Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

mSEwApn ANn InuN VAN RIRENn

RICHMOND ENQUl IRE H.
MONDAY MORNING, APRIL q, 1871.
"sEwARD AND JOHN VAN BUREN."
As ofhstory, publish below the letter from the
named of these restless and reckless men, addressed 10
"rhe An,i-fugtive Slave Law Convention of Boston,
John Van Buren's long Tor Insertion Each assumed
that fugitive slave law is unconstitutional neXpedent
and wicked and each the deuded fanatics to disregard
ito trampe under foot-and thereby sever this Union
II not intention expose (Which would be easy
task) the bold and reckless assertions made by these
They could not their vocaions-true themselves
without being false their country, and lost to all sense Of
Justice and patriotism. They falsely tell their "cohors
,here the least danger OF dissolution Of this union
that they have nothing to earhat they may go on to ag
tate, annoy tho South afford aid and comfort" those who
are robbing directly and indirectly of it's and its pro-
pery All this they the unblushing mpertnence to
saw the South will nmey submit To address appeal
or warning such men, would be waste OF lime and Ia
bo We have taken up pen for no such purpose But
we know there patriotic and usceloving people IN he
non-save holding States know there are hosts OF gh
thinking men in all the nsavc holding States; they are
deeply interested in the prosperity and pepeuly OF 1hs
Union To SUCH address such we make th
appea-we hope, before 1t is too lao. We feel X 10 oe
duty to say them in TRUTH in all sincerity that TINS Union
cannot much longer last, unless they 1snt It's oa''es
MtQSs--unleSB
ton of the slavery queson-uness they see that Inc lu
ove slave law is faithfully executed Let that be dis
regarded repealed or essentially modified, and the last
link that binds the South TO the North, will be broken
The South has faithfully performed oil OF Its duties 10
the North She is calmly watching the course OF events
elsewhere She has had just cause 10 complain OF 'he
treatment which has heretofore received But Tor
the sake of the Union and in spirit Of kindness and pa
o,sm she has shown herself willing and ready TO forgive
the injuries che has already received condition that iur
bcr aggression shall and the laws now IN DC
faithfully executed. Let these conditions be violated, ana
then the South will be united But voice will be heard
She will not speak with "forked tongue-nor VIII she
longer "smoke the calumet" Again friends OF the No
wo warn you that path that leads to peace and friendship
is plain one and we beseech you 10 tread therein
AUBURN APRIL 0rH 1851.
Dear Sir Your letter inviting TO attend Convention
of the People of Massachusetts, opposed 10 Inc fugl'Ee
Slave Law and to communicate in writing my opinion on
that statute if should be unable TO attend Inc ConVeno
has been received.
fered as an apology nat,endance you to as
the Committee in whose behalf you of profound
sense of their courtesy and kindness 1t would be an honor
to be invited to address the people of Massachusetts
subject but might well satisfy generous ambition 70 De
called upon speak TO that great and enlightened Coo'
wealth on question OF Human Rights and civil Liberty
confess sir that have earnestly desired mol 10 mlnge
in the popular discussions of the measures OF the us Co
press The issue necessarily involves the claims OF their
advocates and advesares the public councils TO the con-
hdence of the country Some OF those advocates nave en-
tered the popular arena eliminating ,hose rom "ho
had dered while others have endeavored by extraordinary
means either control discussion 10 suppress
tner and thus they shown themselves disqualified oy
prejudice interest," for practising that importantly ana
| ca ndor which the occasion demanded
am unwilling imply by reeraling arsl-
ments already before the public either disrus o the o-
son Of those with whom stood in Congress- or mpaencc
for that favorable popular verdict which believe to be near
| and know TO be ultimately Certain
Nevertheless there be npropety IN my deciafihg
when questioned the opinions which will govern my
upon any occasion when the Fugitive slave law sha
come up for review in the national Legislature think the
singuarly unwe because is attenp, by purely
iedeIalve extend the OF Slave
throughout States which repudate slavery as moral So
cal and political evil. ANY despoc government would
awaken sedon from its pofoundest sunoers oy sucn an
| attempt.
