The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-04
THE BOSTON SLAVE CASH.

d.
THE BOSTON SLAVE cAsn.
Mr. RHETT. do not assent to the opinion expressed
hv nany senators here that his law will be enforced
La, il will be practically enforced as to provide what
many Of its friends ancpaled-a good and suthcient
Guarantee ior the rights OF The South, Sir, II supposed
sa wha,eyer opinions hal OF the law itself. would
az nothing Think what The gentleman from Georgia
IN Al the conclusiou oi his speech shows very clearly
that he can hardly have much alth IN the act il
s fo the latter part o nls sleeen was applicable en-
hir BERRlEN. hope the senator will draw no In
ference like that which he has stated from any declaa
uon which have made. have invoked State legisa-
lion as an easier mote OF removing obsiIuctons to the
enforcement OF this lawas mode pre- erable TO its
o.cemen BY the Of power welded BY the authority
OF the general government 45a t##H
he senator from Georgia has said is true, that think
this government has Il not IN LIS power TO enforce this
law SO As to make 1t efhcacious.
Mr. BERRlEN. have not said that il is not in the
mower OF this government TO enforce 1t
Mr. RHETr. know that; said that myself. j
agree 10 that portion OF the remarks ol the honorable
senator from GeoH assent TO every position he took,
~, far as Stale leg gslaOn ls concerned believe that
by the aclicD OF the States, and the States alone, the
nights Of the South be maintained aud enforced And
when he concluded his speech this subject, by press
ing so the northern States the proprety and
necessity OF egsation by which The constitution should
be enforced and the rights of the South guaranteed, he
e entirely IN the course OF opinion which myself en-
sain. But think that all the senator from Georgia
entirely prior to the decision ot the OF Prgg the
State OF Pennsy vana. He read from the message Of
Governor Marcy II understand tie principles oi that
decision in the case OF Prgg against the State of Penn
syyana the Supreme Court 20 Tar as to say that the
whole duty OF fulfilling the article of the consttu-
ton in relation 10 the reclamation OF fugitive slaves
devoiyrs upon the United States government and the
United States government alone Il was n consequence
Of that disastrous decisiondsas,rous, think 10 the
interests OF the Souti and contrary, as think 10 the
constitution OF the United Sates-tfiai the northern States
i,snk n thuyi I.v,
drawing all and or corporation whatever Tor the proiec-
non Of The South on this great point. II could suppose
thai the principles laid down in that tecsion-f could
suppose with gentlemen who have spoken here, that
though these principles correct, they vet can
and will be enforced although would means be in
srumenta IN either voting Tor them enforcing them
yet would be satisfied that the superior judgment of
others should prevail and that while the S1u,h was
practically protected in her interests, others should be
satisfied 70 do IN conformity with their view of the
constitution. at5 .U#g
Sir. the law is not always law There is no LAWYER
who does not know that, There nobody living in any
country who does not know II, and especially free
country ike this law TO have its practical effect
must move IN harmony with the opinions and feelings Of
the community where II Is to operate. In this case no
doubt that the feeling Of the whole and entire
North-whaiever may be their submission what they
may consider 10 be the supreme law OF the lands on.
posed the institution OF slavery, and opposed 10 this
law Now, you may multiply officers as much as YOU
please you may make every ship prison you may make
every caslomhou guard room you may, in all your
gr4t central points, make every eoIt you tor the
purpose honestly OF enforcing The law; nay, YOU NAV
have large majority in all the free States in favor OF its
enorcement and yet, IT there be formidable minority
that determine upon the defeat OF the operation of the
law. they Can defeat IT, and they will defeat it, The
recovery OF fugitive slave is not merely the case of
person coming into court II is not merely case in
which the law should be enforced by courts The tugi
live slave may be concealed or sworn out Of court;
thousand arlhces and expedients may be resored to-
By which the STAKEHOLDER will be unable 10 recapture his
slave, or the slave, when TeRaped will be reached
Although nfnpnt IN y
determination to enforce the law, although you may
exsIAe with the utmost rgor, yet after ALL the statutes
may be nothing more than much waste paper, Of
he bu 10 deceive those who are willing 10 be deceived
As my honorable colleague very correctly said the other
day out OF hteen thousand slaves at the Norlh-and
have seen statement myself putting the number al
,llI'y thousand-how many have been recapturedl 7
Some hteen have been taken in eight nine months
aud IN every case in which there any dispute il
coal The master more than the worth OF the slave
Know oil case which has been communicated 10 me
very recently Several gentlemen in Maryland on the
Asetn Shore, knowing that they had fugitive slaves in
fhlsdelphia agreed that should 20 and endeavor 10
tcap'ure ms slave and IT he succeeded the would
endesvor to DO 50 likewise The gentleman went armed
with lhs proof Of the identity OF his slave by the presence
several ms neghbors, but when he got to PHILADELPHIA
.hoAffassmen's OF one KIND and another thrown in
waylase swearing as to the identity Of the person
was iesorled To- and he was defeated Blacks are allowed
% come IN and swear before the commissioner do not
oofe ~ have no right to say anything concerning
but although there direct ~ oof OF The identity OF
Known the slave many years before and thus proved an
@ol ne same thing attempted with respect TO the
Case OF Henry Long in New YORK The commissioner
may always he thlnk proper, this conflict of lesti-
s..n ueeharee Tue slave Thus even with The law
e, ana your law officers, impedments can be thrown
'ne way and expedIents be resorted to- by which
Paenesiy tbe law can have effect Il on an exami-
n4uon OF these facts that have come TO the uson
M bis law cannot and will not be enforced a. prac-
eay 70 secure The rights OF the South With this con-
on nave looked most carefully into this matter since
Aose here IN debate and have come TO the conc
a., om the beginning Of the Legislation OF Congress
% n@ Whoie subject 10 this day. OF the South have
o,h wfonged, and have been made to abandon better
fdes ''"'e's' ""'." '"e oo"su'u''o" pro;
lam lam = S,aie-riKhis man Ever since have been in
o,c me have endeavored to carry out the plain and
mpe p meaning OF the constitution of the United States
.y u CONSTRUCTIONS. They a'e subterluges OF dIshon-
~, " winch the meaning of the constitution ia per-
V;s snu lbe constitution itself virtually Uverthrown
\, -a sooue an instrument for constituting the meaning
., a. me human mind. with the passions and in
.rs" wneh govern men, there is but way 10 pre-
Waen constitution, and that to administer il
o'nos 10 lis strict and simple purport From the
% - commenced public life. have eadeavored to pur-
nv ua ,s course and have departed from il by
~, "No' NINE IN Congress, am totally unconscious
~ Now lei us look inio the constitution There are
nos ys OF getting at what the meaning OF the consti-
nn, All senators, on both sides believe, will
n,.a S.. =. when we take NY the constitution OF the
on.iuo" - no, s.s ,hI,. up an Aggregate Of g,sn The
es.,s s made BY the people Of the States; and they
IN That constitution the particular grants oi
bo, ...y conveyed reeervng to themselves all powers
nov "hs Then, when we look to the constitution 10
n, Io enei any power il contained therain. we must
fl =, me distinct specifications Of power and see
w.v hed y II is not there, there il but one other
ne power, and that is 10 ascertain whether II
b.,. =. a'd proper to carry out a specific grant
hssn,. s me two great methods OF ascertxping the
.;S"'W of The constitution ttj,s though they NAV be