Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-30

here that soaee that freedom that happiness that eonsola
ton throughout e amidst all its changes and difficulties
which the other continent denied. lApPlsuse.
But fellow citizens, this Government of ours, since the
year $780, what has added to the honor OF inc Amecan
name Go, go, you want answer to that question, to
the grave Of Pike, of Ripley OF Gaines OF Decs OF pam
BRIDGE of Jackson, and of Taylor Gieat and continued
cheering Bat there is thing, fellow about
which there be no difficulty at oil upon hls SUBJECT
usatisg the results Of this Government IL has given Us
that which all delight that which, whether at home
or abroad speaks comb and pride TO our bosoms the
sar-spanged banner Applause Without that Govern
ment, where would that be
And when we are summoned by the extraordinary condi-
ton of our country assemble upon occasion like this
important for recoect that the instant those who
aim their deadly blows against the Union OF these States
ceed that gallant banner floats no more now
have attempted thus rapidly, and by alusion,
tany than by any thing of argument persuason 10 char
acterlse the Government of the United States formed by
the constitution that went into operation in 1852 Well,
these be the results OF that Governmen such De It's char
acer-f such be its you prepared, any
one of you abandon and destroy it [Cres of mo
no ~ -...".
Well at the recent session of Congress, fellow citizens
there mooted variety of questions interesting to the
permanency of this great Government Of There was
the admission of California into this Union State,
equal footing with any Of the existing States appause
there the settlement Of the boundary, west and north
west Of the lone star of Texas there was the formation OF
Territorial Governments for New Mexico and Utah there
the removal of the slave trade from the District OF Co.
umbia and there the adoption Of commonly
known the fugitive slave bill, [appause] Now, fellow
citizens involved directly indirectly, expressly by mP
cation, involved all these the question as to
domestic servitude in the South.
They who framed the Constitution Of the United States to
which have REFERRED neither ancul nor fanatic men.
They framed constitution for union Of sovereign republican
States they took the sovereign and republican States they
found them, with their institutions, peculiar they might
be- with their local usages whatever they might be- for all
their pecuiaies their institutions their local usages were
matters with which the great men who framed that consi
tuition felt and knew that they had nothing whatever to do
[Applausel
say, them fellow citizens, that in reference to the first
four which have adVerted it is scarcely neces
ba should engage occupy your time for an instant
These first four measures rreverblethey have gone
into the past. Calforna-our young sserCafonia is in
the family she Of the States Of this Union, and she
cannot by any course of legislation, be driven out OF it.
[Appsuse The boundaries Of Texas fxed-fIed not
by any of by Pennsylvania, New York, or
Vrgnianot by either the North by the South but the
boundaries of Texas fixed and Interchangeable henceowar
the consent Of the National Congress and by the consent
Of Texas herself Applause. The running Of the boun-
dairy makes that Interchangeable boundary
do not suppose that there in this whole nation,
whatever may be the conaey of opnionto which my good
very subject do not suppose that there
in this whole nation who dreams for one moment OF
recalling to the capital of the United States the slave pens
that have been overwhelmingly expelled The Of
The Territories of New Mexico and Utah, after much discus
sion and long and aborous effort of the Congress Of the Uni
ted States have been upon the usual customary and
wise and established principles of the constitution Of the Uni
led States They will remain unchanged. There remains
hen, felowczens but Of these that is
he last to which have advered-ha may become subject
Of serious discussion and difficulty mean the fugitive slave
bill
That bill, in the first place. is law of this land. Great
and prolonged cheerng No matter what character discon
tent may wherever be- to the North to the South
to the East to the West discomfort and dissatisfaction
must expend themselves in words, and not and must
nv N
of law. Great applause Such course strikes at the
liberties Of the country, the order of the countystrkes at
the very principle that is dear to civilized American and
enough for him know that if the law be in itself objec
tonable, if it be in itself entirely, in any portion OF its
details inconsistent with the constitution of the United States
discuss, discuss, discuss till doomsday, you like but while
is law you must yield to its operation manly and repub
can obedience. Applause
My fellow citizens omitted say that this is feature
which characerzes the constitution Of the United States
That glorious instrument has within itself principle Of
amendment and when you do not like any Of its
features you have only to try and whether bring
about such change in the hearts Of the American people
will induce them to call convention to modify the words Of
Washington, Of Fankn Of MaisoD Of the greatest and
most glorious Of American statesmen and patriots Appause
Let them try their hands it. let them try their talents it,
let them try their pens it. and the they try all their
various instruments for the purpose the mote certainly will
the American people adhere the constitution which has
nobly tried and proved itself; (Appause.]
say then, in the first place. this fugitive slave law is
and with the consciousness that am heard by those
who are wise in the law wise 10 the constitution, the
principles OF our popular Government say that that law is
every one OF its features every Of its arrangements
from the beginning to the end in perfect harmony with the
constitution OF the country Geat and long continued ap
plause Why, felow-citizens, is ony in harmony
with its spirit, but let tell you that there is man,
codDg to the language most admirably used by lately,
who understands the law and the constitution but will say
springs directly from and is absolutely necessary the
tenance Of the constitution. Why do you suppose that they
who framed the constitution who framed it with reference to
the institutions OF every Of the sovereign States Of this
Union who framed in reference local usages local habits
and principles practical men, meet the pudces Of ALL
for the purposes of the Unondo you suppose that these
men, powerful in their day and generation, and times
more powerful Ten times the years eapsedo you suppose
that they, hey would have been able adopt
situon to into effect 10 procure the OF thr
teen States 10 whose bosoms every of hem existed
that time the institution of slavery they had net introduced
IN that very instrument the upon which this
fugitive slave law is founded [Appause.] They never
they would soon have awaked from their dream That
guarantee, eo~-cizens constitutional provision and
procams that wherever fugitive from labor or service es
into another State be shall be delivered up the claim
Of the That is the language of the constitution that
is the law Of the land that the object of the law It goes
further and only renders which the constitution en-
joins, safety and justice to the fugitive himself to his owner
elsewhere, and TO the public at large.
is just the fugitive because the instant be pursued
and arrested that instant, according this law be under
the broad and powerful protection of the laws this nation
[Appause He is longer in danger Of either committing
provoking He is longer danger being way
laid by those who borders with false and
dulent claims He under the protection Of the constitution
and laws of the United States Ii is the because