,ioua resistance which will until tho effort snail
rcinqushcd He who teaches not another tatn tnah
this whether selfdeceived not, nisleuds THINK aso
that the attempt was unnecessary -tnai pontcn enas
merely political endsand not real evils resulting from the
escape Of slaves constituted the prevailing motives 10 lne
enactment
think also that the details Of the arc indefensl-
Bile that the denial the alleged fugitive OF trial OF ms
alleged obligation to labor and of his escape from it, by
Court and nothing less than Court of Justice constitution
organized and proceeding according TO the course m inc
common law within the State where can,ed palpaby
deogation of the Constitution that the rules Of evidence
which the law prescrbes oppressive OF the weak and de-
enceess and that Chstendom might be searched in vain
for parallel the provisions which make escape from oon
dage crime by law retroactive in its eecr, and without
limitations oftime to favor the presumption freedom which
under vigorous penalties compel freemen to aid IN the cap
tue Of slaves aud which offer unnisaken Inducements 10
false claims and false Judgments Finally whatever chan
ges Of opinions others have undergone, retain my
earliest convictions that the Constitutional provision on
which the law purports be founded merely compact
between the Saes and that the Congress of the u States
have no jurisdiction Of the subject
Nor is the law, which is obnoxious in Itself, commend
ed to my favor by connection with what called other
measures Of compromise. Compromise implies minging
of truth and right and wrong One OF those affiliated
measures denied the admission Of Now Mexico because she
had determined come in free State and reminded her
with permission back in the habnents of slavery
Another distinctly ntmated the Mormons the consent Of
Congress that they should il they could plant Slave State
in the very Of the continent third abolished
public slave in the city OF washington without aba
ing either the the duration OF slavery in tho Dis
trc. Of Columbia fourth obtained peace on humilauns
from of the Youngest and ieebles members OF the
Confederacy in the attitude of sedon While filth only
reluctantly admitted California free State when she had
refused conaminate herself with slavery. Which one OF
these has supeluous merit TO be received in
tenuation Of the Fugitive Slave Law But told
that bad these they the best that
enough for tho admission Of California The Thirty first
Congress might have admitted her. and left tho other
lions another Congress- which, instructed by tho people,
might have done better and certainly could have done
worse.
Nor do find the Fugitive Slave Law growing in my favor
tho ground of the already ascd promise of end Of
the agitation of slavery in The Republic agitation which,
whether beneficial or otherwise is as nsearabe from
political organization the winds and clouds the
atmosphere that cncrcles the earth
have weighed moreover, the argument that por
ton of the people in some Of the States have made the per
urations ofloyay the Union That loyalty is duty result.
ing from the Constitution and is equally due, whether the
measures administration satisfactory or unsatisfactory
regret that ybing should happened encourage
belief that loyalty could be acceptedo conditions and cspc
cuy on the condition offobearng repea repeaabe
ute But since 1t is can only say that we, on whom
the recent action of the Government bears 1t
unjus,y, in the Union for richer for poorer TOR bet
or in mower or powcress without condition. reservation quail
icaon or limitation for and aye; that we are in the
Union not because satisfied with Administration but
II h,Yn nf seq )r
understandings but by virtue Of the Constitution and that
u other parties in the Union the same terms Tor the
same tenure and by virtue of the SAME oblgaon ana 30
thew will find their be- when they offer 10 plead Vo-
ations of extra constitutional conditions to justify seces
slon Whatever is epuruble in any oil tho acs OF o e
Congress- no one will be mad enough 10 attempt 10
Whatever is epeaable in these acts and whatever sa DC
rcpeaabe in future Of Congress- whether II sna lavo
Freedom or Slavery no under what circumstances
NOR with what auspices nor with what soemnites may
have been adopted abide the trial of experience OF
rsasoa and Of truth II is only in this way that the Con
No, inpd and