The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-01-22

free-the asylum Of the oppressed-will
sink, and its fall be recorded as the off
spring Of that, so.called, higher law doc
trine, which leaves every man to obey or
disobey, to enforceor resist laws, as itcon-
| flicts with his interest or his feelings.
This law, passed by some Of the ablest
jurists in the country-its constitutionallty
attested by The Attorney General-approv-
ed by the President, himself, an able law
yer, and its constitutionality supported by
the ablest jurists then out OF Congress, is
now denounced as unconstitutional by
men. many of whom have never read It,
but who seek TO get up an excitement, IN
order that they may rise with it. Fanatl-
cism, however, continued Mr.. s., is not
confined to the North alone--not alone to
| the free States, for we find, the slave states
have fanatics as dangerous as those who
would now rend this Union in twain, IN
{ order to carry ont their own peculiar views
their own projects. The one is fanati-
T cism against slavery; the other ambitious
in favor Of it.
| tits said that the States alone have the
power to pass fugitive slave laws. Sup
pose slaves would leave their masters in
Virginia and come to Ohio Would they
, be delivered up-woud Ohio, after she
had stricken from her statute books law
which forbid the setilemeptof negroes here,
: and by this repeal inviting them to settle
. here, would Ohio pass the necessary law;
would she surrender the fugitiues? Would
the Senator from Trumbull, vote for law
!, of the State to surrender fugitives from
!, labor! aaf tft5 aaa@
= Mr.. Sutliff. If the constitution made it
the duty of the States to pass such laws,
!, he (Mr. Sutliff,) would vote for it. lie
e would shrink from no duty.
: Mr.. Simpson then read from the consti.
4 tuition, to show that fugitives from labor
a and from justice escaping from one State
to another shall, on the demand OF the
y Executive. be given up. Words could moi
. be palmer Mr.. Simpson then argued a
much length, the question of the constltu
;, tionalty of the fugitive law.
- The law in detail he did not feel callet
% upon to defend-it has been attacked as
whole-its conslituionality was assailed
and he felt called upon, as he would have
4, to vote on these resolutions, to defend thu
- - vote he was about to give. The first Law
- on this subject, signed and approved BY
George Washington, President ofthe Con
. venton which framed the Constitution
and surrounded as he was by the ables
y cabinet the country ever had, and all
whom were familiar with the proceeding
IN and debates of that able and patriotic body
We was obnoxious to the same charge.
s. Congress had no power to pass this law,
r, had no right to pass the law OF l79t
When the man who led the forlorn hop
S. of liberty across the Delaware, on stor
ne my winters night, which movement CAV
ne encouragement to the friends of freedom
o. and revived their PROSTATE spirits, an
he more than any other act secured TO US tn
he freedom we now enjoy, signed the law
ot '93, it was with full belief of its const
on tutonality. Yet men, wiser now-wlse
by than the men who framed the Constltl
N. ton, now say, if their present position b
nd correct, it is unconstitutional.
The resolutions were further debated b
he Messrs. Payne, Sullif and others, but n
he vote was had.
of HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
lb- Corporations occupy tho time OF II
he House. e "
ad SENATE.
en- FRIDAY, Jan. II.
1p- The discussion Of the fugitive bill wi
VS., continued, and there were some pret
the hard knocks between wings and fir
on, soilers.
no HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Els
gu. Mr.. Dodds of Warren, from the Stan
nty ing Committee on New Counties, report'
he bill for the erection OF the new county
{ a Hartford; which was read the first time.
lffi- A resolution to adjourn on the 10th
- February was rejected by vote of 28 TO 3
his SENATE.
es- SATURDAY, Jan. 18
les, .E PETITIONS PRESENTED. ~
,ht, By Mr.. Simpson, from James Beck al
er- 81 tax payers of Morgan county agair
re- any division of said county.
war By Mr.. Simpson, from Samuel w. N
and and SO other citizens Of Ohio townsh
hu- Monroe county, against the erection
; OF Noble county. gJl s
war The fugitive slave resolutions We
init again discussed. ....s..,...,..
,o BOUNTY LAND WARRANTS
am ,,m The Washington Republic publishes
M ,h;. communication from James E. Hea
'n. Commissioner of Pensions, in reply tt
H. f., letter published by the Hon. John L. RI
4 ~ tata Of