The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-15
THE LITTER.
SENATE CHAMBER, January 10, 1851.

SENATE CHAMBER January Is, 1851.
DEAR SIR have the honor TO acknowledge the re-
cept OF your letter. dated Richmond and addressed TO my
colleague and MYSELF containing inquiry in relation to
the recent act OF the legislature of Vermont which has
been the subject OF such general remark throughout the
country. ..
hesitate not TO say, in the most unequyoca manner,
(and in this have the Of my colleague IN the
Senate, and believe that OF the entire delegation OF Yer
mont,) that the act referred TO does not mbody the de-
liberate sense of the people OF Vermont may add
with truth that il does not in my OPINION imbody me de-
libeate sentiment of the legislative body OF the Slate
The act was hurried through the legislature al the close
of the session, in the absence Of many OF the members
without discussion explanation OF lis character and
effect, and, have reason 10 believe, IN uller ignorance
on the part of many members who were present oil
its Objectionable features. Such was the haste attending
the passage OF the act that the first ntimaon TO me pub
lie that such in contemplation was through
the publication of the law itself That publication pro-
duced general surprise, and among men OF reflection,
almost universal and very deep regret hs &c, Is as
by vast majority Of the people OF the State II GER
ainy received by her delegation in Congress with
sentiments OF regret and deep notification incting
stain upon the high character Of her people for patriot
ism, attachment to the Union, and submission to const
uonal authority. and as classifying the professions and
citing discussions by her delegation the floors OF Con-
gress The law has been the subject OF general discus
by the press OF that State and with one or two excep
TONS has received from that source the most pointed rep
rotation. have but or two attempts to VIM
dcate it, Perhaps the courtesy due to the source from
which those efforts are supposed to proceed orbds me
expression that they may be characterized weak but
that they will fail to satisfy the people OF the State OF the
poprety and consu,ionalay OF the act OF her egsa-
ture. / most confidently predict. ua..##
No attempt has been made. or will be made TO sustain
the right OF the Stale override modify, annul an act
of Congress by State legislation. The only at,emp, TO
vindcae the law which has fallen under my observa-
ton in The effort to reconcile the law Of the State
with the act OF Congress commonly called the fugitive
lava task SO hopeless, in my Judgment, that whoever
attempts II will very find II most convenient and
most agreeable TO relnqulsh it. II there be at this mo-
ment any difference OF opinion among the people OF that
State TO the merits OF the State law, is upon this
point Those--if such there be--who can discover
conflict between it and the act OF Congress will OF
course, discover constitutional mpedment 10 the ex
ercse Of legislative discretion by the Stale legislatures
but let the point be settled that the law repugnant
10 and irreconcilable with the act OF Congress-, and
pledge myself that there not one out OF ten OF the voters
that State, including the whole population, who would
stand by the State law for moment That they will dis
The utter ncompabily OF The two laws, have no
doubt They intelligent well patriotic peo-
ple and will not fail to perceive that unless they can
endow a dark skin with the power of ubiquty, to
surrender fugitive 10 the claimant, to be removed TO the
State whence he fled, in conformity with the act OF Con-
their protection for further investigation, and with view
his future discharge such, the acts cannot be
carried out without a conflict.
Ii Is my deliberate opinion that this law will share the
fate OF other acts OF hasy and mproydent legislation OF
which the history Of Stale legislation is full few
years since, similar law enacted by the legislature
OF Vermont, but conformity with The decision OF the
Supreme Court in the case OF Prgg Pennsy wanna,
very readily repealed Such, | am confident, will
be The fate OF this law when another legislature shall
meet.
found this opinion upon the intelligence OF the people
OF that State, which will not fail perceive that their law
constitutional point OF view, utterly indeenslbe,
and upon their habtual regard for law and order and at
achment to the constitution and the Union These char
actesics OF that people BY means temporary oeca
sonal ransitory They permanent the Puritan
character and the impress which that character has liked
upon The institutions, the policy and the destiny OF this
country The most prominent feature IN The policy OF the
original settlers OF New Eng land the rigid and sirn
gent enforcement OF law and legal authority With the
present generation, submission TO legal authority is
principle founded in education and strengthened by
habit The people OF Vermont are less exposed than
most OF the States 10 be drawn from this position.
Surrounded by population peaceabe as them.
seve-havng none OF those sores upon the body polite
large commercial cities, the hold OF excitement dis
ORDER riot and resistance to law-being agricultural
people, dispersed upon their FARMS and living in compar
alive seclusion, they only secluded from those
influences which generate disorder and disturb the quiet
oil society, but. with means and opportunities OF educa
ton and early training and with habits of reflection
lbera,e consderate, and orderly people They are
people 10 be trusted In their hands the institutions oil
the country are safe When they put their hand TO the
work OF Reorganization, may well despair OF the re-
public. But that hand Is not yet raised, nor will Il be
They indeed, subject TO the influences which, like
cloud, sometimes pass over the community, and darken
the political armament The legislative body may, under
sudden impulses, forget what Is due TO their consu-
ency and themselves but, believe me- there Is redeem
ing spirit in that people, IN their intelligence and virtue
which will set all night at last Their seltrespect Will
lead them a repeal of the Objectionable law. As the
representative OF that State here, have depored the
indiscreon OF her late legislature. desire TO remove
the bemsh from her reputation and, the most eectua
and honorable mode oil doing so, desire that she may
be left TO the which her OF propnety
uninuenced by threats or pfoyocatons OF any KIND, may
dictate Above all. let enlreat that no measure OF
retaliation or resentment may be Aterposeda least until
she have opportunity TO reace her steps, TO show TO
the world determination TO persist IN error.
In the present unhappy condition OF our country, so
different from the harmony which once regned here,
behooyes every friend OF the country TO advance with
caution The Uerp ioorst remedy for ,nd,seretion and
toiy side indiscrefion and folly on The Other
The natural result is mutual irritation and mutual alien
alton That consciousness OF wrong where wrong origi
mates, which would otherwise work remedy, often
.mohered and slned By reiaaiory and vindclive
ures The human mind, impatient OF self condemnation
naturally seeks escape from II TO combat real imaginary
wrongs The transition from selfepfoach to self-de
fence is grateful. Does not The page Of h,ury now
enaetag enaba he workings Of his proprn'hy1 Are we
not prone. isstead OF watching our own footsteps and
correcting our own errors make up baianse sheet of
poiieal denquences ohargeobie TO thus or that section Of
our common repr,i,e p,th preu Of determining IN the
end toho has been The greatest offender, and done most TO
rodrds the distraction Of the glorious fabrc " american
ndh0ndiHy2 - ,
Permit me to add that in my humble judgment, the
most eectra cure for the suspicious and jealousy which
are now alternating to alarming degree, the different
sections of the country IL found in the manifestation OF
reciprocal confidence Let each party throw itself upon
he wisdom and patriotism OF those who by the voice OF
the country charged with those great interests winch
now hazard trusting TO n discreet and patriotic eS
efcse of the legislative power within lis constitutional
limits, and 10 that high Judicial tribunal IN which we all
have confidence 10 restrain that discretion within us ap
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