The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-12-20

such doctrine-
| nm not unaware that the case ~ ihe Stute vs
tue Commercial Bank of Cincinnati is opposed |
10 this view, ofcorporate rights; but that decis !
ion was made many years since nnd ly divided |
court, and nne of ihe Judges who cunourred Ia |
that npiuion has, on another occasion, very justly
''tlmt laws must be so extended or
contracted as to meet the exigencies ut society"
-auding In the common law ot England, no |
Doubt which WINS only adopted in this state so
flr us il should be found strictly applicable to our
condition.
The case 10 which reference has been made,
determined SO many years since, cnpnOi he con
sidered oI very binding authority. Since thar
uerOd, Inuliiiude' of mOueyed aud other cOrpor'
ctiohs have splung into life and their conflicting
plains with government aud people render il
highly expedient that the rules hitherto recng
uiSed an claimed us placing these institutions
beyond the reach oi either lldicialGr Legislative
correction should now he reviewed, mndfed,
aud paced on a foundation more consistent with
the spirit of our laws aud the ri shts Of all. .
Havinl thus, very briefly referred 10 certain
subjects Of State policy aud some of the rnnc
lions ol the Executive, MS in my humble judg-
ment they ought IL he performed. could wish
that nothing remained hut IN take the oath ol ni
flee aud retire from this hall. Bat cannot do so
consistently with public expectation, wiilimt IA
frank expressiDnor nly views 1n a quesinn now
pending bcf ~ the people which ihrrnieus the
stability Of the Union the supremacy "i lhe laws.
md 10 disturb the good order md qn.et which
has hitherto with very lew exceptions prevailed
since the adoption Of The Federal Con Ituliuu in
1880.
An excitement is spread over a barge extent,
md pelvadrs every rank anl cUntilion in lie
and nncss nlluyed, aud other c"uusels prevail
! collisions between government aud people may
produce civil wa III which no uhc eau predict
| the Consequences 10 the General or Stale Gov
ernments or io freednm throughout The world.
| The question Of human slavery is. mud ever has
| been, u subj ct Ut discuid In the relations the
several states beeu tu each other, and Ia the Gen
erul Go, ernnent, which is hou!td tu protect the
cons 'ituiional rights Of each.
The Democratic party ever has and evcr will
oppose either he diffusion or extension oI shye.
~ into any OF ihe free territories Of the United
States, by every legal Il constitutional means,
and would rei,ice If any mode. not doing vio,
rnce 10 others, could lie devised ITO overthrow
aud eradicate ihe evil
That Cong ess hnving'by the C0nsliinuaIan an
thority to legslnte for tie District OF Columbia
in all cases whaispever.' mly there abolish il,
q ter,a'nnO doubt. Congress is. by the CoDsliin'
ion the local Legislature of the Dsrict aud all
cases within tie legitimate sphere u! Legislation
Hre elnbrnced Within the terms, "in all cases
whatsoever" MS used in that instrument
Congress appears 10 lne to p'ssess the same
| legislative piwer over slHvPry within the ten
miles squire, lint may be exercised 10y the leSls
atures Of the Slave States over it within thei.
jurisdictions; aud thai it has been considered in
those states proper subject OF Legislation. then
history furnishes the mnsl sat slacnry evidence
| ! have ever viewed tie abnhtinn Of slavery in
the District. not ouly measure "f expetliency
but OF absolute natural right Ia the cnlored race
The South would doubtless aeqreSGe III such d
measure; lurir we expect tn renri1 one people
| their is an absolute necessity Of udleling 10 the
decisions Of The Constitutional impurities, within
their cri.iniale spheres ol ac:l"ll
But tue abolition Of slavery III the District q
Columbia, aud in lhe Slave States IN my OPINION
stand npOn different grounds as 10 the power u
/ Congress over il.
