The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-22

~ he federal authority Has any government ever sue.
as.s &c u
the constitution. although perceive this de-
~ sssr n sussss 4 snsbsd sr w hs bsps and
there an opaque spot
", s.aa our Judgment be either true ch ~, ~s
defy su human power iasea ourselves You believe
~ hak otherwise and oatessy with equal sincerity r..
We Judge yoa not, and He alone. who ordained me coz,
We hsn this eone demand q you an ansaso s, -
thing u asking that yon viii have properly nat ean
and wl exsioiss human powers % elect is escape =.
yoa ska b police and 10 as,ns s%on - ,Ss "
sssay II sdmued tights 81 Gsemen n you viii have
shlss executed. you mast alleviate not increase ~
ihs constitution regulates our Stewardship the con-
s,en dssoses The domain % union 70 Jasoe' 70 defence
Al here i higher law ,han the constitution which
sxusss authority over the domain and deyoes 70
me Same noble pafposes"
Nov. Air. here il distinct announcement. impossible
10 b misunderstood. that though the persons Tor whom
he senator speaks reverence the constitution yet they
consider Law for the surrender Of fugitive slaves passed
IN pursuance Of the constitution. rs violation OF the
constitution and as immoraii Here 10 distinct an.
nouncement that they consider rs discharge OF the
slaves. entertain Them. and withhold them from us.
Hers u IN open and direct encouragement on the part OF
The senator from New York mr. SEwARDl for slaves TO
men 70 aid them in escaping He assumes, them that all
will BE- received with open arms, and that the freemen
Of the North will therefore be considered as having dis
~ sass s how a ps ad s . o gentlemen 70 talk
about respecting the constitution He who obeys
ihs constitution only in what he thinks right, does
SS own Inclination i s'i and G who. having taken
IN oath 10 support the constitution, refuses TO obey
Il because be thinks there l. some law above the
IL The same positiontakng for his guide his own ndi-
vidua Judgment and opinion, above and against the con
stitution. which he can rghiinly do only after srren-
condislon which thai oath implies and intends TO enforce
Here sr, key 10 open the mind OF the public 10 the
honorable senator's bill His purpose IL 10 extend hos
pislity 10 fugitive slaves. He announces II 10 be I'm.
morality surrender ihen and he ten comes here and
presents amendment the bill Tor the delivery up OF
fugitive slaves. which, Of course. must be intended 70
carry out the views which he has announced upon this
subject Such position 10 indefensible--it is i'm.
moral, Talk about morality Immoral for man to
hold slave Immoral for man 10 do what the assoc
ciaies OF Paul. and James, and John did Immoral Tor
man 70 do what the wsest and best men that ever
lived upon earth have done; and not immoral toI
open your arms, contrary 70 the express slpuia
tons Of the constitution, 70 the fugitive slaves q
your neighbor, 10 receive them protect them, and
throw around them such contrivances for making their
escape esctua as no ingenuity shall be able to olsen
tange, and al the time tauni him with the decla
ration, you made your own police officer" have
said, Mr. President, II these the sentiments and feel
ings Of the people OF the North geneyif the senator
from New York MIR. SEWARD knows and freely ex
presses their opinions and purposes is impossible har
mony can be restored and the Union preserved. For
one, cir, though by no means extreme upon this
oUUIcCk~Qultc
declaring, this is the general and beefif this
ID the cole OF morasf this Is the feeling OF integrity
which influences our northern fellow citizens directly
or indirectly, to set aside constitutional obligations,
and deprive OF the property which we holdif this is
the purpose that is to be carried out scarcely desra
Bile thai should remain in the Union For what does
that STATE OF things imply Il implies this that the States
are associated together under common constitution.
binding them discharge towards each other certain du
ties, according the terms OF the constitution and YET
you say u.s. 1--WE intend to discharge just the amount
Of duty towards you that please for we reserve
Ourselves the right Of deciding when anything required Of
vs y opposed BY moral obligations, and, having so dec
discharge OF every obligation imposed by the letter and
spirit OF the constitution" How could our connection
be long maintained under this state Of things, with no
public faith, of private obligation, on the one
side 10 induce and no power the other 10 compel the
performance OF constitutional duties We should be leftin
condition not only dsracng, but dangerous 10 our pres
render future insecure and worthless Nothing under
such circumstances, could keep US together but deep
sense Of the greater evils of parting We should re-
from stern necessiynot from the hope OF good In our
connection, but from the dread OF the consequences oil
separation. But MIR President have not the smallest
idea in the world that the senator from New York
SEWARD speaks the opinion OF the northern people
generally, the people OF any one State in the Union
believe they repudaie his sentimens-ihey hold them
selves morally and conscienousy bound BY the spula
tons in the constitution believe they win stand ready
10 enforce any law which Congress may pass upon this
subject do not agree with some gentlemen here who
nave bdiuf Edss Wndt Jaw VIC VIII, " WIN W. "e Snc-
cuted" have very different opinion totally differ
ent opinion This law may fail OF execution in some
instances every law does IT, In the execution oil this
law bias prejudice force may perhaps occasionally pre-
vent its rghtfuI results; but believe that such law
passed by Congress will be ne faithfully and generally
executed in the New England States as any law upon our
statute book.
doubt not that men there will understand that though
they may entertain opinion that law Is wrong, yet
as citizens they have right. when called 10 enforce H.
10 act upon their individual Judgment OF its merits just
sentence OF DEATH their opinion that the law bar.
barous and the punishment greatly dspropoonate 70 the
offence would not justify their Interference forcbly
by fraud 10 prevent the execution OF the sentence, the
responsibility OF enacing the law being not upon them,
but upon those who made II. believe there are
many ihere-he great OF the people, almost the TO-
tai populaonquiie able and willing to apply these OBJ
yious principles 10 the particular subject under our con;
sideration-ihe recapure of fugitive slaves. Yes,
have the fullest confidence in the patriotism, the iniell
gence the Of justice, and stern Integrity Of great
mass OF the people at the Norh. They will see that
whether have slaves not oil theirs !;
thai ii 10 have slaves be offence, II ID no offence ri
theirs that slavery be evil. they do not endure u
And II Il were wrong in itself voluntarily 10 surrender
fugitive slave who had escaped from his master yet As
honest and good citizens, they viii feel themselves
bound TO carry into effect law passed In pursuance OF
the constitution OF their counrya constitution formed
by common and mutual concession. and declaring that
such fugitives shall be surrendered.
Why, cir any other doctrine saps the foundation Of
ciety. The principles oil the senator IRON New York
render il impossible 10 count upon the execution oil any
law. The Judge upon the bench may say, when called
upon 10 pronounce judgment, that The act OF the legsa
tue which IL bis duty enforce, uanscends moral
obligation imposed on him BY the Law OF God He may
e4t H..