The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-30

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TO the subject of slavery and t.. which were also
referred numerous petitions from the inhabitants
of the State. PRAYING the leg isluture to Instruct
their senators and TO request the representatives
in Congress to use their eDdeavors to procure
repeal Of the "Fugitlye slave law ), ana also hu-
merous other petitions praying the Legislature
TO provide further safeguards TO protect the citi-
xens in the enjoyment of their natural rights,
submit the following
REPORT.
Inhis inaugural address, the governor remarks
that, 1in 0rdinasy times" we should omit tne
discussion of topics which are national 10 their
character; but the excitement which mas sprung
from the institution of slavery, and the examl-
nation of questions connected with 1t, seem TO
justify some deviation from this general policy
After abiding to the fact, that where slavery
"exists, it ia regarded as benefit, where II does
not exist. IL il regarded as an evil :" That some
portion of the country has pecunlary interest
in its existence, equal to many hundred millions
of dollars" and that ''the other regards 1t ms a
moral, political, social and industrial evil, which
dishonors labor and degrades the laborer within
the sphere of lis Influence" his excellcncy pro-
ceeds to say, I. 1t may not then be inappropriate
to consider how far the institution OF slavery Is
a general subject of legislation, and therefore
of general political interest, and how far its e<-
istence and responsibility are local, and The sub
iects Of local legislation only"
Again, his excellency reparks, " A remedy
for its injustice or inerpediency must be sought
in the Legislative department of the government"
And yet again: I" The provision OF the Consti-
tuition on which this law (the act OF September,
1900 is based, can never be properly construct
ed, either by Congress or the courts, to endanger
the liberties of free citizens" The committee
IL. H.. DIR OF and Iwf ,.Il
import of the sentence last quoted, but taken in
connection with declaration on the same page,
to wit: cannot advise the passage of any mea-
sure calculated to increase the excitement whica
unhnppiy exists, eren though that excitement
have mo INST foundation" we are led to the con-
clusion that his exceency does not Participate
in anv fear that the acts of Congress involve
anv consequences dangerous to the freedom OF
the people.
BIT the committee have no desire to enter
into critical examination of the propositions,
infarences. or suggestions contained in that part
of the address committed to them for consider
alton. They prefer to examine the subject OF
slavery in the abstract, and make such an appli-
cation of their conclusions as they deem peril
nent and undeniable. They have endeavored
TO enbody their views in small compass as
seemed to be consistent with the magnitude OF
a subject which agitates the whole common
wealth; and though they cannot indulge an ex-
that all their remarks and suggestions
will meet nm unanimous response from the leg
stature, they yet feel cheerful confidence in
the belief that they Will receive credit for up
riphtness of purpose, and an honest intention to
perform, to the best of their ability, duty, the
execution Of which they would willingly have
defined.
All men owe absolute allegiance to the law
Of God. which is, in its nature, a universal rule
Of conduct for mankind laid down by Him. 1t
belongs to the nature of man and the nature of
God. and derives its sanction and validity there
rom. 1t ia accordingly, the higher lar, and so
he standard of all other laws Its desi IN is to
the welfare of all mankind in general,
and of each man in particular.
Human law is, in its nature, a special rule of
conduct for the people by whom it is enacted,
and derives its origin and acquires its sanction
solely from the consent Of that people who are
to be governed thereby. The just design of
human law is, in general, to promote the well
fare of the nation for which it is made, the well
fare of all and also Of each. Its design, there
fore, is, il special, twofold, namely, its first ard
primary design is to protect the person in all his
natural rights the next and secondary design is,
to protect his property, with all that rightly per-
tains thereto. These two objects comprise all
the functions of human law for the protection
of the substance of manhood and the attributes
of person and property, necessarily in
wolves the protection of the right to develop both
In regard to the law of God, things may be
distributed into three classes, namely--6rst, such
as are absolutely right; second, such rs are alb
so,utely wrong and third, such as are neither
~. al r,.vht ubenl al hut
ally indifferent 1t is moral to do the first, i'm
moral to do the second to do the third is neither
directly moral nor immoral, but only expedient
or inexpedent.
1t is plain that human law cannot alter the
natural relations of things, nor make right
wrong, or wrong right, or things Indifferent
either right or wrong. Laws, therefore, are
only declaratory of the intentions of the law
makers, who therein lay down practical rule Of
conduct, but can no more alter right and wrong
then the mariner can alter the position of the
stars by which he steers his vessel. OF course,
then, as it is the natural duty of man to do the
right and avoid the wrong, il is plain that human
law is morally valid and obligatory only so far
as it declares the right to be the rule Of con-
duct, and is morally invalid, and of no obliga-
ton Just 80 far as il declares the wrong to be
the rule Of conduct. Otherwise, allegiance to
the State would transcend allegiance to God,
and the statutes of men be superior to the eter-
nal law of the infinite Coda proposition which
is absurd in its substance, and irpious in its
form But if the human statute represents the
right, then it is far identical with the natural
Law Of God, and is accordingly valid and obi.
gatory Thus human laws derive all their moral
validity and obligation from their conformity to
the natural law of God so natural right or JUS
tice is, and ought to be, the ultimate standard
measure of all human laws in general, and to
that standard all human laws are amenable.
The Constitution of the United States is, in
its nature, particular rule of conduct, TO be OBJ
served in the governing of the people by their
officers, legislative, judiciary and executive; ac-
corlingly, it is conventional and secondary
standard-measure of the laws made by the peo-
pie. Accordingly, M it is moral duty that al
human laws be made coutormable to the right,
ELSE they are morally invalid and void by ma.
ture,--so it is a constitutional obligation to make
The laws of the United States conformable to the
Constitution, otherwise they are consttutonally
invalid by agreement, Laws Of the United
States are therefore amennble to the Constitu-
ton.
The design Of the Constitution is thus de-
cIared by the people of the United States In the
L a L..