The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-02


we go on prospecting and TO prosper, filling up
our valleys with the uyriads OF Europe, and
building up all the elements OF our greatness and
our power. To bring about these glorious re-
suits, and to increase this great republic of the
white race, he desired to perpctuate this Union,
and he was not willing to hazard the experiment
of eleyating the black man when it might
danger the Republic He knew this meeting
would not be wanting in rebukng trading poll
uclans, but that they would single out from the
ticket those who are in favor of the Union and the
Constitution. If none can be found, take those who
pretend TO be. There had been digent effort to
keep true men off both tickets, but he hoped he
could lind some worthy OF his support. He stood
ready TO go anywhere, and to support any National
Wing, IN preference 10 any Free soil Democrat.
He was ready to say are all Democrats-wc
all Wings. A better name than either could not
be worn by any American. He had the honor to
represent In the Democratic State convention dis
trict In which, so far as he knew, there was not
-soller. He endeavored to represent ttruly He
learned at Syracuse that the union of the party
most important, and that the non intervention
Democrats, who had been true to the South, ought
to unite with Abolitionists, make up ticket, half
and half, and beat the Whigs. He opposed to
any union, even for political plumber, with men
with whom he differed the only question in
which he felt the slightest interest. To such
union would he ever be party. II was true, such
men had been forced upon him. In his district
rabid Free soiler, relative of Gerrit Smith,
had been by the votes Of Democrats offered for his
support, in opposition to Wing whose votes had
Shall support him, said Mr.. O'C? Neueri At
Syracuse, moreover, the rural districts seemed to
think the city of New York a very small place.
lie had the honor Of bringing in resolutions
GLIDING Free sellers, and declaring for non inter
vention, and the convention sustained them. And
yet they had given them three Free soilers on the
ticket for their support! Would he support them1
NeUer' Let New York do her duty. Let her cti-
Zens give their votes to who is tainted, how
ever slightly, with Free soilism; no matter how
nominated, or how great his abilities, let him be
rejected if he be tainted with that damning sin.
After Mr.; OCoNoR closed, the resolutions were
unanimously adopted
WILLIAM M. EvARTs, ESQ.,, then addressed the
meeting. He spoke especially and mainly of the
Fugitive Slave law, and of the duties which it de-
wolves upon our citizens. The convention which
framed the Constitution was composed of the wsest
men In the land and in that instrument one clause
was passed u,nnimously-and that was the one re-
curing tugitives from service to be delivered up
claim of those to whom that service NAV be due
Is there any thing imperfect in that provision? Is
the intelligence or the honesty of those statesmen
TO be lightly questioned? What they said we shall
do, shall we not do' The law just passed is to
carry out that provision. The agitation thros OH
out the country is to be carried on upon that law
all other questions have been settled that they
cannot be disturbed. The capital Of agitation hav-
ing thus been reduced, active agitation
must be carried on TO yield the same returns Mr.
F. said he had met argument against the law
The pith of all said against it had been to charge
the southern master siave-catcher, and to stir-
Matte the law as base concession of the North to
the South. Such arguments neither attracted his
attention nor gained his confidence. He knew
they did not understand the subject or that they
did not desire or design to make fair statement
III regard to 1t. The act of1793 has been sustained
by the supreme tribunal of the land; and the
law OF the last session-Mr f. did not hesitate
to say-only carried that law into more full effect
1t was made necessary, not by any demand of the
South, but by the action of the North in refusing to
put the old one in execution The habeas corpus is
not mentioned in this act; it cannot be boil shed by
any law; and this law does not attempt it, But
there is a law standing the statute book of this
State excluding slaves from the benefit of the habeos
corpus. That law was passed by Abolitionists and
Free soilers at Albany. Condemn your legislation
at home, before you censurc Congress. No Judge
oil State court ls permitted by that law to issue
this writ IN such case-saying explicitly that
no such judge shall inquire into the legality of any
process issued for the reclamation of a fugitive
from service. This is State law and it is good law
Mr.. Evarts rehearsed the history of State egisla-
ton upon this subject, for the purpose of showing
that it had really been hostile TO the fugitive
slave than the law OF Congress referred to. He
went on to say that die opposition to this law is not
honest. Its purposo is other than that which it
processes to do. Opposition TO this law involves
opposition to all law. And he who resi.ts il does
ali he can to subvert the Government of the coun-
try.
MIR. SAsFoRn followed MIR. Evarts, briefly express
ing regret that such a meeting az this should have
been necessary. But few years since notification
threatened the Union, and then a great hero and
statesman declared that the Union must and shall be
preserved Then, too, another great statesman ut
tered the similar sentiment-Liberty and Union
now and forever, one and inseparabe. But now
the notification comes from another quarter IL
comes from those VINO resista plain provision of the
Constitution. The North declare they will NOT
obey that law. And i is mournfu occasion
which calls US together 10 deliberate how 10 avert
the destruction with which such conduct threatens
the Union. IL had been well said that the cry
against this law is not honest Every oblieation Of
ObedlgncH hat IL .K,1
who resists hesitates whether under pretenee of
higher law or no law, Is traitor TO the country
The object of the law, like that of the Constitution
is TO keep every slave from condition of freedom
There is no such thing as freedom for slave in this
land, except by the regular process of manumis-
sion. This obligation 20 the master must be dis
charged. Will the people ofths city then stand by
and parrcidal hand raised against this Unions
We all have a duty to perform Let no man who
IA suspected Of countenancing agitation receive
your vote Danish the fires OF discord from your
legislative halls, and minor demagogues will hide
their diminished heads Then rec lain the deluded
Bring them out from tho congregation of the cove
nant-breakers. Teach them that their highest du-
~, next To obedience of God is the performance Of
contracts. He did not wish to survive the exist
ence OF his country; and no man could foresee the
terrible results Of dissolution of this Union He
Wished not 70 live osee the untold horrors of such
a war must follow the attempt 20 enforce a pres
eTvauon oil the prion When dissolution comes,
II must be peaceful Suppose any one State should
withdraw How can il Be brought back? Only by
reorganization and IL you prove faithlcss to one
contract, who will form another with you Each
State must then stand by itself; and South America
tells the tale OF our destiny But he was cheered by
the aspectof this meeting TO hope for better things
and TO look forward to the pcrmanence Of this glo
rious Union.
OGDEN HOFFMAN then came forward, and was
resolved with loud cheering lie said he came here
tonight not as Wing nor Democrat He had
Withdrawn from party action, but when he found
the Constitution disrogardod; and laws made in
pursuance Of It set at naught-when nc felt the
Union reelng from blows struck at IL by Dis
uniopists Of the South, and Abolitionists Of the
North, he felt II his duty 20 be here He loved his
country more than he loved bis party. He believed
tue nass Of both parties sincerely attached to
the Union. lie believed tho Whg party was now
as II ever had been, faithful 10 the Constitution and
the laws of the land lie depored the existence Of
slavery, az IL was deplored by every patriot and
christian Of the southern States. Bot he remcm-
bered hat II came upon them ganst their will
The Constitution found II there and without the
coinprorniso requiring the surrender Of fugitive
slaves, never could have been adopted Without
compromise this Union could be preserved.
Sec What that Union has done for us-how il has
extended our bordors, increased our people, made
US the land Of the oppressed and the refuge Of the
cxile,and spread our borders 30 WIDE that the sun
rising rom the sea on one side, quenchcs lite beams
IN the sea upon the other w no v,tuld ace ia rio