North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-05
FROM JAMES BUCHANAN,
WnEArLANp. (near Lancasler.N Feh.

WuEArLAND, (near Lancaster.) Feb. 49, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: l have been honored by the receipt
of your invitation to the dinner he given by the
Union Safety Committee of New York the ap-
preaching anniversary of the Birthday of The Father
of his Country. l regret that other engagements
will deprive of the pleasure and the privilege Of
uniting with you upon this important occasion.
Our constitutional Union is the richest political
blessing which Providence has ever bestowed upon
the human We ought not to forget however,
that it parlakes of the nature of contract among
sovereign States and its preservation and perpetuy
must, therefore, depend upon the faithful execution
Of its provisions by the parties to the bond. If the
constitution is to he nuliifed the pretext that
hgher law - condemns it, and if the laws of man
may be resisted with imPunity whenever fanatics and
deagogues choose to decide that these contrary
to the law of God, then farewell only the con-
stitution, but TO all civil government.
OF all the measures OF compromise adopted at the
last session of Congress, the only in which the
South feels any peculiar interest is the fugiivesave
law. Whilst large majority of the Southern people
will, believe. for the sake of the Union, finally
quesce in all the other measures, we of the North
ought feel and realize the Hndoubed and important
fact that this acquiescence is founded solely upon the
express condition that the fugitve-save law shall be
faithfully executed. Rest assured they will pa
tieny submit to witness their constitutional rights,
which this law was intended to maintain and enforce.
violated and destroyed by mobs and insurrectonarE
movements at the North.
Can and will the fugitve-save law be faithfully
executed by the President and the constituted author
tiles This is of the most important questions
which has ever been propounded, because upon the
result may depend the fate of our blessed Union
Although not in his confidence. am convinced lincuE
risk in answering this question in the Affirmative
The President possesses the power and he will ex-
ercise it with energy and determination, whilst alb
good citizens will cbeerully lend him their aid To-
doubt this would be to doubt whether he is worthy
| of his exalted station.
| Yours, very respectfully.
LANES BUCHANAN.
| These letters all finely written, and. they are
repleie with the best sentiments. Those of Messrs
Dickinson and Buchanan, especially, speak the ruth
when they say that all the South gained got, BY
the late adjustment, the fugitiveslaVe law land
that. in all this controversy the South has been the
aggrieved and injured section. There is one other
letter, which must give readers the pleasure
of perusing 1t is from the Hon. William Duer, for
n.erly Wig member of Congress from New York..
who sacrificed, for his just sentiments, by his
constituents. 1t is follows:
FROM wILLIABN DUER. 800
WASHINGTON, February Is, 1884,
| GENTIEMEN> It would give me great pleasure to'
unite with you in the celebration of the S2d Of Eeo
ruary but such is the of public business tnaE
it is possible for me to leave Washington oeioie
the termination of the present sessio OF Congress,
| believe with you, gentlemen, that the times de-
mand that we should ORALLY AROUND THE PRINCIPLES
OF WAsHINeros." It is upon those principles only"
as imbodied in the constitution aud recommended ~