Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-22
LETTER FROM THE HON. RICHARD RUSH.

LETTER FROM THE HON. RICHARD RUSH.
In answer to an invitation to take part in De-
mocratic mass meeting at East Smithfeld, Pennsyl
wanna, short time previous to the late election in
thai State, the Hon. RICHARD RUSH wrote a reply
OF which the following is extract. Ii is Of his
oricai interest," besides expressing the views of
distinguished statesman on one of the topics now
prominent before the country:
srDEsaAM, (near Philadelphia,)
September %, 1851.
The little desire say will be the fugitive
Since the formation Of Constitution OF the United States
instruction Of any nature whatever resist by
violence The laws passed Ia pursuance of it. any Sac
Of whole Union except hisi and e have had three
First, we had the Western instruction., il
phaiIcaiy called, in 1874. II very formidable II
psrvaded nearly all the counties of State. Gen.
Warrington, then at the head of the Government did all
that ne could at FIRST that mortal wisdom could, sup
press by concatory but finally had TO be put
down by military force. Fifteen thousand called
into The field made up by acquisitions from the militia OF Yr-
sinia, Maryland and New Jersey, we'll as this State
This great force overawed further resistance the laws
Criminal prosecutions and convictions for treason followed
The President psrdoned the convicts.
The second nsurrecon in 1899, chiefly in Nohamp
ton county On that occasions all attempts to civil
process for orcbe resistance to certain laws of the United
States proving sborive the militia and volunteers from the
neighbong counties called upon to Oh the
OF disorder Through their fundamentally, in cooperation
with the Judicial power submission the laws restored
Criminal prosecutions followed the former case against
those who resisted them by violence and convictions were
bad for treason. But here also The padoning power Of the
Presidenhe elder Adamswas nterposed and the scaf,d
not erected.
The third occasion on which arayed ourselves sgan.t
the authority of the Union in the Omsted That
~ hrs-s6 US TOWARDS he hrinL az civil war. and Al one
momentno very far from it. When, the masshsl first
tempted the process Of the courts Of the United
States in that he resisted at the point of the bayo
net. This was in Philadelphia. Finally, the process
eIecuted-po openly but by secret skill humane
satagem and the splitting Of blood happily avoided Here
again legal convictions for the offences took place. but pun
ishment was RENTED by President Madison.
/ do but recall facts. iAtend comments them.
History has written them down, ard cannot obli;erae
them. Pennsy vanian myself, desire cherish just
pride in my native State am gratefully sensible to having
bad the honor Of sharing in her counses and confidence here
ofore and proud of the long and high merits in her his
tory to counterbaance the recall But Just in
proportion ash ardeHy cling to such feelings do desire
give expression at this uncure to intense anxiety that she
may be found acqut herself well in all respects in execu
ing the fugitive slave law She ought not again 10 swerve
from her ealty the Union when protesting that feeling
but avoid every appearance Of it. She ought rally around
the fugitive slave law in the spirit evnced the vast Union
meeting in Philadelphia in November last when whole thou
sands Of Wing friends though political opponents
Enthusiastically cheered, with the devotion Of patriots and wis
dom above all party, the resolution for its full and hearty
ecuonnot in its words only, but in its great import and
tIanscendental national objects.
am compelled, however, for one, say-indeed truth and
frankness might well force upon of saythat
present attitude in regard TO that paramount law is very
traordnay It Is than that of any Of the States
composing this wide Conedeacy. That law is vital
the preservation Of the Federal Constitution than any Of the
laws Of Congress- all of them put together the opposition
to which produced the distractions have mentioned This
my sincere belief Yet already have it resisted
and resisted to blood, in this Staenot only once but
twice. There is other State in which it has been
resisted to eIremies deplorabe Is not this enough
to siarte Pennsslvanians-to make them lock- around
to ask themselves how has about, and above ALL
what is the remedy Before give way to any
Of State pride, thinking ourselves main prop Of the
Union, ought to think of the posture thrown
into in presence Of sister States First the murder
young Kennedy, ofMayland Carlisle; next the brutal
killing and mangng Of Mr.. Gorsucb another citizen Of Ma
ryandhs son, and others who accompanied him
line to aid him in obtaining his rights also falling, sup
posed at first, under mortal wounds and gashes All this
happening in of the Oldest and most populous counties of
the State amidst frantic yes and hoings characteristic Of
ssxagcsi Alas for good old Commonwealth. if stop
put to such deeds Instead Of being the keystone,
shall become the destroying power Of this mighty and glorious
Union. 1t remarkable that in neither OF the instructions
sb,ve MENTIONED with the Omstead added them,
there much blood shed already there has been in Penn
syvania by forcbe resistance to the ugvesave law. Our
annals in 1851 will thus take priority in dgutness in
opposing the statutes Of the Union.