Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-05
THE LETTER.

THE LETTER.
SENATE CHAMBER, JANUARY l3, 1851.
Hon. JosEPH SEeAR.
Dean SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
Of your letter. dated Richmond and addressed to my col
league and myself containing inquiry in relation to the
the Legislature of Vermont which has been the
subject of such general remark throughout the country.
hesitate not to say the most unequivoca manner and
in this have the Of colleague in the Senate
and believe that Of the entire delegation Of Vermon that
the act referred to does not embody the deliberate Of
the people Of Vermont may add with truth, that does
not in my opinion embody the deliberate sentiment Of the
legislative body Of the State. The act hurried through
the Legislature the close of the session. in the absence Of
many fthe members, without discussion or explanation Of
its character and effect and have to believe in utter
ignorance the part Of many members who were present Of
its Objectionable features Such the haste attending the
passage Of the act that the first inmation the public that
such measure in contemplation through the pub
LEGATION Of the law ITSELF That publication produced general
SURPRISE and among Of reflection, and
very deep regret The act is dsappoved by the almost
tire press and doubt not by vast maory Of the people
of the State. It certainly received by her delegation in
Congress with sentiments of regret and deep mort6caon
nfctng stain upon the high character Of her people for
patriotism, attachment the Union and submission to
sutional authority and faIiying the professions and
pledges boldly and confidently made during recent exc
Ing discussions by her delegation on the floors OF Congress
The law has been the subject OF general discussion BY the
press Of that State and with exceptions has
ceived from that the pointed reprobaion have
but two attempts to vlndicae It, Perhaps the
courtesy due the from which those efforts are sup
posed to proceed forbid the expression that they may be cha
racezed weak but that they will fail to satisfy the people
OF the State of the propey and consttuonay of the act of
her Legislature, most confidently predict
No attempt has been made will be made to sustain the
right of the State override modify, annul act of
Congress- by State legislation. The only attempt to vindi
cate the law which has fallen under my observation, consists
the effort reconcile the law of the State with the act of
Congress commonly called the fugitive lava task so hope
less in my Judgment that whoever attempts will very soon
find it most convenient and most agreeable to renquish it.
there be at this moment any difference OF opinion among
the people of that State to the merits of the State aw
is upon this point Those if such there be, who disco
conflict between and the act Of Congress, will Of
discover constitutional mpediment to the exercise
Of legislative discretion by the State Legislature but let the
point be settled that the law is epugnant to and ire
concabe with the act Of Congress- and pledge myself that
there ten Of the voters in that State ncud
ing the whole population who would stand by the State law
for That they will discover the utter ncompat
by Of the two laws have no doubt They are an ntel
gent well patriotic people, and will not fail to per-
ceive that unless they endow dark skin with the power
Of ubiquiy surrender fugitive to the claimant to
be removed the State whence he fed in conformity with
the of Congress- and at the time retain him free
view to his future discharge SUCH the two acts cannot be
carried out without conflict.
my deliberate opinion that this law will share the fate
Of other Of hasty and mprovden legislation, of which
the history of State legislation is full few years since,
similar law was enacted by the Legislature Of Vermont but
in conformity with the decision Of the Supreme Court in the
Of Prggs Pennsylvania, was very readily repealed
Such am confident will be the fate of this law when
ther Legislature shall meet.
found this opinion upon the intelligence of the people of
that State which will fail perceive that their law is
in constitutional point Of view, utterly indefensibs and
upon habua regard for law and ORDER and attachment
to the Constitution and the Union These characteristics of
that people by means temporary occasional or transit
tory They permanent the Puritan character and the
impress which that character has fixed upon the institutions
the policy and the destiny Of this country. The pro-
nent feature in the policy of the original settlers of New
England the rigid and stringent enforcement Of law
and legal authority With the present generation, submis
sion to legal authority principle founded in education,
and strengthened by habit The people of Vermont
exposed than most of the States to be drawn from this posi-
ton. Surrounded by population as peaceabe as them
seveshaving none Of those sores upon the body Potc
large commercial sies the hothod Of excitement disorder
riot and resistance lawbeng agricultural people, dis
persed upon their FARMS and living in comparative secusion,
hey only secluded from those influences which gene
rate disorder and disturb the quiet Of society but with
and opportunities Of education and early training and with
habits Of reflection adapted their mode Of life, they
peculiarly deliberate consderate, and orderly people
They people be trusted. In their hands the nstitu-
ons of the country safe When they put their hand to
public. But ha hand is not yet raised, nor will It be-
They indeed subject to the influences which, like cloud
sometimes pass the community, and darken the political
6mament the legislative body may, under sudden impulses
forget what is due 70 their constituency and Themselves but
believe me- there redeemng spirit in that people, in their
intelligence and vue which will all right last Their
ssrespect will lead them TO repeal Of the Objectionable law
As the representative Of that State here have deplored the
ndscreon of her late Legislature. desire to the
blemsh from her reputation, and, the eectual and
honorable mode Of doing desire that she may be left to
the which her Of proprety unnuenced
by threats provocaons Of any kind may dictate Above
ALL let eneat that Of retaliation
may be interposed least until she have opportunity
retrace her steps, to show to the world determination to
persist In error.
In the present unhappy condition Of our country differ
en from the harmony which regned here behooves
every friend of the country to advance with caution. The
rery 'oors remedy for indscction and folly side
tndiscreon and folly the other. The natural result is
mutual irritation and mutual alienation That consciousness
OF wrong where wrong originates which would otherwise
work remedy ID often smothered and sed by retaliatory
and vindictlve measures The human mind impatient Of
secondemnation naturally seeks escape from to combat
real imaginary wrongs. The transition from self reproach
sedefence grateful Does not The page of our hsforu
enocng exhibit the Workings Of this p1opsstv Ais
not prone, instead Of watching footsteps and COR