The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-06

,vh;eS gave cordial support-I shall pass by without
Comments for the reason that have heard no complaints
against since my line nex N ss se,ss
trade in the District OF Columbia To this also gave
my cordial support have heard no complaints against
j. and have Listened ho yaa o oad 1ns While
the whole series OF the compromise measures is de-
nounced and unmeasued Terms Dy inc northern
nuliiers not one word OF congaiulaon 10 The lrends
OF freedom mot word OF approval Of the act Of the
conduct of those who voted for u allowed TO escape
their lips All the other measures OF the scheme OF adj
usten are attempted TO be kept IN the and
concealed from the public view IN order that more prom
inence and importance may be gwen to what they are
pleased to call the INFAMOUS rucHIvE;sLAvE BILL"
Before | proceed 10 the exposition OF this bill, will
read the preamble and resolutions passed by the common
council Of this city last evening. Mr. Douglas then read
the preamble and resolutions, as follows;
Whereas the constitution of the United States provides
that privilege of the writ Of hatsas corpus shall be
suspended, unless when, in of rebellion INVASION
the public safety may require and whereas the late
slaves virtually suspeds the habsas corpus and aboishes
fugitive slaves, bu, wSis men owing service o another
In another Satevz; the apprentice, the mechanic, the
terms OF service anexpred--may be captured and
carried of summary, and without legal resource OF any
ing which violates the provisions Of the constitutions
and whereas, above all, in the responsibilities Of human
laws OF God should be held paramount 10 all human COM
pacts and statutes therefore,
gess from the free States who aided and assisted Ia the
passage Of this infamous law, and those who bssay
question richly merit The eproaG oth lowers .s o.
Arnold and Judas iscario who betrayed his Lord and
Master for ar PIECES e slys oe.,. .oa oos Of
the city be, and they hereby requested abstain from
any and all interference in the capture and delivering up
of the fugitive from unrghteous oppression OF whatever
Resolved That fugitive slave law lately passed by
Congress cruel and unjust law, and ought not 20 be re-
specied by any intelligent community, and that this cou
Gil will not require the city police 70 render any assistance
"AYEs-Aid Milken, Lloyd Sherwood, Foss, Throop
Sherman, Richards, Brady. and Dodge
,a. "NAYs-Ald Page and Williams "
But for the passage Of these resolutions (sad Mr. D J
should not have addressed you this evening. nor in
deed al any me before my return TO the seat OF govern
ment have no desire conceal or withhold my opn.
ions--no wish 10 avoid the responsibility OF full and
frank expression OF them upon this and all other subjects
which embraced in the action OF the last session OF
Congress- My reasons for wishing 10 avoid public dis
cusson this time to be found in the state Of my
health and the short period allowed me TO remain among
you. Now for the resolutions. | make no criticism
upon the language in which they expressed That
matter Of taste; and in everything OF that kind defer
10 the superior refinement Of our city fathers. But il
cannot be disguised that the polite epthets Of traitors
Benedict Arnold, and Judas lscarot, who betrayed his
Lord and Master for thirty pieces OF silver will be
understood abroad having direct and personal app
cation to my esteemed colleague. Gen Shields and my
SELF whatever may have been The intention of those who
voted for the resolutions will do the members OF the
council the justice TO say that do not cannot believe
that they intended 10 make such application. But
their secret intentions are OF little consequence, when
they give their official sanction 10 charge of nfamy,
clothed in such language that every man who reads IL
must give il personal application But the affair looks
strange, and even udicrous when contrased with the
cordial reception and public demonstrations OF kindness
and confidence and even gratitude for supposed services
extended TO my colleague and myself upon our arrival in
this city one week ago Then we were welcomed home
public benefactors, and invited TO parake of public
dinner by an invitation numerousy signed BY men OF all
parties and shades OF opinion The invitation had no
sooner been declined for reasons which supposed
70 be entirely satisfactory, and my colleague started for
his home, than the common couDcl-who are presumed
to speak officially for the whole population Of the city
attempted TO brand their honored guests with namy and
denounce them Benedict Arnods and Judas Iscariots
l have read somewhere that il polite custom, in
other countries and different age invite their friends
10 FEAST in order to convenient opportunity &c
administer the hemlock acquit the council of any de
sign OF introducing that custom into hosptable city
But have done with this subject, so far as it has per
sonal application.
II is far more important and serious matter when
viewed with reference 10 the principles involved and The
OF the city OF Chicago have assumed 10 themselves The
right and actually exercised the power, OF determining
the validity and constiiutonay of an act OF Congress
and have declared void, upon the ground that il violates
the constitution OF the United States They have gone
further: they have declared by solemn och act that
an OF the American Congress sought not TO be
spected by intelligent community" and have called
upon the police OF the city 10 abstain IRON rendering any
aid or assistance in its execution What Is this bu
naked, unmitigated notification An act oil Congress
nullfed by the council OF the city OF Chicago
Whence did the council derive their authority! have
BEEN able 10 ind such provision IN the city charter
nor am that the legislature OF Illinois is vested
with any Ightful power TO confer such authority
have yet TO learn that subordinate municipal corpo
ration licensed 10 raise the standard Of rebellion anC
throw of the authority OF the federal government al pleas
ure This is a wonderful Improvement upon South
Carolinan notification Ii dspenses with the trouble
delay. and expense OF converting legislatures and
bling conventions oil the people, Tor the purpose OF re
solving themselves back into their original clements pre-
paraory to the contemplated revolution II has the higt
merit OF marching directly 10 its object and by simple
resolution written and adopted on the same night, reev
ing the people from their oath and allegiance, and oil put
ting the nation and lis laws at defiance II has hereto
fere been supposed, by OF antquaied notions, WHIT
have not kept up with the progress OF the age, that h
Supreme Court OF the United States was invested will
the power of determining the validity OF act OF Con
gress passed in OF the forms OF the consu
lion. This the doctrine Of the entire North and
the whole Union when il became necessary to exert thu
whole power OF the government 10 put down South Caro-
lima notification But the spirit Of the age is progressive
and 10 by confined TO advancement IN the art
and physical sciences. The science OF politics and gov
eminent is also rapidly advancing 10 maturity and pefec
ton. II is not long since that heard distngushe,
mrable judicial system OF the State, which he though
would render perfect II simple and eminent,
practicable that II could not fail 10 excite the admiration
Of even the casual inquirer Ills proposition was, tina
our Judicial system should be improved 10 allow
appeal all constitutional questions from the supreme
court of this State 10 two justices OF the peace Wher
that shall have been effected but other reform will
be necessary 10 render national system perfect
that IT, change the federal constitution, 10 author
ze an appeal all questions touching the validity oil al
acts OF Congress- from the Supreme Court o the Unite,
States 10 the common council Of the city OF Chicago
So much for the general principles involved IN The act
of the council