Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-11-06

mentioned, been invariably repressed or pre-
vented from obstructing the officers of JUS
tice in the performane of their official duties.
If am correctly informed, great and salu-
tary change has been made, and is yet in
PROCESS, af the North, which authorizes the
confident anticipation thst reason and law
will finally achieve a noble triumph.
The necessity of maintaing and enforcing
that law, unrepealed, and withoat any modi-
fication that would seriouly impair its eff
cheney, must be admitted by the impartial
judgement of all candid men. Many of the
slaveholding States, and many public meet
ings in them. have deliberately declared that
their adherence to Union depended upon the
preservation of that law, and that its aban-
donment would be the signal of the dissolu-
ton of the Union. l know that the aboli-
tionists, (some of whom openly avow de-
sire to produce that calamitous evenly and
their partisans deny and deride the existence
Of any such danger; but men who will not
perceive and own it must be blind to the
signs of the times, to the sectional strife
which has unhappily arisen, to the embitter-
ed feelings which have been excited, as well
as the solemn resolutions of deliberate as
semblies, unanimously adopted. Their dis
regard of the danger, l am apprehensive
proceeds more from their desire to continue
agitation, which augments it, than from their
love of the Union itself.
You refer, gentlemen, to 'resolutions and
addresses adopted at conventions lately as
sembled around us, in which we have seen
with regret, as well as alarm, that the ques-
ton of adherence to the compromise is
avoided or evaded. "and you justly deprecate
the tendency of these resolutions. have
not been an inattentive or Indifferent obser-
yer of them, and with you deeply regret
their adoption. wish that these respecta-
Bile bodies could have been loss ambiguous
and more explicit in declaring their deter
mination to acquiesce in, and abide by, a
great measure of peace and compromise,
which, forming an epoch in the progress of
our country, was intended to reconcile and
restore concord and fraternal feelings among
our divided countrymen. There was no ne
cessity to reserve right to discuss, to modi-
fy, and to repeal the obnoxious law. Such
right existed without any express reser-
walton, not only as to that law, but to all laws,
and as to the Constitution itself, which has
incorporated in it the right of amendment,
and consequently that OF discussion. But
there occasions when spirit of moderation
! should promi a forbearance to exercise that
right. Ifmore was intended than meets the
eye, more than to proclaim the theoretic
right of discussion-if it were designed tc
announce the right of unremitted agitation
to continue the distractions Of the country
and, finally, if possible, to repeal the fugi
tive slave law, patriotism and harmony mus
condemn the unwise course as fraught witt
the most mischievous and perilous conse
iueilCcs'
But we must make some allowances fo
human frailty and inordinate pride of opin
ion. Many persons at the North had avow
ed an invincible hostility to the Fugitiv
law, and even declared their intention forci
f bly to obstruct its execution, and had ap
peaed to higher law, which, as they con
| tended, was paramount to all human legisla
t ton. These untenable positions wer
wholly irreconcilable with patriotism, 0
c even with the existence of regular govern
r meut itself. Obeying the dictates, it is t
{ be hoped, of wiser and purer and more SC
!, cial counsels, the parties who, under the i'm
/. pulses of passion and fanaticism, had as
n sumed, have now abandoned them, and az
d knowledged their unquestionable duty
= submit to the law, until it is modified or RI
d pealed by competent authority. In desceI
o ding from the high and perilous groun'
). which they could not safely occupy, to TIL
n of conceding the obligation of submissic
: to the law, we discern, l hope, just hon
If age to the dictates of civilization, and
g to the duties of established government
1, If they have coupled with this proper col
Of cession the useless reservation of right
y discussion, and of insisting upon repeal
10 the amendment of the law to which thu
l. had taken exception, may we not hope til
their purpose was only to secure dece
A. retreat, with a secret and patriotic determ
s. nation to forbear from disturbing that T
in turn to harmony and tranquility, so necess
or ry to the safety and prosperity of the Unio
r Should it turn out otherwise--should t
vo reckless spirit of agitation continue to d
d; turb and distract our country-to array ST
nd ton against section, and to threaten the S