The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-06-25
Resistance to the Fugitive Slave Law.

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The May number of the Wing Review
has an extended and able article on the Fu
gitive Slave Law, not in defence Of its de-
tails, or in opposition 10 its modification, in a
lawful way, but especially with reference to
those higher law" doctrines which directly
or indirectly incuicate FoBCIBLE RESIST
ANCg to it, while it remains law. We give
the substance of the article, believing it
specially opportune, and in the main, sound
and true, and coinciding with the real senti-
ments of all loyal and intelligent citizens Of
Vermont. After preliminary sketch of the
origin of Slavery in this country, and of the
manner in which it was forced by Great
Britain upon her colonies here, the writer
proceeds:
But we have perhaps said enough to pre-
pare the way for the more immediate pur-
pose of this article, which is 10 set forth our
views Of the doctrines to be held and en-.
forced with regard to the Fugitive Slave
Law. 1t is peculiarly the province of the
great Wing party-the party that has been
called by European statesmen the doctrinaire
party Of the Union, and which settles the
principles upon which on the whole the gov
ernmcnt is conducted, whether in or out Of
power-it is the province we say Of this par
ty, that has always been sound on the alb
stract principles involved whilst admitting
the limitations of existing and historical
facts TO proclaim, define, and defend the true
doctrines which must govern in tho case.
We do not mean that the rty-has any
thing new to add to its creed to apply here.
1t has wcll-estabisbed principles that cover
it in all it, length and breadth. Its pervad-
ing idea, what is ii but the servation o
those principles by which all laws, if we may
so speak, are legitimately enacted or re.
pealed-the resistance 10 that isorganizing ,
spirit that it has always opposed as an ele-
ment of the opposite party 3-an element
which it has always seen is the one that lib
erty and sure progress has had the most to
fear from in this country, because it has
known that the principles upon which the
government is based ere such as without any
violence, revolution, or bad faith, can meet
all evils and effect all improvements within
the proper scope Of political action. 1t has
resisted all violence and irregulari,y when-
ever they have appeared, and time has justi-
fled its faith in the pure principles OF sound
republican conservatism. TO this party,
therefore, we appeal in the case before us !:
first, because we know that the Republic
must look to il in all cases of real danger !;
and secondly, because men of station and
renown within its ranks, and papers pro.
iessed exponen,s Of its doctrines, have
swerved from their allegiance TO this card.
nal virtue of their party-failh in law. What
now is the " Fugitive Slave Lao :" Is obe-
dcnce to it compatible with the principles
oil the great party whose character we have
above attempted 10 indicate, and binding
upon all conscientious citizens? To the
first of these questions We have seen that
slavery was established in various States of
this Union by the enactments of the mother
countries who founded the colonies, and in
one, Georgia. where it was resisted by the
home governors, it was introduced by the
opportunities Of the colonists, who supposed
1t essential to their existence. Its roots,
therefore, whether for good or evil, are laid
deep in tho soil Of these States. 1t has
grown up and become interviewer with all
their institutions. social and political, and, as
we have seen, has come to be defended by
one or two of them as vital element in the
State, whilst the rest regard il as an extreme.
ly delicate and difficult question, requiring
the utmost circumspeclion in its treatment
Not knowing how otherwise TO manage it, or
from the absolute necessity of the case, it
was recognized by the compact or Constitu>
ton by which all the States agreed to con.
lederate and become one nation and one of
the duties Of the non.slaveholdng States in
reference 10 the institution and the States
retaining it, was defined and commanded by
the following article No person held to
servc C or labor in one State under the laws
thereof, escaping into another, shall, in con-
sequence of any Law or regulation therein,
be discharged from such service or labor,
but shall be delivered up on claim OF The
party to whom such service or labor may be
due"
There seems to be the strongest reason to
believe that, without this provision, the Con-
siiluIion which has conferred such benefits,
not only on this country, but on the world
could not have been formed. But whether
it could or moi, it cas formed with it, and it
is part and parcel of it, as much as any 9TH
er provision embodied therein, and is there
fore binding until abrogated in the legitimate
naaner prescribed for such purposes. 10
violate or TO obstruct the operation Of it is
bad faith, and TO evade it, want of nanliness
and courage. The parties objeciing to il
should proceed legitimately for an alteration
Of the Constitution. II they do not or dare
not do this, We are justified in suspec,ing
them Of ignorance of the first principles of
sound republcanism, or of dishonest attempts
to gain popularity by pretenses to superior
virtue.
That the recent law of Congress made for
the practical enforcement Of this provision
is constitutional" there can be, in our opin-
ion, no sincere difference of opinion. 1t is
declared by one of the best judicial authori.