The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-27
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON d. C., FEBRUARY u, 1851

Of suppressing instruction In the better days
Of the Republic may not say the purer days Of
the Republic, tho militia OF the States were re-
lied upon for the enforcement of the laws against
those who resisted them within the borders of
the States Thus General Washiugtons Score
tsry Of War called on the militia of Pennsylva-
MIA to put down the whiskey instruction. He
did not call on che army and navy Of the United
Statea
But, sir, the case 10 Boston seems to be the lie.
climate result OF an event which occurred not
long since, when the officers failed to do their
duty, and the marshal who so failed was not re-
moved What was this but direct encourage
ment TO free negro mob 10 set aside the law, and
TO oppose the officers if they attempted to exc
cute it, | am not one Of those, however anxious
| may be to see this law enforced, who would adj
vocate the use of the army TO secure its enforce
ment. | hold that when any State in this Union
shall choose to set aside the inv, II is within her
sovereignty, and beyond our power. hold that
il would be a total subversion Of the PRINCIPLES
of our Government, ifthe strong arm Of the Uni
ted States is TO be brought TO crush the known
will of the people Of any State Of this Union.
Such is my theory of this Government liz the
people Of Massachusetts choose 10 nuiufy the law,
if they choose to oblitcrate the Constitution, if
they choose to deny the supremacy Of the laws of
the United States they will have but one step
more to take, and the impulse with which they
will be moving will compel them TO take it; that
is, to declare the authority Of the United States
abrogated and the bonds Of the Union to be no
longer over them. We Of the South have been
constantly arraigned AS those who oppose the Gov
ernment of the United States, who nullify it's
laws, and who manifest violent resistance against
their execution. The charge is as untrue AZ II is
common Look to the history Of the country,
and find in times past where the laws of this
Government have been nulli6ed. Elsewhere
they have benin the planting States never.
Now, MIR. President, while am quite willing,
| may say anxious, to know what measures the
Executive may take, - the question Of military
force has been drawn into this debate, take this
occasion TO say that hope the day is far distant
when the militia Of the States cannot enforce the
laws of the u nted States, cannot suppress insur-
rection within the Sites. | hope the day is
equally distant when the Federal Government, by
its army and navy, should attempt to enforce ODE
dience upon State lr this free negro mob rep
resent the true feelings of the State Of Massa-
chusctis if such be the action of the State her
self If she wills to be free of the obligation Of
the Union, let her 20.
I, for one, will never give my vote to extend
single arm of the Federal power for her coercion.
trust that the history Of our Government may
never record such scenes horse guards charging
upon the peasantry, or steel-clad curassiers
turned out to ride down the ignobe rsbbe The
people are tho soyeregns. Let them act az their
wisdom and their patriotism may direct and when
they cease to have wisdom and patriotism neces-
>sary vi tntlr yoi,ion to sustain this G Government
| say the Government is at an end