Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-04-18

IN favor OF the repeal OF the fu9ltlNe SldNc
Law was held in Boston on the Sth instant
Among others, Senator SEWARD was invited
to be present. He returned the following
answer, which we commend to the considcra-
ton Of our readers. Its wisdom and patriotism
will elicit the approval and admiration of them
all. 1t is as far removed from the tanaticism of
n fec, as it is from the conservative" milk
und-watersm of too many The last two
paragraphs will bear more than twice reading
They present precisely whrt we understand to
", sound American Republican doctrine :-obC-
denco to al Law, repeal Of the bat. Sedition
,rets as little encouragement from Senator
SEWARD As oppression and wronr. He hollis,
with the great body Of the People, that our
great and L'uy conservative REMEDY against
unjust legislation is Just legislation THAT the
BALLOT Box is the ultimate and safe reliance
Union. 1t is only in this way" says Senator
SEWARD, "that the Constitution can be mains
timed and the Union saved and we are
thankful that this way" can be made eticc-
tuul
The following is Senator SEwARp's letter.
AunuRy, April 9th, 1851.
DEAR SlR-Iour letter inviting me to at
tend Convention of the People of MassachI-
s,,ts o.poscd to the Fugitive Slave Law. and
to communicate in writing my opinion on that
salute. if | should he m1he to attend the Con-
vcntlon. has been received.
While Offering the pressure of duties horc
too long deferred as an anology for non-attcn~
dance. | pray You to assure the Committee in
whose behrf You act. Of my profound sense of
their courtesy ana kindness. 1t would be an
honor to be invited to address the people of
Massachusetts on any subject, but 1t might well
satisfy a generous ambition to be call d upon
to speak to that great and enlightened Com
monwcnlth. on a question Of Human Rights
and Civil L 1erty
confess, Sir, that have earnestly desired
rot to mnglc in the popular discussions of the
measures OF the last Congress. The issue ne
cossariv involves the claims of their advocates
aud adycrsaries in the public councils. to the
confidence Of the country Some of those al |
vocatrs have entered the popular arena. crm- |
natinr those from whom they had differed, |
while others have cndCayored by extraordinary !
mems. either TO control discussion, or to sup |
press it altogether, and thus they have shown
themselves disqualified by prejudice or interest.
for practising that impartiality and candor
which the occasion demanded.
| am unwilling even to seem to imply by
roitcratinr arguments already before the public,
either any distrust of the position of those with
whom stood in Congress, or Impotence for
that favorable popular verdict which believe
T, be near. and know to be ultimately CERTAIN:
Nevertheless. there can be no improperly in
Inv declaring, when thus quest oned, the opn-
inns which will govern my vote upon any oc-
casion when the Fugitive Slave law shall come
Up for review, in the national Legislature,
think the act singulorly unwisc, because it Is
4 attempt by purely tedcratve government
t. extend tho economy Of slave States through (
rat Stato- which repudate slavery Is Il moral,
,cial and political evil. Any despotc goy
eminent would awaken scdition from Its pro,
ounlc>t slunhcrs by such an attempt
The attempt by his Government has aroused
-ons,uutionl resistance, which will not ccasc
until the clio shall be relinquished. He who
caches another faith than this, whether snl-dc-
'oiycl or not, miaeads. think, also thlt the
attempt was unnecessary that political ends
merely political ends,-and not real evils, ro (
llting from the escape of slaves, constituted ,
the prevailing motives to the enactment.
tililE also. l!laI lllc CclllS on luc measure
re indcfcnsible that the denial 70 the alleged Il
fugitive of a trial of his alleged obligation TO a
Dor and of his escape from it, by Court. and +
nothing less than Court Of Justice, constitu- ,
uonally organized and proceeding accordinrto
he course of the common law within the State r
Were he is claimed, is palpably in dccogation i
IF the Constitution; that the rules of evidence Il
vhlch the law prescrbcs are oppressive Of the
weak md dcfencclcss, and that ChristCndom
nirht be searched in vain for parallel to the I
provisions which make escape from bOndlTe a
rhine, by IL law retroactive in its effect, and
without limitations oftime to favor the prcsunp-
ion of freedom, winch under rigorous penalties, ]
ompel frceucn to aid in the capture Of slaves.
, ID which offer unmistokcn nducen nts to d
Use claims and false judgments. Finally, O.
rhatevcr changes OF opinions others may have d
Undergone, retain my earliest convictions that Il
he Constitutional provision on which the law +
IMPORTS 20 he founded, is merely compact a
between the States; and that the Congress Of +
he United States have no jurisdiction Of the
,uh, ct
Nnr is tho lqw, which is so obnoxious in it,
,nlr. COMMENDED to my favor by its connection
with what are called the other means o com
promise. Compromise implies ning',ng OF |
ru'h and error right and wrong. One Of those
.f1il1'cI measures denied the admission Of New
Mexico, because she had determined to come
in as Free State and reminded her, with per
mission to come in the habiliments Of slavery
Another distinctly intimated to the Mormonf
he consent Of Congress that they should, if
hey could plant a Slave State in the very re-
ccsscs of the continent. A third abolished o
ruhc slave mart in the city of Washington
without nhlting either the extent or tine dura
ion # slavery IN the District OF tolusnbia, :,
ourfh oh'olned peace on hpniming terms
rom Owe Of the youngest and lcehlc,t member
D., "a Coniedorcy III AN attitude Of srditlon
Nhip a fifth on!y reluctantly nd nted Calhor-
ia FL, a Free ;'t. when she had refused r. |
.ontan,lmto hers f with slavery. Which Que
# these u,a surcs has supelflou7 merit I, a.
% received IN eNtcnultlon Of the FuElly'
Slave law: But we are told, that bad AS thos'