The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13

those grievances, real or supposed, ALLEVIATE the
minds of portion OF the country from the other,
exaspcrate the feelings subd6e the OF frater
nal affection, patriotic love and mutual regard
shall bestow little attention, sir, upon these va
rious grievances produced on the one side, and on
tie other. begin with the complaints OF the South
will not answer, further than have, the general
statements Of the honorable Senator from South Car
DINA, that the North has grown upon the South In
consequence Of the manner Of administering this
Government, in the collecting OF Its revenues, ana
forth. These disputed topics, and have no
inclination to enter into them. hut Will state
these complaints, especially one complaint OF the
South, which has in my opinion just foundation;
and that is that there has been found at the North
among individuals and among the Legislators OF the
North, Discrimination To perform, fully, their con-
stitutonal duties in regard to the return OF persons
bound to service who have escaped into the free
States In that respect, it is my judgment that the
South is right, and the North is wrong, Every
member of every Northern Legislature is bound by
oath, like every other officer in the country, to sup
port the Constitution of the United States; and this
article the Constitution, which says to these States
they shall deliver up fugitves from service, is as
binding IN honor and conscience as any other art-
Gle No man fulils his duty in any Legislature
who sets himself to find excuses evaslons, escapes
from this constitutional obligation. have always
thought that the Constitution addressed itself TO the
Legislatures of the States themselves, or to the
States themselves. Ii says that those persons es
Gaping To other States shall be delivered up, and
confess have always been Of the opinion that II
was injunction upon the States themselves.
When il is said that person escaping INTO another
State, and becoming therefore within the Jurisdc-
ton of that State, shall be delivered up II seems TO
me the import of the passage ia, that the State it.
SELF in obedience TO the Constitution, shall cause
him To be delivered up. That is my Judgment.
have always entertained that opinion, and enter
tain il now. But when the subject, some years
ago, was before the Supreme Court of the United
States, the majority of the judges held that the
power TO fugitives from service To be delivered
up was a power TO be exercised under the authority
Of this Government. | do not know, on the whole,
that il may not have been fortunate decision.
My habit Is to respect the result of Judicial delibera
tons and the soeInnity of Judicial decisions But,
as il stands, the business of seeing that these
lugitives delivered up resides in the power OF
Congress and the national judcature, and my
friend at the head of the Judiciary Committee
has bill the subject now before the Senate,
with some amendments To ii, which propose to
support, with all its provisions, to the fullest
extent. And / desire to call the attention of all
sober minded men, Of all conscientious men, i'll
the North, of all men who not carried away
by any fanatical idea or by any false idea what
ever, 10 their constitutional obligations. put II
to all the sober and sound minds at the North as
question of morals and question of conscience.
What right have they, in their legislative capacity,
or any other, to endeavor TO get round this Const
tuition, 10 embarrass the free exercise OF the rights
secured by the Constitution 10 the persons whose
slaves escape from them' None at all none at all.
Neither in the forum of conscience, nor before the
face of the Constitution, are they justified, IN my
opinion. OF course II Is matter Tor their consld-
Grafton. They probably, in the turmoil of the times
have not stopped to consider of this; they have fol
lowed what seems TO be the current of thought and
Of motives the occasion arose, and they neglected
10 investigate fully the real question, and to con-
slider their constitutional obligations; as am sure
if they did consider, they would fulfil them with
alaerity. Therefore, repeat, sir, that here is a
ground ofcomplant againstthe North well founded,
which ought to be removed, which it is now in the
power of the different departments of this Govern
Inent to remove; which calls Tor the enactment oil
proper laws authorizing the judcature of this Gov
ernment, in the several States, to do all that is
necessary for the recapture OF fugitive slaves, and
for the restoration Of them TO those who claim them
Wherever 90, and whenever l speak on the sub
ect and when speak here / desire to speak to the
whole North, say that the South has been injured
in this respect, and has right to complain; and
the North has been too careless of what think the
Constitution peremptorily and emphaticaly enjoins
upon il duty.
Complaint has been made against certain resolu-
tons that emanate from Legislatures at the North,
and are sent here 10 US, not only the subject of
slavery in this District, but sometimes recommend
ing Congress TO consider the means Of abolshing
slavery in the States. should be sorry TO be called
upon To present any resolutions here which could
not be referable to any committee or any power in
Congress; and, therefore, should be unwilling TO
receive from the Legislature Of Massachusetts any
instructions 10 present resolutions expressive Of any
opinion whatever on the subject of slavery as il
exists at the present moment in the States, for two
reasons: because, first, do not consider that the
Legislature of Massachusetts has any thing to do
with it; and next do not consider that as her rep
resentatve here have any thing TO do with it. Sir,
il has become, in my opinion, quite too common; and
IL the Legislatures Of the States do not like that opin
on they have great deal more power put il down
than have 10 uphold it, IT has become, in my opin
ion quite too common practice for the State Legis
latures 20 present resolutions here on all subjects
and 10 instruct here all subjects. There is nj
public that requires instruction more than
DO or who requires information more than do OF
desires it more heartily but do not like TO have
IL come in too imperative a shape. took notice,
with pleasure, of some remarks upon this subject
made the other day in the Senate Of Massachusetts,
by young man OF talent and character, OF whom
the best hopes may be entertained. mean MIR.
Hillard. He told the Senate Of Massachusetts, that
he would vote for instructions whatever 10 be
forwarded to members Of Congress, nor for any re
solutions To be offered, expressive Of the sense o.
Massac husetts, TO what her members Of Congress
ought TO do. He said that he propriety
in one set OF public servants giving instruction,
and reading lectures 10 another set OF public ser
wants. To their own master all OF them must stanc
or fall and that master IL their constituents
wish these sentiments could become common
great deal more common. have entcre,
into the question, and never shall, about the bind
ing force Of instructions. will, however, simply
say this II there be any matter Of interest pending
IN this body, while am a member Of it, in whicl
Massachusetts has an interest Of her own not ad
verse 10 the general interests Of the country shal
pursue her instructions with gladness Of heart am
with all the efficiency which can bring TO the &C
casion But IL the question be one which affect
her interest, and at the same time affects the in
tercsts of all other States, shall more regar,
her political wishes or instructions than would re
gard the wishes Of man who might appoint m
an arbitrator, or referee, TO decide some question
Of important private right, and who might insfruc
me 20 decide in his favor II ever there a Gov
eminent upon earth, il is this Government; il eve
there was body upon earth, IL IL this body, whic
should consider itself composed by agrecmen
Of all, each member appointed by some, but or
ranized by the general consent Of all, sitting her
under the solemn obligations Of oath and conscienc
TO do that which they think TO be best for the goo
of the whole.
Then, sir, there arc the abolition societies, {
which ! am unwilling TO speak, but in regard I
which have very clear notions and opinions. ! d
not think them useful. think their operations e.
the last twenty years have produced nothing goo
or valuable AZ the same time know thousands
their members are honest and good men; pcrfcctl
well meaningmen. They have xcited feelings; the
think they must do something for the cause Of i'll
crty, and in their sphere Of action they DO not 3,
what clsc they DO. than 10 contribute 10 an abs
Ltion press, or an abolition society, or 10 pay .
abolition lecturer ! DO not mean 10 impute gro
motives even the leaders Of these societies but
am not blind Ia the consequences. cannot but .,
n with n,