The Executive ol Vrrn mt in lis late inessng,
IN the General Assembly,, inlinntrs the opinion
that Congress IN " abolish slavery in the States
where II now exists How fac Ills opinion pre-
walls nm moi informed bu believe the eTercis'
nt any Snch authority by Congress would he fol
lowed by dissolution Oi the UnI"h. The Soul
w'u'd Then b. driven IN H. Ia plese We their pc
Unlin Institution under their own local mntoit'
The entire Snurh and | brlirvra nr9e nnjnri
lyoi the North. would look upon snch action ~
IN nuwlrranieti u.urptun by Congress, io
which there is M nmhriy expressly granted ~
tdllN ~ be implied, from ihe Constitution ul th'
Unnrd States.
The ex, itrmeni 10 which | have hrInre reIer
red appears To have entirety 9 own oni ct ln'
passage. approval. Il partial cXccuIlm N III le"
m,talrGrs u what is called the fugitive slave law
J ny Congress
Convrnlinlls have pronounced itns unGons'irI
al The Clergy have cla ed il ia nppOsitinn Il
the higher law Of God. aud therefore void 80
lhc Si,sc aud The citizen have been advised and
I invited 10 ann aud oppose the exrcuiluir ol thi
law tu the shedding Of hum1n blu"d, and all TIM
is done in the praceIhle aud orderly STATE u
Ohio, aud think is the result ot mistaken jnd9
men; nnt. and the law is hctnay vuid, tl,ey an
right and | could justify the nohe impulse
which prompt interference between freedom ait
, s"rviludc. in opposition tn law whether white .
black Bnl let us for u moment search alter trut
l aud il we Ii ID il. acknowledge its tnrce. lie
the gruund we occupy, at ast be well cohsld
cred, hefire we hasten To results calculated Il
weaken the public confidence in the supreme.
of our hws, aud the wisdom aud stability Of OH
Institutions.
There. is think no doubt. That the Suprem
, Court Of the uniied States will sustain ever.
provision of this law as rons i'atioHai when TN
: occasion shalt arise. Oe OF lis northern mem
bers has nr ndy done sn, in the case Uf Glrnetl
: The decisions Of this tribunal are nhsulue
conclusive nn oil others on questions CROWN
out Of tue constitution of the United States
} is the national tribunal, and il opinions final -
There is no appeal. II um right IN this, wtlo
soever commits any overt acts Evidence agaills
r the execution of his law. IS guilty ni mstle
) meanor; aud il death enSue may be gully q
murder!
! But cannot drop the subject here, With
natural aversion Ia the Institution oi slavery, nn
the evils that bell We it entails, on my people
should be Ialseto myself aud llse to truth. it
did not express the pnon lhnt the law is con
sislent with constitutional obligation, betwee
the States
The constitution provides. in The last clause 9
the 2l seclinn nf the i;h act, That "no rcrs"n hell
To service nr hbor, in one Stnte, udcr the lav
thereof, escaping ntn another, shall. IN oohse
queuce OF amy law or regulation iEer"ln be dis
charged from such service or ubtr but shall b
delivered up, On chim ol The parry to whom snc
service or abur may bc due. -..,
1t is muttcr Of public history. tmt the provi'
ion was inserted in the constitution OF the Unlte
States ns the result ofn compromise. aud inr tlI
; purpose of enlhliug the owners nl TnenlNe slave
tn recover them, in The free States aud thnt win
out il, no constitution could hive been tnrmed =
The pruvisun | believe tn lie hiiiing npon tb
States. and upon the people Of The States, an
every public Innclinnhry is under the solemn oh
gatiuns rf an oath Ia obey lis mndars B
means Of this. CunsrcSs Ind the diNcretionar
power tn les sislnte 10 carry uu the design Of tn
! provision. urt Infringing on auy other article O
; section IN that instrument; nnl this cousttnliul
, and the laws If Congress and treaties made j
pursuance Of il, are declared to be tie suprem
| law of the land.
If the late nc, violates this instrument IN villa