The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-12
THE NEGRO CONVENTION IN BOSTON.


The following resolutions were passed by the
Anti-Fugitive Slave Law Convention, ut Boston, on
the last day Of its sitting
Resolved That every provision in any constitution or
statute, which commands the commission Of crime Is
both morally and legally void and no judge magistrate,
Officer or private il under any legal obligation 70
obey such provision but when called to act under it,
i bound to disoby it, and assist in frustrating Its opera
ton.
Resolved That since liberty in the words of the decla
ration Of independence. IL inalienable right and
me right OF every slave TO ms freedom : always anu
inestimabe br,hr;ght is the greatest Of crimes.
Resolved, That the Declaration OF independence was
not q mere manifesto but legislative act. adopted and
ratified with unusual soemnity by virtue Of which the
North American States became thenceorth united and
independent nation.
Resolved That this great charter never been re-
pcaled or altered but still remains the original and fun
4 amentl law Of this Union the stone Of
liberty as individuals. and independence a nation
Resolved That the Declaration Of Independence when
il uttered these memorable words We hold these truths
TO be sefeydent. that all created equalthat
they endowed by their Creator with certain nalen
able righsthat among these life liberty, and the
pursuit Of happinessgave legislative sanction to the
great principles which it thus proclaimed and that a
very was thenceforh stamped Illegal throughout the
United States by the very the original charter
which made them a nation.
Resolved That the clause in the constitution respect
ing fugtives from service labor cannot legally be
piled to slaves for the following among other
LIST Because such construction il inconsistent with the
declaration Of independence characterization to which
the constitution must be construed. "a. Because 1t Is
inconsistent with the great object Of the constitution
declared in its preamble to establish justice and
the blessings If liberty Cd Because there other
large elasscs persons in the United States to whom it,
words are clearly applicable, and it ought not be ex
tended to Others In violation Of justice e If they were
comprehendcd in it, language.
Resolved That if he constitution in its true meaning,
required the surrender Of fugtves from slavery the pro
vision for tina, purpose would be utterly void in law be
cause requiring the commission Of n crime.
RESOLVED That the Fugitive Slave bill with all its cog
mates shall be bioted from the Statute book CT the
tion which it stands libel upon both the
stitution and upon the genius Of government.
Resolved That each and all of those who bring
commission represent Massac in the Congress
OF the United States and who by their speeches. thee
votes or by cowardly retreat from their post in tn,
hour Of peril contributed to the enactment Of this law
have proved themselves traitors to liberty to humanity
to the nation and to the high trust conded to them by
the citizens Of Massachusetts,; and that each and all Of
them shall the ballot box reach them. be
released from further service in the counsels of the
tonto reap in their the unsurpassed
infamy, to which their memory is doomed; that they
have laid thu mselvcs the altar of Mammon and the
fire Of heaven shall consume the Offering they have laid
there.
Resolved, That men. citizens Of Massachusetts,,
and citizens Of the United States, will never rest
until rest in death, in the accomp Of this,
our deliberately formed purpose
LETTER FROM WILLIAM H.. SEWARD.
AUBURN, April 5, 1851.
DEAR SIR:-Your letter, inviting mo to attend a
convention Of the people of Massachusetts, opposed
TO the Fugitive Slave law, and to communicate in
writing my opinion on that statute, if / should be
unable to attend the convention, has been received
While offering the pressure of duties here, too long
you to assure the committee in whose behalf you
act Of my profound sense of their courtesy and kind
II would be an honor to be invited to address
the people of Massachusetts any subject; but it
might well satisfy generous ambition to be called
upon to speak to that great and enlightened Com
monwealth, on question Of human rights and civil
liberty.
confess, sir, that have earnestly desired not to
mngle in the popular discussions OF the measures of
the last Congress. The issue necessarily involves
the claims of their advocates and adversaries in the
public councils to the confidence Of the country.
Some Of those advocates have entered the popular
arena, eliminating those from whom they have diff
fered; while others have endeavored, by extraord-
nary means, either to control discussion, or to sup
press it altogether, and thus they have shown them
selves disqualified by prejudice interest, for prac
Using that impartality and candor which the occa
sion demanded
| am unwilling even to seem to imply by rcitcrat-
ing Arguments already before the public, either any
dstrust of the position OF those with whom stood
IN Congress, or Impotence for that favorable popu
lar verdict which believe to be near, and know to
be ultimately certain.
Nevertheless, there can be no improperly in my
declaring, when thus questioned, the opinions which
will govern my vote upon any occasion when the
Fugitive Slave law shall come up for review in the
national legislature. / think the act singularly
unwise, because it is attempt by purely fedora
tive government to extend the economy Of slave
States throughout States which repudiate slavery
5 moral, social and political evil. Any despotic
government would awaken sediton from its pro
.oundest slunbers by such an attempt
The attempt by this government has aroused con-
stutional resistance, which will not cease until the
eiott shall be relinqushed lie who teaches another
faith than this, whether self deceived or not, mis-
eads. think, also, that the attempt was unneces-
sary that political ends--mercly POLITICAL ends
and not real evils resulting from the escape OF slaves
constituted the prevailing motives to the enactment.
think. also, that the details of the measure are
indefensble; that the denial to the alleged fugitive
of trial of his alleged obligation to labor, and of
his escape from it, by court aud nothing less than
...ass fNsfs lly rad n
proceeding according to the course of the common
law within the State where he u claimed. Is palpa-
bly, in derogation of the constitution that the rules
OF evidence which the Law preseribes are oppressive
Of the weak and defeneelcss, and that Christcndom
might be searched in vain for parallel 10 the pro-
visions which make escape from bondage crime,
by law retroactive in its effect, and without limi-
tatons Of time to favor the presumption OF free
dom, which, under rigorous penalties, compel free
men to aid IN the capture OF slaves and witch ofer
unmistaken inducements to ialsc claims nnd false
judgments. Finally, whatever changes OF opinions
others may have Undergone, retain my earliest
convictions that the constitutional provision on
which the law purports to be founded, IL merely
"A compact between the States and that the Con-
gress Of the United states have no jurisdiction OF
the subject.
Nor i the law, which l. 50 obnoxious in itself.
commended TO my favor by its connection with what
are called the other means Of compromise. Com
promise implies mingling OF truth and error-right
aud wrong. One of those affiliated measures de-
MED tho admission OF New Mexico. because she IA al
determined to come IN as free state, and re-
manded her. with permission to come back in the
hablments Of slavery Another distinctly inti-
mated TO the Nor mons the consent of Congress that
they should. IL they could, plant slave state in
the very rccesscs OF the continent. third abolish
cd public slave mart in the city Of Washington,
without abating either the exent or the duration
Of slavery in the District o, Columbia. A fourth
obtained peace on humiliating terms, from ono Of
the youngest and fsebcst members Of the confcdc-
rucy in IN attitude of scdition: while fifth only
r,lu adj "A state
when che had refused to contaminate herself VITA
slavery. Which one Of these inca surcs his super
iluous merit, to be received IN excavation Of tn
Fugitive slave law But We are told, that bad \
these measures were, they the best that could
L, obtained On the contrary. there were always
votes euou sh for the admission of California Tn
thrty-frst Congress might have admitted her, an
lrt the other questions to another Congress, which,
instructed by the people, might have done better
and certainly couli not have done worse.
Nor do find the Fugitive ase law growing IA