Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-29

we acknow edge the splendor and power of the
sun, although its surface is tarnished with, here
and there an opake spot.
You constitution and law converts hospitality
to the refugee from the most degrading op-
preston on earth into a crime. But all man
kind except you, esteem that hospitality vir-
tue. The right of extradicton of even fupi.
tives from justice, is not admitted by the law of
nature and Of nations, but rests on voluntary
compact.
Only two compacts found in diplomatic his.
tory admitted ertradiction Of slareS. Here is
one of them. 1t is found in treaty made be-
tween Alexander Bomnenus, the Greek Empe-
ror of Constantnopr, and Oey, 2d King of
Russia, in the year 902, aud in these words
"If Russian slave takes to flight from his master,
or II he shall be held under preteuce OF having been
bought, his master may pursue him ami take hi n
wheresoever he may be iound and whosoever shall
prevent his master from taking hn shall be guilty al
offending against this treaty, and shall be punished
accordingly"
This was in the year OF Grace, 0O2, in what
is called the Dark Ages, and he contracting
powers were desp tsms.
And here is another.
No person held to service or labor in one state
under the laws thereof escaping IuIo anoIhrr shall
in consequence OF any law or regulations therein he
discharged from such service labor but shall be
delivered up claim OF the party to whom such ser
vice or labor is due"
This is from the constitution of the United
States, in 1887, and the parties were the repub-
lican States Of this Union.
/ The law OF nations dlsavows such somnacts :
the law Of nature, written on the hearts and
cousciences of lreemen, repudrteS ten.
Armed power could not enforce them, cause
there is no public conscience to sustain them.
| know that there are laws of various sorts that
regulate the cUnlu,t of MN. There are Con-
stituions and Statute, codes mercantile and
codes civil; but when We are legl>iatng tor
States, especially when we are iOun NJ SAFES
all these laws must b. bruu Lht to the slunda. d
of the laws Of God, and must be tried by that
standard, and stand or fall Uy It. it 5 of tn,
principle that an eminent paiIoaupler of En-
land, Burke, said
There is bat one law for all,--llm ", thlt law
which governs all aws,--the law OF ou- Creitor.-
nature and OF nations. SO far any laws TO- uy thl
prlmeval law, ana give 1t more prrcSun more eiltr-
gy, more effect by their declarations such laws en-
Ter into the sanctuary and parciplte in the sacrrd-
OF its character. Bur the Inau who u,o es a5
precsdents the abuses OF tyrauts and obbers potps
the very fountains uiJustlce, destroys h- foundations
of all law, and therefore removes the only sltrllrI
against evil men, whether Governors or governed the
guard which prevents Governors from becoming ~
lants and the governed from becoming rebels"
There was deep philosophy IN the confess
SlOnS Oh all lIN5 Ilsh J"uVe. w non ne llal IT.
demned young woman to death under the
/ sanguinary code ot his country. iur her first
petty theft, she fell dead at his feet. : seem
to myself said he, to have been pronouncinp
sentence not against tie prisoner, but against
the law itself
To conclude this point, we are not savehold-
erS; we cannot in our Judgment be either true
Christians or real frecmen, if we impose on
| another a chain that we deny all human power
20 iaSten on ourselves. Gou believe and think
o'ho-,vi"o, aud duuOtipSs ,VI!h equal stncerity
We Judge yol nc, t,.-and lie one ho orda, ed
the conscience OF man and lis laws of action
can Judge rs. Do we then in this conilicl de-
mand of you an unreasonable thing in asking
that, since You will have property that can and
will exercise human power to effect lis tscaue,
von she'll be yonr own Police, and in action
among us. rs such you shall conform to irinci-
nIes indispensable to the security Of admitted
Rights of Freemen
An' ther feature in most oftle Plans of Com
promise is Bill of Peace FIR Slavery in the
District Of Columbia, and this Bill Of Peace We
cannot grant We OF the free States rrs,ousi-
bic for the existence of slavery in this District.
the field exclusively of our common legjSiation
| regret that AS yet see little reason to hope
that malarity IN favor OF emancipation exists
here. The Legislature of New York. rom
whom with great defence dissent, seems will
ing to accept now the extinction o. the save
trade, and waive emancipatioa.
But We shall assume Il e whole responsibility
if we Stipulate not to exercise the power here.
after, when majority shall be obtained, Nor
will the plea with which YOU would furnish rs
he of any avail If could understand myself,
] should never be able to explain to the direct
understanding of the people whom ! represent.
how it was that an absolute and express power
to legisae in all ca 5 over the d strict of Co.
umba, was embarrassed and defeated bv AN
implied cund ton not 10 lcgi,lale for the aboh.
ton Of slavery in that District. ST. | should
vote for that measure, and am willing 10 appru.
pirate any means to carry it into execution
And fl shall be asked what did to pmbeliIs
the capital of my country, ! viii point to her
treed men,rnd say-tnese are the muuuments Of
my munlticence
II was wiling TO advance cauSe that |
deem sacred, by dsingenouS means | would
advise you TO adopt these measures Of compro-
mise which have thus examined. The echo
is not quicker in lis respouce than would be
that loud and unanimous cry or R'Geai, that
would not lie away until the Hob as CmpiS
was secured to the alleged fugitive from bono
age and the sym netry Of the Free Institutions
of the Capital Was perfected.
Apply tle same ubSrhdlOuS 10 lie pTOpO~ =
tiun for IA waiver of the pruv.>o o' .crdum in
territorial charters. Thus far Won have uuiy
direct popular action in favor ul that n finance
and there seems even To be a partial d,>po,lt.ul
to await the action of the people of ti. n.n
territories, AS we have compu!sor.!y waited fu
it in California. Bat must tell yon he, errhe
less. in cand1r and IN p'ainness, that the splrli
of the people in the free SrdleS l. sci lp,n A /
,prgg that rises with the pressure Vi upon 1t
That sprlug ii pres too hard wll give
recoll that wall not cave here one servant wh |
knew his masters viii and did it not.-Iou |.
will say that this implies yoi n,c.-Not Al IA !
it npics only peaceful, lawful consituuol.
al, customary action, cannot too strongly
express my surprise that those who insist llat
the people of Save States cannot be held bt
from remedies outside of the Consritutod,
S ould tar misunderstood us of the free
s arts As to suppose we would not exercis' ir
consttul onal rights to sustain the policy which
we deem Just and benetrent
| object in the next pace to the compromise
Of tie b,urdary between Texas and New Mex
lco. This is a judicial question in its nature,
or at least question of legal right and title.
L il is to be CGmpruInlsed at ALL If is dua 10 n q