Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-10-02


rr,IIad adjustment measures. What are they!
The admission of California, the settlement OF
the boundary between New Mexico and Tex
as. and the payment of certain sum to the
latter the formation of territorial Governm-
entsfo Utah and New Mexico and the abolition
oftbe slave trade in the District OF Columbia
Is there man in Pennsylvania among the
Whig party. or the Native party, or any 9TH
or nartv. that is in favor of altering any OF
these laws now! They belong to the past
they are res adjudicate. They have been
nassed uDon and settled. In obedience to the
nrovission of the Constitution law has been
adopted bv the National Congress for the rem
Jition of fupitives from labor. That law, IN
nv Judgment, is like all other laws similarly
enacted. While it remains law it demands
our obedience. and must be observed. This
is no new declaration, made TO you now on
the eve of an election, but it is my delber-
ate opinion and will be found in my annual
message. at the opening of the last session of
the legislature. Whether that lawi as perfect
as YOU might make statute to carry out the
constitutional provision, is another and very
different question. hold that ifa better law
-one better calculated to subserve the great
purposes for which it was enacted-can be
! pAS0SN'
applause
hold that it is not only the right, but that
it is the duty, of every citizen to investigate
the actions of their public servants and to ex-
anime the laws. If those laws can be amend
ed let amendment be asked for. say that
! this is republican doctrine that never has
been disputed, except by those who would
seal forever the lips of the people from an ex-
preston of their opinions on the conduct or
! their representatives. While you are priv
ilegded to ask in good faith for the alteration
of any law passed by the State or national
government, you are bound to refrain from
! agitation for the purposes OF agitation only
! (Applause.) That can produce no good re-
suit. | say to you, as | have said IN all 9TH
er parts of the State, that to agItate the re-
peal of law merely for the sake otagltatlon,
is strongly to be reprehended. (Applause-)
Let us examine ALL looking to better results,
I but not with a view to excite discussion and
discord. | claim no exception from error. Ii
have erred, think am erring on the old
/ republican side ofthe question. (Appause.)
I Let us remember that both the national con-
stitution and the constitution of Pennsylvania
this old Commonwealth, whose very fame
we love-guarrantee the right of discussion.
The men who would take away that right by
the denunciation Of party would, If they had
the power, revive the sedition law. (Applause.)
1t looks to me, when certain men advocate
such doctrines, that they are returning TO the
ancient faith in which they learned their ear
ly political principles.
In nv late annual message | pointed out
certain defects in the fugitive slave bill. Is
the Union to be dissolved for that reason +
Surely not Surely there is no one so insane
as to allege that to preserve one provision OF
the constitution, it is necessary to violate a.
mother.
/ Citizens, it has been said that the action of
your Executive in reference to a bill that was
passed during the last session of the Leglsla-
ture will have serious effect on the integrity
of the Union. 1t is said that this does not
meet the appreciation of the public. | ask
why not | am glad here Of the opportunity
of explaining to the people of Philadelphia
nv course in this particular | know that
address an intelligent community body of
citizens who cannot, under any circumstances,
be misled by clamer or by out cry, but who,
after they have heard both sides of the ques-
ton, will decide according to justice and truth
Here permit me to remark that | am not GO
ing to defend myself, because conceive re-
qnire no defence. [Applause) On the third of
March, 1S47, an act was passed containing,
among other provisions, one which prohibited
the use of our jails for the custody of fug-
tives from labor This act passed through the
House of Representatives by nearly unan-
nous vote, and in the Senate without dssen-
ting voice and subsequently received the sig
nature of the late Governor Skunk. 1t re-
mained on the records for period of four
years. On the 9th of March, 1851, The Sem
ate passed an act repeating the section have
referred to- This bill was sent to the House
on the same day, and in that House controlled
by majority of some Is or 20holding adverse
political opinions to mine, it remained on their
table untouched, until within about one hour
of the final adjournment; and, if you will eX-
anime the records, it will appear that this was
the last public matter they attended to- Be-
, fore its passage they appointed committee
to wait on the executive, inform him that they
were entirely through with their business, and
were ready to adjourn, and to ask if he had
any farther communications to make to them.
They were informed that he had none. They
appointed a committee to wait on the co-ordi-
} hate branch of the Legislature, the Senate
to communicate similar information to them
They voted resolution Of thanks to the pre-
siding officer, to the clergy who had opened
their sessions with prayer, to the clerks and
1 messengers, and believe, to their doorkeep.
er. Every body supposed that they had con.
cluded their entire labors. Acting upon this
impression, one of the dominant party moved
the House should take n recess to terminate q
short time before the period fixed for the fina1
!, adjournment, - o'clock. The motion wa.
e voted down, and in violation of their Join
although their attention had been di
7 rected to those rules,-they took up the Sen
ate bill at that late hour, repeating the 9th sec
ton of the act of March, lS47, and passed it
The bill was sent to the Governor so short
ly before the termination of that session, as tc
I prevent message, under any circumstances
from being prepared and returned to the lie
: gislature. At the beginning of that session,
LII IL II ~ l. -.