Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-05-03

w The Editor Of the Burlington Free Press
comes down upon the Hon Daniel Webster, and his
great speech, like hail storm. Keep cool friend
let US ask co-aborer ofthe Press what he tbinIs
OF that part of Senator Stewards speech in which he
argues mat there is power higher than the consti-
Ioh. Is not that little ultra Our friend Clarke
con seem to think there is any body in the T. S
,2 peuale out Gov Seward. He is the whole of it
4 ne senator made good speech, but some parts of
rshould be expunged.-I Vermont State Banner.
we IND the foregoing paragraph approving
copied by the Rochester IN. W Daiiy Amer
icdn, as though there We're nothing to be said
In reply. The American, we are sorry to say,
is unfriendly to Senator SEWARD, doubtless
Tor reasons entirely satisfactory to itselO and
probably desires to unite with our friend of the
Slate Banner in asking us if we do not think
that part of Senator Stewards speech which
argues that there is q poocr higher than the
Constitution is not ga little uitra!n we
therefore reply, that if there is any portion of
the very able speech of Senator SEWARD tina,
does not NEED to be proved by "arpument -
that is trus'n, selfevdent proposition-itis
that which asserts the existence of power
higher than the Constitution. Ii has Lnen TO-.
served for AMERICANS, in the nineteenth cen,u.
ry, to deny it
Without reference 10 "the will of God :" which
Mr. WEBSTER holds to be so much higher than
constitutions or laws that it is idle to re.enact
IT, Tor, OF course, to oppose it by legal enact
menu, PUBLIC SENTIMENT s, every where and
ataIl times, above the Constitution. The his
tory OF the world, and the experience Of the age
In which we live, prove it. We need 90 no
further than SOuh Carolina to present me.
morable Illustration. The expulsion of a dis.
tingui5hed and venerable citizen of Massacbu.
sets from that State, who had gone thither for
NO purpose but peacefully and lawfully to test.
before the judicial Tribunals recognized BY the
Constitution, the constituionality of certain
acts complained Of, was caused by the absolute
prodomnanoe Of Pubic SENTIMENT. in South
carolina, over Consultation, and Laws. Again.
the utter impo.>b ty of onlj,.,ng the people or
the Legislatures Of the Fro SIT. 10. III. Tn.
Ion, IN any active measure f1- the e., .tur I'D
re-ens a9ement Of fugitiv,s from nan!. .... rc.
SulS not IN the least from weakened nr wavet-
ing attachment 10 the glorious CONSTITUTION
but from that well known and wilelv.fet power
ABOVE the Constitution, the PUBLIC SENTIMENT
the MORAL sENsE-which rules and GOVERNS
those States. And this is precisely what. in
our judgment, it was the solemn duty of Mr..
WEBSTER, (without irrating words, but calmly,
seriously, honestly and emphatically,) to de.
clare on the floor of the Senate.
Mr. SEWARD was RIGHT, incontestiblv rirbt ,
There is, In all communities, under all forms of
Government, everywhere and always, a power
ABOVE human Constitutional power that RE
PEALs human Constitutions and laws. either
violently, by the sword, or silently though not
less efiectually, by the resisIess force Of PuB.
Lie SENTIMENT. Thrones and Dynastes have
been overhrown and established by this mower
The world is full of Instances. Our own Rev
olutlon was one Of its divine offspring. The
progress Of the human race in all that eleya,es
and improves, is living testimonial to its con.
tInual working 1t operates, frequently, with
out outward force, peacefully as the gentle
ram from heaven" but elfectually as the thun.
derboIi! When in harmony with the law, of
nature, 1t strikes the manacles from the body
and the worse bondage of prejudice and fauata.
clsih from The mind. Ii is THE power, in all
enlightened, chrislianized and free conmuni
ties. 1t is law.loving and law-abidinr, ORDERLY.
Just, lnvincib!e. Is it not better to acknowl-
edge and aim rightly to direct it, than 5indly
TO deny its existence