The organizer., 1850-12-14


might. I'm ID not to the fanatics
that the abo 1.pl pf slavery in the District
would convei INTO a citadel in the midst
Of two slavelio ding States, from which the
abolitionists could securely scatter arrows.
frebrands and death, all around. II mat
tered not 10 them thai the abolition of
slavery in the District would be violation
Of the spirit Of The constitution aud sAsA
implied lelth ae1ged to MAEIaheaa,l
einia, because the whole world knows that
those States would never have ceded it 10
the Union, had they imagined It could ever
be converted by Congress into a place from
which their domestic peace and security
might be assailed by fanatics and aboli,
tionists.-Nay, the abolitionists vent even
still further. They agitated TOR the pur.
pose of abolishing slavery in the forts,
arsenals and navy yards, which the South
ern States had ceded to the Union, under
the constitution, for the protection and de.
fence ofihe country.
Thus stood the question when the vii.
mot'PrOviso was interposed, to add fuel 10
The fame, and to excite the Southern people
to madness.
2, Ishall now proceed to present to
you some views upon the subject of the
much misrepresented fugitive slave law.
1t is now evident from all the signs Of the
times, thai this is destined to become The
principle subject Of agitation at the next
session Of Congress, and to take the place
Of the Willmot Proviso. Its total repeal
or its material modification will hencefor-
ward be the battle cry of the agitators of
the North.
And what is The character of this law!
II was passed to carryinto execution plain
clear. and mandatory provision OF the Con.
stitutiOn, requiring that the fugitive slaves,
who ay from service in one StatetO another
shall be delivered up to their masters.
This provision is so explicit that he whS
runs may read. No commentary can pre-.
sent it in stronger light than the plain
words Of the Constitution. Il is we'll
known historical fact, that without this
provision, the Constitution itself could
never have existed. How could this have
been otherwiseq. Is il possible for mo
ment to believe thai the slave States would
have formed a union with the free States,
if undo saves. .by, niFl,1 escAping,
acroFs lll b6iRiary which separates them
would acquire Al the rights Of freemenl
This would have been o. offer an irreSisti-
bic temptation to all the slaves fthe South
TO precipilaIe themselves upon North. The
federal constitution, therefore, recognizes
in the clearest and most emphatic terms,
The property ia slaves, and protects this
property BY prohibiting any State into which
4 slave. might escape from discharging him
rom slavery, and by requiring that that he
shall be delivered upt his master.
But, say the agitators, the fugitive slave
aw, framed for the purpose Of carrying in
o effect an express provision Of the con-
'titu.iOn, is Itself unconstitutional. shall
lot stop TO argue such a point at length,
leeming this TO be wholly unnecessary.
The law in every one Of hs essential pro.
'isions, is the very same law which was
PASSED IN February, 1893, by Congress,
nany Of whose members had come fresh
rom the convention which framed the fed
raj constitution, and was approved by the
Father Of bis Country. If this be so, i
nay Be asked whence the necessity Of
'assinq the present lawl Why not rest
Ipon The Act Of 1897 This question Is
asily answered. The Act Of 1893 had |
ils own execution not oRly 10 the |
udges Of the Circuit and District Courts
c the United States. but to all State mag
straies Of any county, city, or town cor
orate.
The decision Of the Supreme Court of
he United States, in the case Of Pigg Us.
he Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, de-
rived these State mag sirates Of the power
+ acting under the law. What was the
Let US lake the Sla;e of
'ennsylvania for en- example. There
ere but three individuals left in the whole
tate who could iudciaiiy execute the
Toyisions Of the Act Of I793-the Circuit
udee and the two district Judges Two
these Judges reside in Philadelphia, and
ne Of them at Pusburg, distance Of
lore than three hundred miles apart. It's
lauifesi, therefore, that The law in many,
ldeed in most cases, cou'd not have been
xecuted Tor want Of officers near at hand.
{ thus became absolutely necessary for
;ongress 70 provide Uniied States officers
, take the place Of The State magistrates
mo had been superseded. Without this
right would have existed with
y adequate means of enforcing Il. The
igilivs slave bill vas passed chiefly 70
smedy this defect, snd % substitute such