The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-23


stitution, the different legislatures proposed flood
OF amendments the free States We're among the
foremost IN the variety and mlnuteness OF their
suggestions, but not single murmur was uttered
by any State against this provision. The provision
may be defended without a recurrence to the au-
thority OF these illBtrious names. Ii exacts no
more from the free States than one independent
nation is bound 10 render to another Ii slave
fiees from county and finds refugein another,
the State from which the slave has run away has
right to demand the delivery up of the fugitive,
and, If refused has the right force TO arrest
II. This doctrine recognised by Vattel, in his
treatise on the Laws of Nations, %. IL, chap ",
page 1907 and by Mr.. Wheaton, in the Treatise
on the Elements OF International law, (part w.,
chapter l., page 339-iO) But the principle does
not depend alone upon elementary writers. 1t has
the sanction of the highest authority. The treaty of
Ghent-signed the 2lth of December, lSl4-pro-
vlded that all territory, places, and possessions,
shoud,be restored without delay. 1t became mat
ter Of dispute whether these terms included claim
upon Great Britain 10 deliver up American slaves
carried away by the British forces from the United
States during the war; 1t was subsequently left 10
the arbitrament of the Emperor of Russia. and on
the 22d of April 1922, the Emperor decided that the
United States were entitled to a just indemnifca-
ton for all slaves carried away by the British dur
ing the war. The government of Great Britain
ratified this decision, and paid the money to the
American Government
What is asked from us by the Southern States is,
that we should not and and assist their slaves in
nlng away. Ii il not necessary to enter into his
tory of the manner in which the emancipation Of
the slaves in the West Indies effected in Great
Britain. Ii was a race between the Wings and To-
ries which should secure public sympathy; but, if
1t had been to emancpate slaves living at home
amongst themselves, itwould have presented very
different question; and it is believed it would
have passed. Still under all their excitement
they never proposed to emancipate the slave with
out paying his master an equivalent. Public opin
ion in the mother country has done much to pro-
duce the present state ofthings in this country; but
the fugitives to run away nor proposed any system
by which the master should be deprived Of his lights
without Just satisfaction.
The present Fugitive Bill should be honestly car
red out by the Judicial authority of the country,
and that authority should be enforced by public
opinion. This s the issue; if we do not concede
this ground fully and cheerfully, violate the
original federal compact, and give the South Just
right to complain of our conduct.
The willul harborng of fugitive slave is grave
offence in morals, as well as law, and those who
commit this offence can exculpate themselves upon
no other ground than the recognition of higher
authority than the Constitution and Laws Of the
Union, the benefits of which they continually
enjoying, and which in all other matters they seek
for their own protection freely admit that among
the few abolitionists in our community are to be
found the most exemplary men in private life; but
their purity of character is Of no value when it
jeopards all that is dear to us.
In our own State Legislation We are not without
fault. The act passed by the Legislature of Penn
syVania on the 3D. day of March, 1917, contains
many features, in my opinion, odious and uncon-
stitutiona, and it ought, and, have no doubt will
be, repealed at the next session of the Legislature
IApplause.l
The passage ofthat act has been attributed to the
decision in Prigg's case, 10 Peters 539; but they
have xiou. The decision in Prigg's case
was made in 1912 the court in that declared
the act of Pennsyva of 25th March, 1926, to be
unconstitutional decision which has never been
doubted. But the court explicitly says estate
/ hat
thorty, delivering of fugitive slaves,) unless pro-
hlbled by State legislation"
There is doubt but that, heretofore, the act of
Congress, passed on the 10Th of February 1898 was
viewed by many in the free States with jealousy
and dislike; and many rules of construction and
practice have been adopted which were calculated
rather to defeat than carry out the law. dis
elimination has teen made between fugitves from
justice and fugitves from service and labor that
is totally unauthorized. This evil ought to be re-
NEEDED; and the same salutary rules to maintain
the public security In OBTAINING fugitive charged
with criminal offence, should be extended to the
other class of fugtives. The master who claims
his slave is entitled to the privileges that the
United States or the Commonwealth possess in
public prosecutions, or that private sutton is
titled to in enforcing civil right.
Ii will be perceived by all who hear me, that, on
the subject Of fugitive slaves, think the slave
holding States have right to complain; and am
anxious to do them ample justice. The North is
bound to deliver up the last fugitive slave within
that the United States bound to pay the last
dollar Of the public debt. [Applause.l
Many well disposed persons in the North sup
pose that the Fugitive Slave Law will be abused.
There is no ground for this fear. kidnapping is
in the North too offensve to be allowed. Public
sympathy will on The side of the fugitive not
against him; but kidnapping is odious in the
South as 1t Is in the North and those who imagine
that IN the South free black man can with impu-
nifty be seized and kept a slave, know nothing of
the state Of public feeling and opinion in the slave
holding States. Any law may be condemned, if
the argument be based on its abuse. | am author
lied TO say by my friend, David Paul Brown, ESQ.,,
that, during most extensive practice of more than
thirty years. in protecting fugitive slaves, he has
never known an instance Of black or colored man
being delivered up contrary to the truth of the case
! am not afraid Of public sentiment in New Eng
land; that noble people have made too many sacri-
fees for the preservation of the Union to hesitate
in fulfilling their duty TO the uttcrmost point 1t
will be remembered that the South do not seek to
force slavery on The Sorth--they only ask that it
may be protected within their own limits
IL the question presented were to be the restora-
ton of slavery in Pennsylvania, l would oppose it
with all tho energy that j posscss. Applause
If there has been an undue excitement In the South
upon this question 1t ought TO be remembered that
with them II is practical question With us it is
a speculative theory. Let meet our southern
friends in candor and good faith, and let us in
peace, as we have done in war, prefer their fellow.
ship to the ofcious interference Of foreign nations
GApplsusc.l
! cannot conclude without paying a tribute of
thanks 10 those distinguished statesmen who have
recently stood by the Union and the Constitution
in the hour of peril. They have been its friends
when it wanted friends. Amongst such men as
Clay, Webster, Cass, Foote, and their associates,
il would be inyidiols 10 discriminate. A portion
OF the people of Massachusetts have threatened TO
throw overheard their most distinguished citizen
man who does more honor TO their State than ever
the State can do honor TO him. | should regret il;
but whenever Massachusetts shall discard Daniel
Webster, the nation is ready to receive him.
Great applause. The same remark ia applicable
to the gallant Foote, Of Mississippi lie ia now
fighting q GLORIOUS battle for his country and If
Mississippi does know his value, and is willing
to disown one Of her noblest sons he will inA re-
fuge in the affection and esteem Of the people of the
United States, applause
Let us be true to ourselves and TO our country,
and all will be well. The people of the United
States are attached 70 the Union. Tho President
aud the Administration concur in this sentiment
A large majority of both Houses of Congress re-
spond to the Same. The value Of the Union is
The cord which unites the States together is elias
uc-I may be stretched, but il will rebound and
unite the glorious bunch Of faggots together by a
stronger bond than ever. IGreat applause.l
Eloquent speeches were also delivered by the
Hon RICHARD RUsB, the Hon. JosHPH X. ISeER-
SOIL, Col. JAMES PAsE, and others We shall con-
tinuo the report in our next.
The following letters we're received in reply TO an
taIt, To 49,