Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-07-02
The Finally Cry.

1t is ga final adjustment" can rreuocable settlement
''an ivepealabe STATUTE" excaim our bunker legisa
tors, whenever the repeal oftbe "Fugitve Slave Law
is demanded 1t was passed by both branches of the
Legislature, endorsed by the President of the Senate
baptized lega and constitutional by Mr.. Crittenden
and approved by Willard Fillmore. Therefore, it can
not be repealed because it has been made, and good
easy citizens ofthe United Sates cosoveregns of this
tree and enlightened republic, from whom all laws ale
presumed to emanate, to whom all legislators are sup
posed to be responsible, be content with it as it is, for
you cannot make better Of it. This is substantially
the argument of Mr. Webster s. Co., in reference to
the demand for repeal, and although it is certainly no
novel one in the history Of political assumption and
rupon, it s most novel in this republics and not
only is 1t novel but mpudent in the highest and coolest
degree. 1t is attempt to impose despotism of the
past upon the present; and tits bareface negation Of
the right Of freemen, to make and unmake laws when.
ever public utility and of justice impel them so
TO do. We thought it was a well established Demo
cratic theory that all living possess the supren
power over their own happiness at any particular
PERIOD and that neither the legislation Of the last CEN
tury, yesterday, could be admitted as legitimate
obstruction to the legislation Of to-day. Laws made
yesterday made particularly for the men of yester-
day, and although it might be presumed that they
A.A SSH. .h. az eIuins 60 n. tho
best judges Of that fact, and must act accordingly In
divduay the sages of the last generation might be
older than we are, and they might be presumed from
this fact, to be wiser than are but they had not our
experience, because they lived before we did, and they
were not capable Of judging well of the exgences Of
the times, in which live, we are nor were the,
so well able to provide specifically for our wants. The
Constitution itself is not rrevocabe. Our fathers die
not leave it series of commands to which we mus
yield implicit obedience to the remotest posterity.
was their advice to US, their children when we were
IN our minority; and now being major, and irrespons
Die 10 any one but God, we can, at any time, modify
change or abrogate that instrument if it seems good
to to do.
The rTeUOcable theory, the astute Bentham termed
this fundamental principle of Torysm is never resor,et
to, but as the veil of abuses. 1t is the msy garment
which cunning political juggIerr throw over the corrup
tons which they seek to impose upon the acceptance
the credulous in the of law.
1t is certainly good thing, 10 talk at this time Of
day to the American people, about 'aI adjustments,
"nreDOeabLe Settlements, and "irepealable statutes
What was ever esteemed final, repocablc and ire
eala6Ie as the JUS dpinun, of kings And vet our ia.
Tiers put period to that presumed naIity, revoked
the re1ocaJe, and repealed the urepcalaJ, sans ce,s
monte Justice, and right, and our necessity, had no
respect for the prescriptions Of royal loyal prescription
and so we became democratic republic.
The Fugitive Slave Law, or any other law, can pre-.
sent no claim to immuabiy. The moment it is seen
to be unjust, inhuman, foolish or mschievous, then
must be repealed, or it will be openly or caudestiney
evaded or disobeyed, and its existence will only have
the effect OF weakening the authority of all law No,
Me'ieurs Hunkers, il do to tell US that laws are
Irrevocabe, &C., we can make and unnake them, when
It seems good to us to do thanks to our rights as
living men, and no thanks you with your theories of
Gnaiity for the republican privilege Of doing so.