Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-02-06
WORCESTER DAILY SPY:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1851.


cal duties prevented his attendance, he makes 1t IN
occasion for sending another letter OF consider
length in which he rehashes the old ding dong phrase
of"Constitution'' and Union'' which have formed the
staple ingredient of all his revelations to the pho
liz in sneecbes and letters with the addition of some
gratutous advice in regard to the legal ueh''oA u
treason and the punishment due to the CRIME
In the course of his letter. Mr. Webster makes especial
mention of the meeting held in this city last autunn' 10
give expression to the sentiments OF its popua'on' IN
regard to the fugitive slave law, and hourishes before
-, sc,re-crov. certain convictions for treason in
Pennsylvania during the administration OF washington
as being parallel instances Mr. WebserS letter does
not read or sound like the production OF man IN an
easy and natural frame of mind His ailuslon to the
nenalties. shows that he would not object to little
peckstreching for treason, provided that the hang
mans rome, would help to bind the Union more strong
w together yet, is evident that with all his bad
feelings, Mr. Webster has still of the curds of the
milk of human Kindness floating underneath his straw
coored vest for he has the charity to suggest that at
the meeting in this place, when it resolved that no
fugitive from labor should be taken from among us
that the persons comprising it ''dd not seem to be
aware that the purpose thus avowed by them is dis
tinctly reasonable.
"If, saws he, ssanv law of the land be resisted, by
force Of force of numbers, with declared in
tent to resist the application of that law, in all cases,
this is evyng against the government, within the
meaning of the Constitution, and is act of treason,
drawing after it all the consequences of that offence"
All this may be very true, for aught We know, but
what does it prove Men do not commit, threaten
to commit the crime of treason for slight causes. Its
penalties severe, and its mpostions too danger
ous TO lead lightly venture upon such ground.
They do not dare the risks of conviction for the crime
Of treason where there legitimate means of redress,
to which they can have access; where there is a
hope that their applications will be needed and their
rights respected.
John Hancock and Samuel Adams were traitors, but
who does not know that the circumstances of their
siton, justified the Washington was, by the
strict rule of Mr.. Websters logic, the very prince Of
traitors for did he resist by force of arms the regu-
larry enacted DEGREES of the government under which
he lived. But none of these men became traitors
through any love of mischief or any disregard of the
legitimate action of just civil government. Their
treason commenced when they saw the great unda-
mental principles of English liberty spurned by the
King and his parliament and themselves trodden under
the iron exactons OF unjust edicls. The Colonies at
the outset, had idea of treason their government
and it only the pressure of dire necessity that drove
them into it. We all know the result, and all know
the briancy of those pages Of reasonable transactions
in the history of the world
Human nature in all ages is the same, and we have
idea that any citizen of Worcester or of New Eng
land contemplaes treason the government in 1850,
of I'll 10
Boston, who in ITS, stepped cargo of the fragrant
herb of China in the waters of the Bay. But, where
injustice is done, and wrong upon wrong sperperaed
upon nursed in the very lap of freedom, the hour
of resistance come. And then, not upon them is
the responsibty-not upon their hands is the stain Of
crime, but upon those who drive them TO the eadfu
extremity Of resistance by the crushing hand of oppres
sion.
Mr. Webster says that it is treason against the gov
ernment, if the citizens Of Massachusetts resolve that
fugitves from labor, shall not be forcbly seized and
out of the State without the benefit of jury ia
The language of the Constitution itself, is palmer than
any commentary of the great erpourder.
The Constitution declares, that, emo person held to
service labor in State, by the as thereof escap-
ing into another, shall in consequence of any law or
regulation therein be discharged from such service
labor but shall be delivered up upon claim of the par
ty to whom such service or labor may be DUE"
A fair Interpretation of this clause, presumes two
things First that the claimant shall establish his right
by undoubted proof that the alleged fugitive has been
held to service labor in any State by the lars thereof
and second, that the party who has the 'sca" upon
his service, shall have the validity of that claim tested
10 Ill q
claims, by that sacred institution of Anglo Saxon law,
trial by jury, which is the basis of all justice wherever
the language is spoken.
This is in the bond. alt is fairly writ" that the
stakeholder, like Shylock of Venice, shall have his
pound of fesh,-ssbut not pound of blood.'' He
may take his save any State that he can find him,
but hel must take him by process Of law. He must
prove his claim, by the only way in which claim can
be proved by jury Trial. He must prove too that he
has been held by the ass Of the State from which he
alleged to have escaped. This he refuses to do, for he
knows that the slave is held to service by no law but
the law of custom, and the law Of force Laws which
antiquity however hoary, canno. invest with the PIANO.
pig Of justice. He dares attempt to prove claim
where the defendant demand the qd pro upon which
the claim is based and which he knows he cannot pro
duce-
To get around the Constitution to avoid collision
with trial by jury, that great bulwark against the op
preston Of the weak by the strong, the stakeholder h
Joined hands with the base creatures at the Morrill, VIII
like Webster, be bought with gold or bribed b.
office. He has virtually broken down the bulwarks o
constitutional liberty, when he trampes upon the stat
ut.s Of States whose legal codes illuminated BY suc
humane provisions for the weak the following claus