The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-01

~ ~ ~#t @t Prom the New Hampshise osssus.
The Fuxttivs-slavs Law and shs Obllgasa~ns Of the
Democratic Party.
II has ever been claimed by the democratic party that
the disDg ushng feature between AsT prinelpes and
the policy OF their opponent is. that while the latter is
founded In selshness narrowness and reckless disre
gard of right the former are based upon justice and
ruth and require scrupuous discharge oil all political
duties and Obligations While We jusy charge the fed,
eral party with loose views OF constitutional c0mPacts
and Of scarcely acknowledging any obstacle in the way
rants ourselves to the terms and conditions Of the agree
ments which partiss and to regard defeat a.
preferable to victory won BY rushing over the barriers Of
fundamental laws We maintain thai the federal const
tuition compact OF mutual concessions and guaran-
tees. and that i is binding upon each State 10 abide
by it's plain requirements however obnoxious they some
times may be to the sentiment of the people, is the
duty OF all to resist any Infringement Of the reserved
rights of the States by the general government. This
has ever constituted one OF the leading points which
marks the distinction Of the democ ratio from the federal
party In brief founded in strict right and
Justice. and faithful compliance with all the reque
mens Of the constitution strictly construed form the creed
Looking at the national compact, find the institution
Of slavery therein distinctly recognised and certain priv
egss connected with II distinctly guaranteed to the slave
eved to be right because all the States were in favor
of it, but because existed to greater or less extent in
all nearly all the States and it was impossible to form
union upon different conditions. Prominent among the
guarantees mentioned the clause for the return OF fug
i've slaves, which Is in the following words. and is as
clear and emphatic as language can make It: a
"No person held service labor In State, under
the law thereof escaping into another SHALL in
qaence of law regulation therein be discharged
claim Of the party whom such service labor shall be
due" Ea.Hl.a
This clause distinctly guarantees the STAKEHOLDER the
possession OF his runaway slave, wherever he may be
found within the boundaries Of the Union; and when
the people of the several States voted to adopt the
sttuton, they of course bound themselves and postery
firmly the faithful observance of this as Of any other
provision of that instrument The express agreement
that the fugitive slave shall not be free in any State OF
the Union contrary 70 the will Of his master butt on the
contrary, shall be delivered claim and no State or
citizen epudiae this compact without mourning the
guilt OF fragrant disregard OF honor and integrity The
provision 10 in the constitution, and there must remain
demanding the same faithful observance on the part OF
the people every other provision, until 1t 10 erased by
amendment made in due form, or the constitution is
subverted BY force 1t avas nothing 10 say that slavery
is wrong, and that therefore 10 right to violate thus guar
The wrong right of slavery has nothing TO do
with the case The question 10 one OF our obligations
under the constituonwhat Is essential to our political
we'll being and what the States and the people are bound
by solemn compact TO perform Men can scarcely be
eved from their deliberate contracts by the plea OF con-
scientous scruples to the object OF the agreement
would often be convenient for them to repudiae thell
In business and Other matters on this ground
but this forbidden both by the law and sound morals
Therefore, faithful adheance to the OF The
constitution and scrupuous performance OF every po
cal duty being most essential feature OF the democratic
creed il 10 Just it unavoidable to sefously cal
in question the democracy OF all such as undestandng
i
any OF their obligations
/ But should the support OF the fugitive slave law b.
made test OF democracy This depends entirely upor
the ground OF the opposition to it. 10 opposed from al
honest conviction that IS in conflict IN any OF Ills pro
visions, with the constitution then the opposition, IN
duged in way to procure the modhcation OF the law
make il conform 10 the constitution, without resist
ing its execution while il remains unchanged, is undoubt
eddy right and proper But IT, the CHER hand, Is op
posed indirect method OF resisting the constitution
ITSELF there too much ground to believe the case
the opposition is in direct violation OF the democratic
creed and uses the regarding OF those who make II n
hostile to the democratic This law 10 50 lar una
vodaby becomes democratic test rather test OF th
by its friends No man bound approve unconsti
utional law. or law that he believes such and insea
OF democrat being required to do this, his principles
command him 10 do precisely the opposite and seek thu
repeal OF such law by every proper means But we hav
said there much ground to believe that the opposition
which the fugve-slave law meets 10 really prompte'
in the main BY hostility TO the constitution itsef-a De
subver the provision OF that instrument on whcf
it is based, and which it is designed simply 10 enforce
That this view is correct is evident from the obeclon
urged against the law by most OF its opponents The!
say il makes the free States hunting grounds for slave
calchers; that the fugitive slave enjoys safety here
and that the law is dsmnabe because il the 70
turn Of the slave to his master Thus the law il con
denned, not becaass II 10 violation OF the constitution
but account OF its efficiency in enforcing plain con
sutional requirement; and hence the objections mad
10 the law lie with equal force against the constitution
The return of the slave is what il camored against aDc
consequently not merely this law. but any law that se
cured this object, would be condemned
II il certainly desirable 10 avoid making the question
Of slavery, in any FORM issue in electons but how
this ia TO be done when hostility TO the fugitive aw
waged such grounds this, and especially how the
democratic party to countenAnee the warfare whou
dscardnE their principles and becoming something else
than the democratic party, is not easy to divine