The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-05

add nothing 10 what has been said by others The iu.
srass after Ses and ysrv ample discussion
WAS 70 intimately connected with The Compromise ua
was necessarily uadeT consideration IN the Senate dn-
ring the whole lime devoted 10 that subject II was APP
proved by President Fillmore. 1t pronounced con
sttuonal BY the Attorney General and II is believed that
his opnion had the unanimous assent OF the cabinet
L has sace been pronounced constitutional by Webster,
Choae. Curtis, Evans and host OF the best Jursls IN
New England. asastl teIftaaf -Uttt aHHA s
Now, say, under these circumstances. will not ar
que The point prefer 10 read The provision OF the cons
ution and submit the mattel without argument 10 those
present. and TO the people OF Maine. - E.f@ a-t
Article 4, section 2, OF the constitution provides
No person held labor in State. under
quence any or regulation discharged from
such service or labor but shall be delivered up, on he
das: 'a 'a' parry OA0" 'u'a ''''''' = '''''
The precise point wish 10 impress upon those present
is that there dispute about this law that law the
ton jus, read shall or shall not be executed Nothing
can be palmer than the language Of this provision, when
it declares that the fugitive shall be delivered up ON the
due" The ingenuity of man cannot msunderstand il or
honestly give il false interpretation. II is criminal
therefore, To refuse to execute IL or TO impede ITS execu
ton II is one OF the requirements OF the consultation OF
Maine that every person elected or appointed to any
place Office under our State constitution before no en-
ers on the discharge OF the duties OF his ofce shall take
and subscribe oath affirmation to support the con-
sttuon OF the United Slates long he shall conn-
ue citizen thereof Il is, therefore, vio alton OF our
State constitution to refuse to perform any duty enjoned
upon us, under that OF the federal Union II IS then
right say, that the governor OF the State here he but
obeys the spirit of State constuon IN Lending his
Influence to encourage our citizens TO perform the duty
which they under the federal constitution 10 the pco
pie OF other Staes1 The refusal execute this provision
is nothing less Than revolution. Sophstry itself
furnish justification for it, unless II rs TO be found
in some oil the unWritlen modern codes oi hgherlaw.
What higher law is in political sense frankly con-
Tess do not very we'll understand having studied
any OF the codes The best solution OF the mystery that
hryn Faxu lava hxyn
travelling gentleman, who called himself moalls he
maintained that the unwritten law OF the human heart
higher than constitutions or statutes, and that the only
real governor OF earth Is conscience. Per
ceiving that his code made quite innovation IN the
common law, suggested TO him that the law OF Eng
land never admitted the plea OF conscience as good
bar to the charge OF treason murder. he replied
very gravely that he entertained respect for the
common law, any other code that had been devils
ed by government. Now, whether that gentleman is
true disciple of the school of higher law" do not
know. Assuming that be is. prepared to hazard the
opinion that the people OF Maine will never sanction the
doctrine Some persons define higher law as merely
an appeal TO the public opinions and TO those have
or two remarks to make. When you make your appeal
to the public opinion OF Maine, make it fairly admit the
truth that the fugitive law is strictly constitutional that
it contains principle confers no new rights on
the masier that it only supplemental law to the act
OF 49, approved by Washington and that il merely pro-
Aides more efectual mode OF executing that law-snd
the friends of the Union and the constitution in Maine
will not shrink from the issue State the facs truly aud
fairly, and they iesdy to 20 TO the jury and abide BY
the southern States will exercise patience, and not
embarass the friends OF the Union, do any act to
strengthen the fanatics while the cause is on trial. NO
State in this confederacy has deeper interest in the
Union than Maine Our citizens love their country and
lis institutions and they will not hesitate to employ their
best exerons to that they receive no detnent they
regard the federal constitution the palladium OF their
liberties, and they will discountenance, and make all
proper efforts TO epress everything that can endanger III
they the advice OF the Father OF our Country
and they remember his farewell words when he said:
is Of Infinite moment that you should properly estimate the
immense value of your national your collective and
individual happiness; that you should cherish cordial
hablua and immoveable attachment TO 1t accustoming
yourselves think and speak OF il As the palladium OF
your political safety and prosperity watching for its pres
ervation with jealous anxiety, and dscountenancihg
whatever may suggest suspicion that can IN any
event be abandoned" They remember or have read, that
when the peace OF s3 and danger disappeared
from without, anarchy seemed to threaten destrac-
ton within the thirteen independent soveeignties, for
the want OF perfect unions and they fear that no
other than the fathers of the constitution would have
brought order out of much confusion, and that even
those patriots might have failed had they not under the
guidance OF Providence been aided by the circumstances
and the necessities of the time The views OF General
Washington that point are too striking and beautiful
10 be omitted on this occasion
No people (sad General Washingon) can be bound
acknowledge and adore the Invisible hand which conducts
The affairs Of men more tan the people o the United
States Every by which they have advanced TO the
indie pendent nation seems 10 have been
stnguished by some token OF provdcnial agency and
ia the i'm poant revolution Just accomplished IN the sy
TEN Of fhs unisd goofno,eni, the tranquil deliberations
and younia OF so distinct communities from
which the ha. resulted cannot be compared with
the means by which governments have been estab
hshed, wi,hou, OF pous gratitude along with
an humble anticipation future blessings which the
past seem to pressge,'
Ii was undoubtedly great work TO achieve nation
al ndependenceall feel that II was so and delight to
dwell upon the reflection and yet every rejecting mind
must see that il much greater work to devise,
without model and frame, without any example. the
stntion Of our Union, and put in successful operation
the whole system oil free government under which we
live. =. .s..r.. 49,. i .-..s|.-. f. Il
My thanks due TO the citizens OF Bath, not only
for their candid attention while | have been speaking,
upon all these topics was rejoced when heard they
had called this meeting and still more reloeed that
has been held The people OF this vicinity owed to
themselves, TO parfosn and to their own best interests
to speak out their sentiments upon these great questions
II here, believe that the first voice IN Maine was
raised in opposition TO the peace measures OF the last ses
session OF Congress- Where ls that voice All being 81
lenheang no responseI avn led TO believe il sleep
ing the sleep OF death. Zone person here said, No.
and Mr. C. Instantly replied There was one Judas among
the twelve Apostles but fortunate for our Union
and the honor of Name that here there is only one
among thousands Tremendous cheering st.
Ii will prove to be full representation in Maine, ac-
people aroused, not in ten thousand will deem il
prudent TO endorse the sentiments OF that meeting and
il mistake not the attachment OF our people TO their
free Institutions and government those who stubborny
persist in this reasonable of opposition TO Law and
plain provision OF the constitution will yet find Vt ne
cessary call for the rocks and the mountains To fall
them, and hide them from the indignation OF Union-
up our Union, nor can we omit any honorable means IN
power TO employ To shield II from the dangers TO
which il is exposed The price Of liberty being eternal
vigilance we willing pay the price, but we cannot