The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-08


slaves, without any legal process, and in defiance
Of the provisions Of the act OF 1926 Hc was subse-
quently arrested, tried for kidnapping, aud con-
victed in our courts. This man happened to be a
citizen Of Maryland and tho State took the matter
In hand, denied for the first time the constitution
atty OF the law under which Prgg had been con-
victed, and which was passed at her instance, and
mainly for her benefit. The case was finally re-
moved to the Supreme Court Of the United States.
where il was argued by the Attorney General Of
Pennsylvania, and by eminent counsel employed
by sister State. The result was. decision that
the Pennsylvania act of 1926 was unconstitutional
The Court expressed the opinion that 1t was the
duty Of CongTsss to provide laws to give effect to
the Constitution. and that legislation BY individual!
States for such purpose was an assumption OF
power which they did not lawfully posscss. GAc-
For several years after this decision wo were
without any law in Pennsylvania, either 10 punish
kidnapping, or 70 protect our free colored poPula
ton. Organized bands OF kidnappers infested our
southern border, with which constables and magis-
trates, and even negroes, in our own State, were
believed 70 be connected. In districts which We're
person, while he could be claimed by some lawless
vagabond az his slave, and. without legal process
or evidence Of the fact, DO carried away from the
free soil on which he was born, and forever bereft
tually occurred, and they were from time to time
brought to the attention of our Legislature. II
the right and the duty Of Pennsylvania to protect
this useful class Of her population They owed al,
lc8lnuCo 70 our ieWes hno IN return our laws owed
them protection The highest judicial tribunal in
the country had declared 1t to be the duty OF Con-
gress, and not Of the States, to pass such laws a.
arc necessary to carry into effect the provisions of
the Federal Constitution. We waited for five years,
expecting Some suitable legislation on the subject
was likely 70 b done. fhis led % the passage 81
our statute OF ls41 the object OF which has been al
most ~ much understood in our own State ~ else
where. 1t was supposed to be nothing more than
an acquiescence by statute in the decision Of the
Supreme Court, and was believed substantially to
embrace the doctrines advanced by some OF the
distinguished juriss then upon that bench. II had
for its object the protection Of our free coored pop
ulation, and was intended to cast upon Congress
the responsibility OF providing the means Of giving
recsiyed the uuan;mous vote v Of both brancbe. Of
our Legislature, and the ready approval OF DEM
ocratic governor.
Gentlemen, IL 10 due to the character OF our State
that this brief explanation Of the origin and object
OF that law should DO known. And offer IL to you
because know that the wings OF Pennsyivania
and the people OF pennsylvania are loyal TO the
Constitution lCheers:1 assert the loyalty OF
and the Union! Immense appause.] And now
that Congress has passed law on this subject,
which, IN my Judgment, secures the rights OF the
South and the legal rights OF persons who may be
claimed AZ fugitivss from labor under it's provi-
sons, is the duty OF every good citizen TO sustain
1t in good faith rs long as it may be tho law Of the
land. [Cheers.] If we do not, we abandon the
OF our great 6SAtuto OF we aOdn0On
the uniform policy which we have observed in re-
lation to the rights Of fellow citizens of other
Statcs-we are false to ourselves and to our coun-
try. IAppiause.]
views. They may object TO the nature Of our Gov
to the relations which Il maintains among
the people of the several States, and may desire to
modify or change them. They have right to
lish them to the world-but they haze to resist
the execution Of The lac. Every right which they
enjoy IL secured TO them by the very Constitution
which resistance violates, and which 10 their only
safeguard They appeal to it for protection to their
persons and property and opinions, and the people
Of the South appeal to the same for the
things If there is no power to grant the appeal of
the latter there can be none TO answer that OF the
treat any part Of the Constitution as nulity, an
other body may exercise the Same right in respect
Of any other part of it, and there is end Of all
law, and all order and security 80, 8as.
No reasonable objection, in my feeble Judgment,
can be presented now to tho repeal of that provi-
sion OF our act Of lS47, designated in tho resolu
tons. 1t IL matter OF Justice, not only to the
claimant, but the party claimed. The law means
that his case shall be fairly and fully heard. 1t
does not attack the rights OF freeman, 1t does not
take from the slave any privilege which he law
fully possesses. While we are fearless in the as
serton Of our own Sate-rights. let us deal fairly
who enters our borders, TO- the iui enjoyment OF
that security OF property, life and hberty which 10
soiemnly promseo py the communion. lCneers'l
Let US, Wing citizens OF Pennsyivania, rally as
one man to the support OF WING Administra-
ton! we have placed Mr.. Fillmore Ia nus eieyat,
cd position, and nc 10 true 70 us ne mas caiieo
around nim tno hignest order OF taicns winch me
world can supply; men OF genius o. power anu o.
patriotism, and they are true 70 the country AND
70 us !heir great ann is 70 90 lust,ce 70 al and
let us % Jusuce 70 snem nn me wing stahdaIo
wncn noa ;a oyer .ne sha wnscn wey a;o ao,c -
protect with honor and success! voice, wen
known 70 yous Is heard on the moor OF the senate,
sustaining ana encouraging tne communication IN
is noble enorts TO preserve the Union ana promote
ton Of the laws. The sage Of Ashland, long, long
ago, gave to the Wings of this Union his noble
heart, and he will die with the harness on, and his
last breath will linger upon our banner. GIm-
mensc acclamation.J
Let us hold TO our ancient Penneyivania faith,
and cheer our old friends in the good work OF sus
tanning the Constitution. Pennsylvania IL indebted
70 that for the days OF order and prosperity which
shc has enjoyed, which have brought with them
lnuittudes OF other blessings, almost beyond Com
putation. Science, sheltered under the wings OF
peacc, mas oireSteo sne hands OF inoussry ana en-
LcfDTlBc,