political action and in this
it seemed to be imperative upon every claiming to
act principle ard with due reverence for the constitution,