The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-26

NPEEJH Uf hun, j. X, 6lDDiNhS, VI Univ,
difference ofths Prsriesr $, sssoqe wqde, Decouler
9, 1850, IN CoMmatee Of the Whole on The STATE Of
The UjnOu
g. vi x. ufpn1Soa saidaNnaS IRON the conSsence.
ment of the Government, it had been the practice
to discuss the political character of the Presidents
Message, on motion to refer it to the several ap-
propriate committees.
| am (said he) the more anxious TO avail myself
of the present occasion TO speak Of that portion
which relates to our domestic policy, in conse-
quence of the rumors which inform us that the
present Fugitive Law is not to be repealed or dis
cussed at this session Of Congress That portion
Of the Message which relates to our domestic pol
icy will be read with great interest throughout
the country and while agree with portion Of
the Message, there are embraced in it some mat
tiers which | am unwilling should 60 to the coun-
try tacitly endorsed by my silence.
For the frankness and candor with which the
President avows his positions upon the most in
terestpg questions now agitating the public mind,
tender him my thanks IL was due to himself,
to his political friends and to the country, that
his views on these questions should be distinctly
avowed that the nation should understand dis
tinctly whether he is for or against this Fugitive
Law, now SO odious throughout the free States
Before 90 farther, wish to say, that heartily
approve the doctrine which the President lays
down respecting the exercise of his veto power. |
regard it as the doctrine Of the Constitution. 1t
is true, however, that it overthrows and wholly
discards the avowed policy of the party which
elected him. That party avowed its doctrine to
be, that the veto power should never be exercised,
except when the bill presented for the Presidents
approval was clearly unconstitutional.
This doctrine the President repudiates, and
goes as far in the support of that Prerogstive as
Jackson, or Tyler or Polk. | approve this indie
pendence, this casting aside the tramrnes of party
| am now curious to see how many of those friends
will turn round and 60 with the President in this
change Of doctrine.
But, by looking at the latter part of the Mes.
sage, it becomes evident that the President in
tends the country shall understand that he will
veto any bill for the repeal Of this Fugitive Law
To do that, while h ,lding TO the doctrines on
which he was elected, would have been palpably
inconsistent In order, therefore, to make a show
of consistency, he must first repudiate this impor-
tant doctrine of his party. As to the morality of
this deception, forbear to make any remarks.
The boldness with which the President avows
his friendship to the Fugitive Law, is not only
commendable, but should entitle him to the thanks
of the whole North, as well as Of the whole South.
When the vote was taken upon that bill, there
was found north Of Mason and Dixon's line only
three Wigs in this body who possessed the moral
courage to meet the odium of voting for its pas
sage. From the day of that vote, until the read
ing of this Message, the Wing press of the North,
with nearly unanimous voice, repeated and re-
terated this fact in order to exonerate their party
from the odium of that measure, and to place the
responsibility Of its enactments upon their polti-
cal opponents The Message meets and exposes
this unmanly subterfuge, and boldly defes the
odium attached to this measure short time
mil afa bnU will
now face about at the bidding of the Executive,
and share with him the unenviable fame of sus-
tanning and continuing an enactment which is a
libel upon all that is called Lar. These changes,
sir, may prove inconvenient to the younger men,
bers of the party-to those who have had but lit
tie experience; but to those who have been ac-
customed to follow the leaders of that party, these
political summersets must have become familiar.
Most of our Wing editors Of the North have
assured their readers that the feelings, and con-
science, and judgment of the President were OPP
posed to this Fugitive Law. This Message will
teach them that he thinks his own thoughts, and
speaks his own wishes, and acts upon his own
Judgment and that it is for them to turn round
and swallow their words, and 60 in for contnu-
ance Of this law, which they have 30 loudly de-
nounced or they will be read out of the party.
Sir, had the President avowed his desire for the
passage Of this Law, prior to his election in ls4s,
how many votes, think you, he would have re-
ceiyed in the free States7 ! think they would
have been few At that time, he was represented
as friend Of Freedom supporter OF Northern
rights, and devoted to the Cause Of Humanity.
| Upon these principles he was sustained in the
| North. But no sooner were the clods adjusted
upon the grave of his predecessor than we were
| Informed that he had abandoned every doctrine
| in relation to Slavery which his party had main
tanned pending his election. lie adopted the en-
| tire programme Of measures announced in the
Senate by the present Secretary Of State, on the
| 7th Of March last. His influence was exerted
| for the delivery Of some fifty thousand square
miles Of free territory TO Texas and to Slavery-o
pay Texas ten million dollars, to hire her to alb
stain from driving our army from our western
territory, and from dissoving the Union. He was
in favor Of the passage OF laws to organize Gov
ernments in our Territories, without excluding
Slavery and he was IN favor OF TINS Fuguve
Law.
| No man had ever come into the Presidential
Chair who so unceremoniously cast aside and re-
undated the important pledges Of his friends and
his party No public man Of high standing, from
the free States. has 40 suddenly and 30 boldly
ab,ured the Cause Of Freedom, and, before the
world pledged fcalty to the Slave power, saving
and excepting his Secretary Of State, whose coun-
sells he appears to have adopted
But in this boldness, the manly frankness with
which the President announces this change OF
position, and tacity calls upon his former friends
TO follow him, may teach us the proprety Of here
after understanding the principles Of our Presi-
Dental candidates bjors we vote for them, rather
than undergo the modification OF those party
changes and countermarchings The public will
| vaich with much interest to see how many Of his
marty friends will change their position, In order
10 stand with him 10 favor Of this Fugitive Law,
and Of Slavery.
The President informs us thatthe Constitution
has made It his duty to stale care that he lars DC
Guh(uiiv ereemedp All are aware that such Is
made his duty. But how has he performed It He
has seen the mails violated in South Carolina and
other States, robbed Of newspapers which 40 not
suit tho taste Of their people, and the laws OF Con-
rress held in contempt and trampled upon This
Is done by his own officers, who hold their aP,.
pointmeuts at his will but, sir, has he ousted
such men from office We have yet TO learn that
he has even rsprovsd them, much less has hs hint