The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-08

OF JAAge Nelson.
We give in Full, in our columns to-day, th>charge
delivered by the Honorable Samuel Nelson, United
States Circuit Judge for the Southern District OF
New Work, to the Grand Jury empanelied under
the Laws Of the United States, for inquiring into
crisucs and offences committed against the United
States.
1t i not often that we a document so well en-
titled to deep and serious consideration by the pub
lie at large, and especially by such rs have rcvo-
renee for the constitution and laws Of the country
as this. 1t is document which ought to be printed
in letters Of gold pictures Of silver, and exposed
to public view in every place in the Northern States
where people most do congregate, and in every
hotel, saloon, coffee house, and private dwelling in
the land, North and South. II is a document well
calculated to bring the errng back to the path of
duty-to convince them that in opposing the Fugi-
tive Slave law, they dishonor, if not morally per-
ure themselves, and that resistance to it strikes at
the foundation Of compact based ON integrity,
sealed with homer, and which was Intended to be
consecraed by good faith the part Of the North.
As has been well remarked by Judge Nelson the
constitution would never have been formed unless
there was included in it the provision under which
the Fugitive Slave law was framed. As we have
repeatedly said, that law is novelty. We have
from the time of its passage to the present, declared
it to be nothing than law declaratory Of the
act Of Congress, of 1898, and approved by George
Washington, the father Of his country. Judge Nell
son pronounces it supplementary law. Il is both
declaratory and supplementary but the man who
cannot, viii not, that it is constitutional and
no innovation of the organic law of the nation, is
either fanatic or a knaye. The gst Of the matter
lies in nutshell. Notwithstanding all the labored
III
black is white, or that white is black the
question resolves itself into this: Shall we in the
North abide by the constitution, or compact entered
into by our fathers, shall regard that part Of
it only, which it is our interest to respect If
Seward, Greeley and Weeds views Of our con
stitutional duties and Obligations are 10 be
taken orthodox, the people of the non-slayehod-
ing States are to violate that part Of the organic
law which provides for the reclamation and extradi-
| ton Of fugitive slaves in the indulgence Of what
they assume to be spirit of Humanity. Now, II we
in the North have the privilege of INDUCING in
whims respecting the constitution and the laws
founded on distractions and ignorance, why should
not the same license be permitted to the South!
Suppose, if we permitted to the South and TO the
| North to construe the constitution and the laws
passed under it, each pleased accorded with
| ancestors must have been to "sign, seal, and de-
| liver" in the most solemn manner possible, the
| Constitution Of the United States! We have no
doubt, however, that in the opinion Of such rank,
| fungous, and most despicable demagogues of the
day, such as Seward, Greeley, Weed, and their CO.
knaves in political rascality, the delegates who at
tached their to the constitution asses.
Let them do 50. But the ASS skin will be stripped
from those demagogues, and they may consider
themselves fortunate if their hides escape tanning
during the operation.
There is such great demand upon our columns
to-day, that cannot find room for comment on
the most sensible, most excellent, most patriotic,
and most reasonable contents Of this charge Of Judge
Nelson. Our readers viii perceive reading it,
that all Of the subtle and dsingenuous arguments
that have been brought against the Fugitive Slave
law by the horde fGreeeyites and Sewardites, and
Weedites Of the North, have been answered one by
one, and the plain duty Of law-abiding citizens
pointed out, so that all who not in their hearts
and souls demagogues and traitors to the constitu-
tion, may rest assured that they only fulfill their
duty as good citizens, and do no violence to their
eonsciences, in unfolding the Fugitive Slave law
passed at the last session OF Congress.