The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-22

arguments and thus ory and encourage those who are
pledged to resist il by force and cooperate indirectly
perhaps undesgnedy in The overthrow me peace ana
order OF society and IN the promotion OF acs OF Social
dissolution, boodshed. and treason,
Others embrace more definite and more pracncai
Of proceed'ngnamey agitation LOT the Iepeai o.
The law Their objection 10 this law does not rest IN the
technical cavils upon H. which mlsappied legal ingenu-
inv offers their appreciation they obeclo what The law
was intended to do, and what i ac'ua y seeaIes-name
w. the exlradtion OF fugitive slaves Now this ex'radl
ZION is perernptorly commanded by The constitution OF
the United States and all the law undertakes 10 do is TO
provide Judicial process to that effect as Diner laws 90
IN regard TO other inuncuons OF the constitution vi
course those propose and advocate the nulca
ton moi of the particular law, as Others do, but oil The
constitution itself They strike beyond the peace and
good order OF the State TO winch they Deiohk anu al a
OF the whole Union.
Whether amendments OF the act may or not be made
is another question. Doubtless the law ike all DINERS
is not without It's defects What now speak OF Is the
proposition of its unconditional repeal, with view 10
the ulfment OF the commands OF the constitution III
this respect 49,, i.L,..
We learn historically by means OF published debates
on Of the adoption OF the constitutions lhat me
insertion OF this clause was SINE qua no" OF Inc lorna
ton of the Union.
ton OF the United States adopted In Massachusetts
upon explicit consideration and express acceptance OF this
unpalaable but indispensable stpulauon
We also learn from the journals OF Congress that IN
lust observance OF the plghted faith OF their respective
States n this respect the OF 1898 passed by such
men as John LangdSn and NICHOLAS R S h OF NEW
Hillhouse, and jeremiah Wadsworth. OF Connecticut
RUFUS King and Egbert Benson, of New York !; Elias
Boudno1 and Jonathan Dayton Of New Jersey Robert
of Pennsylvania and George Cabot Fisher Ames FL
bridge Gerry and Theodore Sedgwick, OF Massachu
tina, il stands signed by John Adams, and approved by
George Washington
Such is the constitution; by such men was il applied
TO the subject matter If in these times OF scolism, cor
ruption and crime, we lind ourselves to be so much
wiser purer and better than the canonized sages OF the
heroic age Of country, that must needs, for con-
science sake deny that they understood the import OF
constitution which they themselves wrote and repudiate
or nulify the engagements they contracted for and
which ourselves have many of US accepted and ex-
pessy ratified hundred times by solemn oaths of eay
10 the constitution we choose TO rampe on those en-.
gagements, will the other parties in right and interest
We know they will not We feel that in a cores
ponding case ourselves would not. We see-every
man who does not wilfully shut his eyes to the light
sees-ha the question whether the constitution shall be
observed not in this respect is the precise question
whether the Union shall continue to exist or not
We in Massachusetts, while ourselves engaged in
performing acts and uering ideas of notification, pro-
Tess 10 reprobae notification 10 South Carolina Georgia,
or Mississippi Whilst ourselves resolving and talkIag
as il abou, 10 stab the Union the heart, applaud
and honor those who struggling Tor its preservation
at the South Nay, in so doing, we virtually labor to
destroy those whom pretend 10 praise, and to build
up and render triumphant those whom osensibly we
denounce For what is the present attitude OF The ques-
ton at the South
The disunionsts OF the South say: Mark the men OF
Massachusetts; they to disregard this law; they
mean nuify the constitution; they say they canno,
conscience observe the compact OF union lei u.s. them
amcabIy dissolve the Union.
The unionlsls reply: No; the men OF Massachusetts
are just, honorable faithful and ue they value and
love the Union we do they have TO support the
constitution and they will do it, on their good faith we
stake peace and our honor and say TO you, that
il prove that disappointed and deceived in
estimation OF them will then be foremost in the
OF disunIon, and if need be- stand ready in that conn-
gency TO cut asunder the bonds OF the Union ourse
with the edge OF the sword.
Such is now the issue at the South No man there in
quires whether the act for the exlradton OF slaves is
be repealed or not Every man, of whatever party, is dis
cussng the higher question, whether the Union of the
States shall be repealed or not; and those who not
Tor the immediate repeal OF the Union stake themselves
on the good faith and honor OF the North aud nothing
else that falls from under them, If the North be false
and ecean 10 the constitution, 1t the North persists in
lis purpose of encroachng upon and usurpng the rights
of the South then the dissolution OF the Union certain
to follow upon these acts OF encfoachment and usurpa
ton, undenably the battle of Bunker Hill did the
encroachments and usurpatlons OF Great Britain
We do not stop to dwell the lesser incidental rela
tons of this inquiry TO the domestic peace and being
OF Massacb usells-such as whether Massachusetts, can
or not ply scay speaking, succeed in scheme of nul.
hcalion whether Providence may not have other An
drew Jacksons IN store Tor the salvation oil the country
whether force bills are not as applicable to Massachusetts
se,ts wishes be overcome by flood OF fugitive blacks
from the South; whether the farmers, shp-owDers,
manufacturers and merchants OF are pre-
pared TO welcome the reign OF mob outrage, and APP
piled 10 themselves the doctrines OF anarchca socialism,
which they wish 10 apply to the South These minor
questions compared with the transcendent whether
the American Unlonihe glory and the hope OF our age
shall be destroyed no, by the bad faith OF the State OF
Ma .sacbuseis.
But there is point of the controversy beyond this of
yet higher moment
Why do any OF the people OF Massachusetts con.
denim the exradition act! Why the exradon clause
in the constitution We have the answer TO this in
proper, distinguished from the -soiers which
lonlsis the who head the agitation, and under
whose apparent leadership large a OF men have
unreflecngly suffered themselves 10 10 be ranked
They are logical They cblec 10 the extradon law be
their avowed aim is to abolish negro slavery in the
United States by extra unconstitutional and revolutionary
They object TO the extradton clause of the
stuton for the same They object TO the consi
tuition itself because it stands in the way OF aboonsm
They propose and advocate notification and the dssou
ton OF the Union in perfect good faith being the only
OF separating them selves from slavery and Kidding
themselves OF all participation in the responsibility OF IL.
continuance in the South
We repeat, this movement, as think, belongs ic
the school OF professed aboitoniss they are, by ad
vanced position, practically the leaders OF the agitation
they supply most OF the IDEAS and they alone com
pletey logical in the application Of theory to action
II we In Massachusetts hold slavery in Virginia oil
Louisiana to be such deadly sin to make nulhcaton
aconsclenuous dutynay, TO render agitation for the alb
clifton OF negro slavery paramount conscientious duty
then u is equally duty either TO undertake the aboi-
uon OF negro slavery, at least TO from political
association with under the constitution of the United
States " behooves US, therefore, upright men, 10
look these relations OF duty frankly in The face
IL II our duty 10 sacrifice everything this object
Let us examine the pro and the contra and after fairly
49, ,I.t, 81. - r