The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-23


receipt yesterday Of the address which you transmitted
70 me from number Of gentlemen in the city OF New
foIk Emanating from a source so highly respectable
and imposing, from friends and fellow citizens
GUS and intelligent, and to whom under such great
have perused with profound attention and
Difference After adverlng TO the present state Of public
AFFAIRS 10 the spirit adverse TO the measures OF Compro
mise adopted during the last Congress which prevails in
certain quarters, to the necessity OF unemed exerons
TO preserve our glorious Uaon and TO what has been SO
seasonaby and well done, with so much ability. elo-
quence, and patriotism, by OF eminent coun
ymen, you invite me to leave for time my quiet abode
here TO appear in your great city, and 70 address my lei
clhscns on the actual condition and menacng danger
OF our country.
feel. gentlemen, with the greatest interest and the
deepest solcude, the full force OF all that you have
pressed aud would gladly comply with your wishes,
and even dedicate the remnant OF lie, the largest ana
best part OF which has been spent the public services
to the cause OF the Union. il the state OF lny health
would allow me. and if believed that any fresh exer-
tons OF mine would be useful But ever since the long
session OF the last Congress, during which my arduous
duties greater than wen able to encounter,
my health has been delicate, and il has remained SO
throughout the past summer hope that il is improving,
but sll requires the most assduous and enter.
tain serious apprehensions that e accept your
invitation, and throw myself lno the of excite
ment incident to IL my strength might fail me, and my
present debility might be much increased There is no
place. am fully aware, where should find more ardent
and enthusiastic friends IN one party and more courtesy
and respect IN the Other than IN the commercial merop
oils OF the Union Whilst am constrained, with much
regret respectfully to decline the meeting you propose.
avail myself OF the occasion to present views which
have taken OF public affairs, and which trust may be
received substitute for any oral exhibition Of them
which could make before large concourse OF my fell
low-cZens in New York.
was not supposed by the authors and supporters OF
the Compromise in the last Congress thai the adoption
of the series Of which composed it would
cure the unanimous concurrence of all Their reasonable
hopes were confined TO the great majority OF the people
OF the United States and their hopes have not been dis
appointed. Everywhere-Nath, South, East, and West
an sv Of the people are as with
asserted in regard to thirteen of the avehodng States
and TO thirteen not fourteen of the free States. In few
OF both classes OF the States, and in some particular To-
calities dissatisfaction exists, exhibiting itself oceasion
ally 10 words oil great violence and ihiemperance but
this feeling is trust, where has most prevailed grad
uay yielding to enlightened sense of public duty.
will present rapid survey OF the actual state of things
as appears to me- both at the North and the South, be-
ginning at the former
In all that region there is but one of the various
promise measures that seriously assailed and that is
the law, made In strict conformity with the constitutions
Tor the surrender OF fugves from lawful service
labor. But the law ITSELF with EXCEPTIONS has been
everywhere enorced opposition to it is constantly aba
ting and the patriotic obligations of obeyng the const
tuition and the laws made directly or indirectly by the
and admitted II, in the execution Of the law BY the
public authority, popular discomfort IS sometimes mani
Tested has, with the exceptions mentioned been inva
raby repessed, prevented from obstruc,ing the OFF,
GERS OF justice in the performance of their duties If
correctly informed great and salutay change has been
made and is yet in progress. at the North. which author
Tue COnnuent tnat reason ana law Will
finally achieve noble triumph.
The necessity OF enforcing and maintaining that law
unrepealed, and without any modification that would
oasly impair its efficiency must be admitted BY the i'm
holding States and many public meetings of the people
in them, have deliberately declared that their adherence
10 The Union depended upon the preservation of that law
and that Its abandonment would be the signal of the dis
solution OF the Union know that the abolitionists
(some OF whom openly avow desire to produce that
caamitous evenD and their partsans deny and deride
he of hut mpU hO mt
perceive and must be blind to the signs Of the times
to the sectional strife which has unhappily arisen, TO
as the solemn resolutions OF deberave assemblies una
inousy adopted Their disregard OF the danger, am
apprehensive, proceeds more from their desire 10
nue agitation, which augments ii, than from their love
Of the Union itself
You REFER gentlemen. to resolutions and addresses
adopted al conventions lately assembled around us, in
the question of adherence to the Compromise avoided
or evaded;' and you Justly deprecate the tendency Of
these resolutions have not been inattenve in.
different observer of Them and with you deeply regret
their adoption ! wish that these respectable bodies
could have been less ambiguous and explicit, in
declaring their determination 10 acquesce in, and abide
forming epoch in the progress Of country
tended to reconcile and restore concord and lraienal
feelings among our divided countrymen. There no
necessity 10 reserve right TO discuss TO modify and TO
the express reservation not only 10 that law but
all laws, and as TO the constitution ITSELF which has in
IN
that OF discussion. But there are occasions when a
spirit OF moderation should prompt forbearance 10
ercse that right II more were intended than meets the
eyemore than 10 proclaim the iheorec right OF dscus
sonif it were designed TO announce the right OF
mitied agItaon-to continue the distractions OF the
coun'ry-and, finally, II possible to repeal the fugitive
slave law-pa,riolsn and harmony must condemn the
unwse course fraught with the most mschievous and
perlous consequences
But we must make some allowances for human railiy
and iDordinate pride OF opinion. Many persons the
law. and even declared their intention iorcbly obsruct
It's execution and had appealed higher law which,
they contended, was paramount to all human legislation
these u0tenable positions were wholly iUeconclabe
with patriotism, with the existence OF regular
government itself Obeyng the Dictates it is to be hoped
OF wiser, and purer, and social counse- the par
lies who, under The impulses OF passion and fanatcsm
had assumed, have now abandoned them, and acknow-
edged their unquestonabesluiy TO submit the law un
vi II Is modified repealed by competent authority In
descending from the high and perous ground, which
they could not safely occupy, to that OF concedng the
obligation OF submission to the law, we discern hope
just homage 10 the dictates Of civilization and to the
duties OF Established government II they have coupled
with this proper concession the useless reservation OF
right OF discussion, and of insisting upon repeal or the
amendment OF law 10 which they had take exception
may we not hope that their purpose only secure
decent retreat with secret and patriotic dete
TO forbear from disturbing that return to harmony aud
tranquility so necessary to The safety and prosperity
OF the Union Should II turn out olherwise-should
the reckless spirit OF agitation continue to disturb and
distract our country, 10 array section against section and
dence is mistaken in the great body OF my northern
fellow citizens, that they will, in due time and in right
manner, apply appropriate and eHecual corrective
In turning our attention 10 the South and 10 the slave
holding States, we behold enough TO encourage the
friends OF the Union, and but little TO excite socudc
and Ia all ~ Get Al. IL -