The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-26

be deceived The Southern mind has been
deeply impressed with sense OF wrong-ot
injustice-of indignity offered by the North.
| We do not now inquire whether there is good
reason for this OF not. The fact is as we state,
and with that fact only have we now to do.
The right to the surrender of fugitive slaves
is clear-guarantied by the Constitution, and,
without this guarantee the Constitution would
never have been ratified by the Southern States.
Here is no matter for ingenious dlsquisitons-
no ground for difference of opinlon-no loop on
which to hang doubt. The right, by the
words of the Constitution, and according 10
constant judicial Interpretation, is as clear as
| the right of any Southern State to have two
representatives in the Senate; and that the
| United States are bound to secure and en-
force this right is, by the solemn judgment
of the Supreme Court, as clear as is the
| right itself. To repeal this law then-nay
more, 10 make any material alterations Of its
enactments-w would be to repudiate this provi-
| sion of the Constitution; and, in effect, to abro-
gate the right which it secures. To leave the
law on the statute book, and to suffer Its execu-
ton to be prevented by unlawful combinations
or mob violence, or by criminal neglect of the
duty to enforce it, would be to accomplish the
same object by other and more discreditable
means The effect Of this upon the Southern
mind and the Southern heart, is not difficult to
be foreknown 1t would be seen and felt as
plain, direct, and dishonest breach Of ordl-
nary duty-a wilful violation of a fundamental
condition of our Union, and an undisguised
effort to hold the South to so much Of the
| Constitution as might benefit the North,
while whatever is indispensable or useful
to the South should, at the pleasure of the
North, be disregarded and silently annulled.
| Does any man suppose that our Southern
| brethren 9yould submit to such state Of things!
will any man venture to say that they ought
Assuredly they would not, as assuredly they
ought not No, in such an event, the very
spirit of Union, tho desire for Union, would
be gone. Not only would the irritable and
fiery spirits of the South blaze forth in fierce
resentment, but her sobeT-minded and temper
ate sons would be reused to n stern and deter
mined resistance Whatever has been or may
be compromised, this could never be. This is
the Rubicon beyond which to pass is to over
throw the Constitution.
Let then the great body ofour Northern people
true as we know them to be to every obligation
when distinctly stated and plainly perceived
let them understand the all-important issue now
in their hands. If they wish-which we should
shudder to believe or even suspect--to dissolve
the Union, we have nothing to say. If they
do not, it is high time they had opened theil
eyes to the danger, and awakened to the neces-
sily of active measures for averting it. Lei
their voice be heard to silence and overawe the
promoters of sedition-let their hands be prompt
to aid the civil magistrates in executing the law
against all combinations Of force to resist it
| Let them do this, and the Union is safe
let them neglect 1t, and they are certainly
guilty, and all of us are probably undone
This is a time when good men should be
known by their words and by their works
| While sedltion is speaking mpet-tongued
in the places of public concourse; while
armed resistance to the law is openly urged, il
town and country, upon the unwary and tho
ignorant, and tumuts and violence encouraged
by promises of protection and support---it is nc
time for men of better mind to let their opin-
ions and their principles be unknown. To
avoid being COMPOUNDED with bad men, and be-
coming responsible for bad measures, these
should openly separate from them; and, TO give
strength and efficacy to their efforts for their
country, should unite with one anotheI-for
there is evil spirit abroad in the land, active
deceitful and strong, and, for its exposure and
destruction, prompt and united exertions are
demanded.
The time has come-would that the good
and the patriotic of all parties felt it to be so,
for then were our country safe-yes, the time
has fully come, in the language Of the immortal
BURKE, "for the union and the separation Of
the people; for the union of the honest and
peacedble of all sects; for their separation
from all that is H-iHtentioncd and seditious in
any Of them"