Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-12

aenne. Inc war went oh--victOry percneu on the
Is American Eagle--our independence was acknowl-
edred. The States were then united together un-
"a confederacy Of limited powers. It could
! nv no taxes. 1t could not enforce its own de-
screes. II was confederacy instead of a united
government. Experience showed that this was
Es,ufRc;ent and inefficient.
And therefore, beginning as far back almost as
~ close Of the war, measures were taken for the
\ formation of the united Government in the strict
sense Of the term-a government that could pass
\ lsws binding upon the citizens of all the States,
II ana which could enforce those laws by its execu
I've Sewers having them interpreted BY judicial
i Bower belonging t. the government well, gen.
6enen, this led 70 the formation of the Const.tu-
don Of the United States, and the Constitution
vas framed on the idea of a limited government.
IT proposed to leave, and did leave, the different
iaattutions of the several States 10 themselves
n did not propose consolidation. ltdid not pro-
\. pose that the laws Of Virginia should be the laws
e New York, or that the laws of New York
ehould Be the laws OF Massachusetts,. II rropo-
"a oply that for certain purposes. and 10 a GER
ts;n extent, there should be united government.
a ana that that government should have the power
4 q executing its own laws. All the rest was left
q theseverai States. We now come, gentlemen,
Z b the very point in the case. All that time,
Iayery existed in the Southern States, eutailed
upon them in the time of the supremacy of the
Brihsh laws over us. There it was. 1t was
obnoxious to the middle States, and disliketls and
honestly and seriously dsliked. as the records of
Y ~ country will show, BY the Southern States
4 themselves. Now, how We're they to deal VITA
!. IN Were the Northern and Middle States to ex-
4 eluae from the government those States of the
0oatf which had produced Washington. Lau-
rms and other disngu she'd patriots Of that part
d the country? Were they to be excluded from
Tie new government because they tolerated the
Institution of slavery? Your fathers and my
fathers did not think so. They did not see that
Il would be of the best advantage to the slaves
Il the Southern States TO cut off the South from
II connection with the North. Their views OF
hunanity led to no such result, and OF course
when the constitution was framed and established
h n YOU here in New York. and BY yo,r ancestors
i d New England, il contained an express provis-
ion Of security to the persons who lived IN the
Southern states, Of fugitives who owed them ser
vice-that is to say the fugitive from service or
labor should be restored to his master or owner
~ Well, that had been the history of the co !ntry
from its first settlement. 1t was matter of COM
non practice TO return fugitises. before the con-
aituiion was formed. Fugitive slaves from Viz
Knia to Massachusetts, Were restored BY the peo-
pie of Massachusetts,. At that day there was a
great system of apprenticeship at the North. and
many apprentices at the North, taking advantage
Of circumstances, and Of vessels SAILING to the
South, thereby escaped. That led TO a clear. eS-
press and well defined provision in the Constihl-
bon of the country ON the subject Now. know
that all these things are common--that thew have
been stated thousand times: but, in these DAYS
& perpetual discomfort ahd misrepresentation. to
shte t1inys thousand times is not enough: fo.
merc are more than thousand persons wnos,
sonsciences, one would think. led them to make
aduty to deny, misrepresent, falsify and cover
up truths. Now, here IS the constitut on. Eel ow-
tmzens, and have taken the pains TO ranscrbe
uerefrom these words, 50 that he who runs NAV
rad mo person held to service or labor in one
Sste ander the laws thereof, escaping into an
ssmer, shall, IN consequence of any law or regu-
htn therein, be discharged from such service or
iabor, but shall be delivered up on claim OF the
pUty TO whom such service or labor may be due =
4 there any mistake about that3 Is there any for
yshiiling attorney here? No. | will not dis
Eace my profession by supposng such a thing.
dnere IS not IN or out Of an attorneys Office in
ne county OF Erie, or elsewhere, one who could
false doubt, or particle of doubt. about the
meaning of this provision of the constitut on
he may act as witnesses do, sometimes, on the
stand. be may wriggle and twist, and say he
can't TELL have seen many such exhibitions in
~ nme, on the part Of Witnesses, TO falsify, and
oelray, and deny the faith But there is no man
we can read these words Of the Constitution OF
me United States, and say they are net clear ant
imperative. Ono person. the Constitution saws
held to service or labor in one State. under the
! laws thereof, escaping into another, shall. il
consequence OF any law or regulation therein. b.
discharged from any such service or labor, bu
snal DC delivered up on the claim of the party to
whom such service or labor NAV be due. -
Why, you are told by forty conventions in
Massachusetts,, in Ohio, in New York, in Sy-
sscuse and elsewhere, that If colored man came
eesc, ne came as freeman that is ron sequi-
esr. II ne came as fugitive from labor, the
CONSTITUTION says he is not freeman, and that
shall be delivered up TO his owners, who are
Glnued to his service. Now, gentlemen, that is
&c Constitution of the United States. Gentle
"a, DO we, or do we not, mean to execute that
~ q me Constitution as well IS the rest of it :?
Iuppose there are here before me members of
Coagress, members of the State Legislature, or
s1eeuuve officers under the State Government-
1sappose there are judicial magistrates Of New
Iok, exeeutiye officers, assessors, supervisors.
!snces cf the peace, and constables, before me.
aliow ne % say, gentleman, that there is not
u.t here cannot be, any one Of these officers in
49, !scmolaye, or elsewhere, who has not, ac-
e1sutng 70 the form of his obligation, bound him
- ~ solemn oath, before his God, TO support
constitution. They have taken their oaths.
Mae Holy Evaagelists Of Almighty God. or by
1'ed hands as the case may be, or hy solemn
Sseratlon, as Is the practice in some cases.
~ one and all OF them, there is not man who
nor Is there any man who can hold any
SAce IN the gift of the United States, or in this
uAse, or IN any other State, who does not be-
sone bound, by the solemn obligation of an oath
Ue1cre God, that he will support the Constitu-
ucn q the United States. Well, is he to tamper
w mM Matp Is he to falter? Gentlemen, our po-
s'sSA duties are as much matters of conscience
= any other duties-oar sacred domestic ties. our
13s endearing so:ial relations, are no more the
NDlect for conscientious consideration and ron
scienticas discharge than the duties ,ve enter Il
@ under the Constitution of the United ST hes =
Inc bonds OF political brotherhood are The bonds
winch hold Us together from Maine to GEORGIA
NOW, gentlemen, this is the man story of the
Ionstitlton Of the United States on the 1,astion
slavery. Gentlemen, contend. and have al
ccsys sontended, that after the adoption Of the
SYusu,uuon, any measure of the Government
suased 10 bring slave territory into the United
sess was beyond the power of the Constitution.
~ against its provisions That is nv onin;o,
mas always been my opinion, ii was yerv
tent, or thought to be so. for the same mr.
I'm Jeferson's time, to attach Louisiana 10
United States. A treaty with France was
~, &c TOT mat purpose. Bat Jelerson's opinion
ss. :1 moment was, that an alteration of the Con-
Saoe was necessary TO enable il to be done.
suefing what / will not now repeat. that
/ .nssss. was abandoned, and Louisiana was adj
- ~ law, without any provision or altera-
- me constitution. At that time. l was too
~ % nod any office, or take any share in the
$500, ahairs OF the country. Louisiana was
4 k@sN q slave State, and became entitled to
tSi.ls sesentation IN Congress on the principle of
Z w, was out OF Congress-; had been in
"a MCe; out lhad nnfh;nr q, Al ,,.;,L 49, Il.-x:l