The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-12


messrs. VIM II. Seward IN Van Buren,.
convention of abolilionists was held at Boston on
the inst, for the purpose Of expressing hostility the
fugveslave law, and giving organization to those who
demand its unconditional repeal Letters were read
from several notorious sectonass and agitators and
among them were letters from VIM. H. Seward and
John Van Buren,. We present Mr.. Stewards letter en-
tire but tina, Of Mr. Van Buren, is too long for inser-
ton. and we only give synopsis Of its principal
points
"AUBuRN, April s, 1861.
DEAR Your letter inviting attend conven-
ton OF the people OF opposed TO the fugitive
that statute If should be unable attend the convention,
has been received
While offering the pressure Of duties here long
fered as an apology for nonse ndance pray you TO ~.
the committee in whose behalf you act Of my pro.
be invited address tho people of Massachusetts
on any subject but might well satisfy agenerous ambi-
ton be called upon speak that great and enlightened
Commonwealth on question OF human rights and civil
ibeIy.
gle in the popular discussions Of the of the last
Congress The issue necessarily involves the claims Of
the confidence of The country Some OF those advocates
have entered the popular arena eliminating those from
extraordinary MEANS either to control discussion or to sup
press altogether and thus they have shown themselves
pariiality and candor which the occasion demanded
am unwilling even 20 seem TO imply, Iel.eIa,ing ar,
The position Of those with whom stood Congress- or i'm
patience for tina, favorable popular verdict which beieve
to be near, and know 10 be ultimately cerain
Nevertheless, there can be improprety In my de-
clarng when thus questioned the opinIons which viii
any occasion when me fugitive slave
law shall come up for review in the national leg stature
think the act unwise because an attempt
purely fedeatve government the economy of
slave States throughout States which ePidate slavery as
ment woald awaken sedition from its poioundes surn
bers by such auempt
The attempt by this government ha, aroused consi,u.
be relinquished He who teaches anohe faith than this,
whether sedeceved not misleads. thnk, ALSO that
the attempt unnecessary that political ends-merey
political endsand not real evils resulting from the
OF slaves constituted the prevailing motives the
ment
Ithink also. tails of the measure are indefsn
sbe that the denial the alleged fugitive
alleged obligation labor. and OF his escape from IL,
court and nothing less than Of JUSTICE constitution
the law within State where he is claimed is
paPaby in deogation Of the constitution that the rules Of
weak and defenceies and that Christendom might be
searched in vain for parallel the provisions which
make escape from bondage crime, by law retroactive
IN ats effect, and without limitations OF time favor the
presumption Of freedom, which, under rigorous penalties,
compel heemen to MD in the capture of slaves and which
oher uninis'aken inducements TO false claims and false
lnagmens Finally whatever changes Of opinions Other.
the consttuo provision ON which the law purpors to be
i - niery comPacs between we Stsrs ana ma,
the Congress OF the United States have no Jurisdiction o
the subject
nended to uy favor by is connenion with what called
the other OF promise Com promise plies
affiliated Deasurcs denied the admission Of New Mexico,
because size had determined In free State,
w 70 U.ea IN
oimons the consent oil Congress that they should II they
nsn,; third abolished public the city Of
washing ton without abating either the extent the dura
peace on humsng term. from one Of the
and feebcst mbers OF the contederacy in attitude Of
na a, free State. when she had refused 10 oonaminae
herself with slavery Which Of these measures has
tive-,laye law But told that, bad these
ures were they the bes, that could be obtained On
mission OF California The Thiry,fr., Congress msh,
have admitted her. and left the other questions TO smother
Congress, which, instructed by the people. might have
done better, and certainly could have done
" Nor do ] find the fogvesnve law growing In my IA.
of the agitation of slavery in the republican agitation
which whether benehcent or Otherwise IL as nseparabe
from our political organization the winds and clouds
from the atmosphere that cncrcles the earth.
have weighed, moreover, the Argument that some por-
peui,y The fugitive slave law condition decla-
ra,lons OF loyalty TO the Union That loyalty is duty
nIing from the constitution and is equally due, whether
the measures of administration satisfactory unsas
factory regret that anything should have happened 10
encourage belief that loyalty could be accepted on cond
TONS and especially the condition of forbeang repeal
repealabc statute But since is So only say that
ou,, unu,y are in the Union for richer
poorer Tor better, Tor worse, whether IN majority or In
minority, whether in power or poweress. without condi
ton reservation, qualification, Limitation, forever and
aye that in the Union. because satisfied
by OF but by virtue of
the constitution and that all other parties in the Union
on the Tor the tenure. and by virtue oil the
same obligation and so they will find their TO be- when
they offer gplead violation. Of enuaconstiiaon,l cond
Justify secession. Whatever is rrepealabic any
Of the the late Congress, will be mad enough
attempt peal Whatever is fepealable In those IT,
and whatever shall be repealable In future
whether IL shall favor freedom or slavery matter under
what circumstance with what auspices, with
what soemnites IL may have been adoptcd-must abide
the trial OF experience, OF reason and ofruh II is only
In this way that the constitution be ned aud
he Ita
on to the physical and moral necessities Of the broad and
overwhelming empire which protects and defends and
change, of administration be corrected md new
exigeucies be met TINT the State free or sayehod
ing, which may ut any time be least favored wl be at all
times safer under this government. when worst adm
tered, than II would be under other, however wisely
Administered or iavoraby conducted
- think, my dear SIR that all this Is virtually
now by those who. while they see that their complicated
scbemes-tha suppression of free debate which they
nevertheless admit that the Union longer in
and therefore think that we last our
selves on the discovery that not only
compromises unnecessary, but that the Union has
and stability enough 10 endure that such
promises under the influence OF unwise cvi.atve
disus, are sometimes unnecessarily and una ilinaly
made.
liam, sir, with great respect yonr humble seryan.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD"
|. So much for Senator Seward And now for his ally OF
the barpburner school!
Mr. Van Buren, begins by citing the clause OF the con-
s,uon which requires the surrender Of ug,tives from
justice and ugi,ves from labor He says that the cons
u,ional provision should be enforced and then he
beavers to draw distinction, which the constitution does
not recognise, between fugves from justice and iugves