The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-19
To the Hon. REUBEN H. WALwoRrH.
SARATOGA SPRINGS. Dec.

GENTLEMEN Owing 70 my absence at the West for
the last months, did not receive your favor OF the
27h Of November rans%tans the resolutions adopted
at Castle Garden, until my return home lew day
since Ny sentiments upon the subject OF the sectional
agitation which Tor time actually endangered the m
tesrity of the Unon are 50 well known that II r
hardly necessary tor me to say most cordially approve
Of The resolutions adopted by the meeting OF The friends
OF the Union alluded 10 in your communication. The
spirit exhibited at that meeting OF the citizens OF our
great commercial metropolis, and at other similar meet
ingr which have been held elsewhere, trust will have
the of satisfy the friends well as the enemies
OF freedom throughout the world that our glorious and
happy Union is sl 10 BE- preserved as well have thu
effect Of shilling the troubled waters OF fraterna discord
at home.
IL is well known TO the distinguished individual al
the head OF the general government. who has long been
my personal though not my political friend, that, mme
datey after the result OF the last presidential election
known, urged upon some OF the leading members
OF both political parties, in this State and elsewhere. the
popriey and expediehcy OF having the exciting questions
which then agtalng the Union put during the
then session OF the 30h Congress- by
of compromise which should provide for the settlement
Of The disputed Texan boundary and for The organization
of the Territories without the Wimot PovisO which
was known TO be so extremely odious and offensive to
brethren OF the South And during the last session
of the Congress had the honor to be consulted
by several of those members OF the Senate, who
Justly entitled to The lasting gratitude OF every true
friend OF the country, as 10 the measures OF CON-
promise which ought 10 be adopted, and which
finally agreed upon. | therefore say, without hest
iaton, that a whole do most heartily approve
of all the compromise laws passed at the last session
OF Congress- parts OF great plan OF paccaon and
mutual concession. though in some ct their details
would prefer 10 have had few slight notifications,
which would not have affected those laws in substance
But those notifications do not deem OF sufficient i'm
porlance justify the opening Of any of the subjects
controversy by amy attempts 10 amend. 80 far then, as
my Influence as private citizen extends. shall do what
can 10 discourage and prevent further agitation OF the
subjects o COMPTON, S.. any tvason al or resistance
10 the due execution OF those laws according 10 tnr
true sp,fil and n'eni II may not be improper here 10
hlu- lkux halo rln ,f
who believe ta powers not clearly and distinctly dele
gated the gen. raj government Congress by the
constitution ana wn'cn are MOI pronio,ird u he Sa,e-'
belong exclusively to the States or ~ tile people. An
whea the vi JACK ~. Marin WAS he The couri
OF which Was then ns mb-r. express donb, as Il
the authority OF Congress exisixe upon the IN j-ci
iusilive Since that time, howsvrr, the cunsi
,uiunaI rlih OF Congress to provide by aS for cary
INTO effect the clause ol The con- tiuiion that sub
pct has iuily established by The Supreme CouIl
oil the United S~les ~ Gaze winch brought thai qurs,
ton directly before that tribunal tor DECISION and
every law apdlng citizen Is bound Ia submit 10 The judg
men OF that court 10 the oonsuilonality OF law
Congress. The court IN the same case also dec del
that no State had the power TO pass any law winch
should couf,c with the legislation of Congress IN
subject, with the constitutional right OF the master To
clam his fugitive slave wherever he should be found.
There is no constitutional question arising under the
OF Congress relative 10 fugitive slaves which did
not sso under tie act OF Februar, 1898. which
law The Snprsme Coun OF the United States declared 10
be Constitutional and valid No good citizen, therefore,
will CONSIDER hins sell authorized 10 evade the
execution OF a law thur constituonslly passed And
member OF State legislature, who has taken the oath 10
support the constitution OF The United States, all
required do, can without mourning the moral guilt
perjury, vote tor any law which he knows or believe
10 be conflict with the provisions OF that constitution
relative TO tugive slaves or 10 conflict with the lave
on that suheci const'iu,onay passed by Congress And
there law and no principle 10 be found ia the higher
and holer code OF Heaven which either requires per
mits any one voluntarily 10 swear he will support thu
cons uon OF the United States, when at the lime he
u,srs that solemn in the OF the Onniscien b.
has no intention OF per forming IT,
- ! am no friend Of slavery. On the contrary, have
Ytqueniy expressed the opinion that the existence OF
slavery among us is social as well as political evil
entaed upon By the cupdy and wrong OF the parent
country, against the wishes and the remonttance
OF the people OF the colonies Bnt II is an evil which III.
philan,hrops and the Christian at the South frequently
hnds it impossible remove Immediately without pro-
dncing other evils which would he still greater. The
States where slavery exists, therefore. should be left en-
tely Tree TO choose their tunes and 10 adopt the
modes OF Kidding themselves OF the evil by gradual
system OF smancpaiionihe only practical mode oil abo
Thing slavery where II exists 10 any considerable tx cut
without producing greater injury than benefits even to the
slaves themselves
But even II immediate emancipation would be produc
tive OF nothing but unmingled good, still the right L.
cnred to our southern brethren by that constitution
which has been the cause, under the protection al
Heaven, oil n0umerablr blessings to the people OF the
Nonh, as well as to those Of The West and South.
No god citizen. then whose civil and religious
privileges secured 70 him by the came instrument.
and BY our happy Union which has already elevated
to The highest rank in the family OF nations, will allow
HIMSELF either by force fraud, TO nullfy the laws OF
the land destroy the rights secured 10 his fellow
czens Of the Soath by the contribution OF the coneer.
acy. Nor should any one who loves the name and re
the memory OF the Father OF his Country attemp
to ALLEVIATE any portion OF our country iron the res BY
further agitation either in gu, OF Congress- of the
citing question now happily settled BY the legislation
LAM gentlemen with respect ycsr' ~ A. wo0ru
Messrs Gro. Woop and others. Committee, &c.