The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-02

th.s, .oo,inu. sx,,snee therefore, is not devoted 10
the sccomvlshmenl Of any Object within the limits OF
the state by whoso laws they protected but 10 the
e ns Iai aSoS ., uy 81 ha.
Ststss in the spirit OF that parnal relation which exists
between coniedeIa,e States. 10 do what they can do
puscsahly and sihcentlS and what the federal
snsns may 10 aole to accomplish, without The OF
force say il Is The duty OF hore States by their own
legislation. 10 epre.s these ag,a,ons having no leg-
mate object within the limits OF these States and which
oaly calculated TO destroy the peace OF The eoned
Nj. President, may be told that freedom OF speech
and Of the press guaranteed by the constitution DE ~
30 hui there other rights also which are gnaahuea
by that instrument One principle of law OF justice, a
OF common ssnse, is, that however absolute Tue 'sn
which any possesses. he may not so use a. 70 m
6ct any injury upon others. SIC ufere fuo' VI 10" -
tovs. maxim Of law. but i is MAXIM ma, also .,
mon aensA and of Justice II the people mus
and claiming this right Of freedom OF speech anu " 'e
prees exercise il for legitimate purpose w.ih ,he
own limits for the enjoyment OF no right when ihey
bu, solely for The purpose of disturbing The
and violating the rights OF others residing w States 10
which slavery exists they violate tnat phepe ana are
M onSer within the pale OF the protection OF the constr
The Senate will bear with in very brief view OF
this subiect They will not trust, consider that time
a. msspent which employed in fixing this great pnci-
pie on the basis which ah justice the laws OF ma
nons the constitution of the country and our own uni
form practice have established IT, say, then, 1t IS an
established principle of the law OF nations that no one
State has rich, 10 do anything even within her own
limits. which may operate njuriousy 10 The people OF
peace. The proposition 10 laid down 80 simply, SO
briefly, and vel % forciby, by vatel. that will for
moment refer to IT, After stating that no naon ought 10
commit actions tending to injdre others. Vaste says:
The general principle forbds nations practice any
evil tending create dTubanes =" anofht,
ssss 70 e~s~s disorder, &C. 10 raise e"s"'.' 1sa'" u"
This principle OF the law Of nations, thus stated by
this writer and recognised BY every other on the SUBJECT
il enforced Gas you have seen by reading portion oil he
report OF the convention Of Georgla) by the constitution
Of the United Staes of the objects declared IN the
preamble being TO insure the domestic franqundy' OF
each State The Obligation then. which exists between
foreign States, not by any act committed WITHIN hef
limits to disturb the repose of any State is recognised
enforced, and applied by the constitution OF The United
States the people Of the several States composing ms
conlederacy And, SIR the government OF the United
States has scted upon this principle from lis very ounda
ton. Il il now acting upon il, at the very moment IN
onnd.o nm q al hs On BOOK which
nhib citizens OF the United States from fitting out armed
vessels within the United States 10 cruise against nation
1t peace with them The offence Is complete before the
injury is done to the foreign nation II the act OF h,-
ting ont with the intent to cruise against naon with
which the United Ssss are at peace So. ALSO the pro
visions which forbid any wsrke preparation Tor the
St.is
But, again: this principle acted upon BY this gov
eminent the most decisive manner IN lts interference
to prevent the aid alleged to have been given to the rev.
outioniss in Canada by sending General Scot, TO the
Canadian border to prevent that assistance from being
given. II acted upon 10 Texas. when Amer
citizens forbidden 10 unite in aiding that por
ton Of our brethren who had sayed from us. IN Their
contest with Mexico Tor hs pen n,ed S,'ss
when he issued proclamation against those persons VINO
engaged in fitting out an expedition against Cuba
And 10 now at this moment, acted upon by the ]u
dcial tribunals Of the United States in New Orleans.
where persons prosecuted under the provisions oil
these laws for having been engaged IN that movement
against Cuba Then, sir, il these States We're totally
unconnected and foreign each oher the conduct OF
abolition society in OF them, seeking by It's ennis
aries and BY its press to excite to instruction me slaves
in another State, violation it would be OF The law
tinasd. Of open Then the only inquiry, which re-
mains in ascerzining the duties of the people OF these
Ssates 10, is this principle OF International law applica
be between foreign nations less obligatory and less
imperative between confederate States. joined to-
gher in common bond OF Union, one great and de-
ciarod object Of which is 10 secure the domestic
guilty and peace Of each State
~ 4 further to this objection that the legis.
ton societies would interfere with the freedom OF speech
and OF the press refer the Senate 10 the very able State
PAPER OF which have spoken-to the message OF the
governor OF New York in the year 1886 In that mes
sa8e with precise reference 10 tins question. as between
the confederate States OF this Unon the power and the
duty Of the free States to suppress these OF the
slavery question within their own limits and by their
own legislation fully considered and distinctly affirmed
After having spoken Of the conduct OF abotoniss in the
Stan OF New York, the governor says;
"A csxsrd character Of State for the public
interest," The preservation Of among czens,
~ web due respect the obligations created by
political Institutions and relations, calls to do what
be done consistently with the principles OF civil
liberty, put end evils which the abo onists
bringing upon and the whols country"
Pursuing the subject, after examining the proceedings
and offsets of the abotonsts, and stating the strong
and repeated disapprobaton Of their conduct which had
bssh manifested BY the great body OF the people OF New
York. and expressing the hope and belief that .ihis
wouid have the effect of REFRESHING further agitation, he
says:
But III these reasonable expectations should uuhsppy,
Be dsappoin,edf the face OF numerous aud striking
sxhibous of public reprobaton, elected from
by fear OF the fatal issues In which the
eurbsd efforts IL the Abotonss lay ultimately end any
considerable portion Of these misguided shni
10 pushing thsn orw ard disastrous copsequeDces-tsn
question, confederscy, VIII necessarily arise,
and must be met IL tien he determined how far the
several States oyide, within the proper exercise OF
their constitutional powers and how far, fomeot OF
hsn obligations resulting from hes federal relations. they
ought 70 provide by their laws Tor the trial and pun
ishment, by their judcstores, OF residents within
ussf nsutts guilty OF which calculated
lnsende4 to cxce nsnrrecuon and rebellion la a
0sass."i r.
Here, then is the question distinctly sta,ed-,he Ques-
ton which the state Of things here described vii
requws decision-and the governor says upon that sub
tset:
%" cannot doubt that the legislature possesses the power
such penal laws Will bsv. the effect OF
citixeus ,hs State and sidrnts wibn from
Ing themselves VITA IMMUNITY Of the protection OF its
eng and sedlon sister SAFE, engaged
Ia sasonabs enterprises, intended to be executed there
We'll the or ooriment has been made and has failed