The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-18

n
Josiah Quincy, esq. ST., Of Massachusetts,. rad
the recent meeting convened IN Borton to denop,.
the fugi.iye-slsve law enacted Al the late ss.os
Of Congress. Mr.. Quincy has been for many Yea. /
maa OF distinction in the federal party d the eouu,
and his opinions on this delicate question are entitled
notice. The resolutions and proceedings Of The u.e,.
conformed In spirit the views expressed in this lem
Mr. Quincy states some curious facts. and gives AM.
equally curious reasons in explanation OF them. For 4
stance be says no fugitive slave was ever delivered
in the State Of Massachusetts that the act Of Cone.
Of 1898 has always been regarded IS null and nogs
tive by the people Of that State and that be believes NJ
act OF 1850 will share the fate. But the reason ID
this peculiar state Of public feeling is more surps.
than the feeling itself He says. when the peopl,
Massachusetts adopted the constitution Of the Uni.
States they thought the clause for delivering up fux.
slaves soas to be construed and enforced according 10 n
Constitution Of The STATE of Massachusetts; or, IN DIN,
words tina, trial by jury to be secured to the iu
tive in the State where he was found No don.
he thinks this is true; but il is utterly al vari,o,
with all reason and sense The language Of i.
clause itself clearly shows that the States and M.
laws had nothing to do with the subject. The consib
ton evidently designed to vest the exclusive control own
il in the federal government So the Supreme Courd
the United States has determined, and the terms q III
provision obviously prescribed. Indeed, manifest
the soundness OF this construction, that some very su
nent judges have expressed the opinion that the proy
Of the constitution was amply sufficient to authorize IN
owners Of fugitive slaves to seize and remove them with
out any act of Congress at ALL any interposton d
judges or other officers We have heard the late Jude
Baldwin, of the Supreme Court OF the United States and
other judges, express this opinion.
According to the notions Of Mr.. Quincy and the peov,
OF Massachusetts he represents them, each State h
the right, upon all occasions, not only to interus
the constitution to suit its own views and wep
dices. but to nulIify the acts Of Congress. Thox
provisions which it approves it will execute and h.
spect. while those it does not approve II will hs
US utilities On the subject Of slavery especially
will Judge for ITSELF and not only trampe on the rxhh
guaranteed by that instrument, but defeat its operation
fraud force or any other found convenient and
cessary We confess had better opinion Of the ROOD
people OF the Old Bay State" We did think they w
such rank nuilfsrs as Mr. Quincy describes them b
this be in fact their character South Carolina yield
the palm to Massachusetts. She can nufy in the ab
strac and on paper but Massachusetts does il more e.
:ectually and practically by reading the federal cons
ton agreeaby to her constitutions and wherever they
dider regarding her own as the superior and controlling
instrument.
We have often heard Of the variety Of " Boston no
tons !" but this surely exceeds them ALL II reduces b.
federal government to sort Of pupage to that Of be
State Of Massachusetts. and of course paralyza d,
force of the national government to greater dess
than il was under the cid articles Of confederation h
those days Of anarchy and confusion. the little Salsd
Rhode Island and Delaware could interpose their np
tive and stop the wheels Of government at any mshg
pleased Now il seems these States can 60 even iuhs
and say that the general government is subordnah
ITSELF and must measure its power and authority BY be
standard of the State constitution and laws Il wo
SEEM according to this doctrine. that each State, whs
it remains in the Union. may nullify the laws Of be
Union, even when those laws are calculated to cam
out the guarantees Of the constitution itself M
Quncys doctrine makes the constitutional guarantee
to slave property mockery and farce; for who will
believe that any slave would ever be surrendered ohn
master who was be in every pronounced such BY
the unanimous verdict Of twelve men in Massaehussih
Besides the jury trial is not denied 10 the fugitive He
is entitled to il in the State to which he is removed
The act Of Congress secures il TO him, and the Ss
laws provide the Of carrying it out even allowing
him counsel and process without cost We will moi q.
large upon this matter. The letter Of Mr. Quincy sup
plies its own refulaton
"QuNcY, Oct II, 1850
"My DEAR SIR Having been requested state my views
the subject OF the fugitive slaves, many Of whom have
been long dome site ated among US add who alarmed at
he he a.
are preparing some 70 quit our country iof Europe
others for Csnads and coocernipg whom hs.s = :, % a
view, thar topic, and submit them your discretion,
In the first place, then, IL ought, in my opinion 10 '
reasonable Satisfaction to that class Of our nhabsnl e.
10 the State Of Massachssns, no pyso~ has sru Deem a
cred TO has master under the iaw Of 1893
believe this to be literally the II 10, howsvrt
Occurred Of which there . nov memory rI nor
u there have been any such, they have been 20 lev
form only exceptions that prove the ruth OF the rue
rather than evidence OF its fslsiy
Persons therefore, under tbese circumstaaccs ought
rest at ease, with the assurance and In the confidence
SETS the law Of 1850 win be just inoperave for dr,
years 10 the law Of 1873 has been Tor nearly SIN
years past.
OF proceeding somewhat beyond that obtained by the h
Of f793 and this will undoubtedly operate in frrusm
attempt. Al freedom, and give more quiet Of mind the
masters The greater stringency OF the new law WIN ~
operate in favor Of their masters, IN respect OF slaves WI
have taken up their residence in States adjoining ssw
holding States, among the inhabitants OF which here
such general repugnance the slavehoIdng system rs
lists among the inhabtan Of sets, and where
dividuals may easily be found who, moved by cupdg
would readily the low tide Of oboqoy and wpfosa
which exists in those States to give aid 70 masters IN ~
recovery OF their slaves But such fear appreben
concerning the power OF the new law can, 10 my ndgnel.
reasonably exist within the State OF Massachuses ~
events sufficient guarantees for the future Ibe
Of intelligent southern shareholders understand
universally OF the feeling In Massachusetts on the n
off md md hav no.