The southern press., 1851-04-07

The lnsri7Urlons or 1Hx Soo.a MUST Dx-
PExD FOR SUPPORT on the DsM0csACY or THE
NoRrn.- WsaAinglea Unioa.
Mr.. RAHroUI., the late United States Demo
cratic senator from Massachusetts, fs one Of the
ablest men Of his party in that State; and such
was the opinion Of his orthodoxy, that the edi-
tor of the Union could not believe he would
take his seat in the Senate, when recently elected
to that body by the same coalition which has
since been trying to elect SUMSEK. Mr. RAN
ToUL, however, did take his seat, although but
ten days remained of the term for which he was
elected. He did not, we believe, define his po-
sition whilst in the Senate, but has done SO very
clearly since his return home. as we find by tie
following in the Boston Post, the organ of Do
mocracy in Massachusetts opponent Of
SUMNER, indeed-but silent now as to MIR. RAN
TOUE: 80
MIR. RANroUL's PosrTIou DErINED.-The
meeting held in Lyceum Hall, Lynn, yesterday
afternoon, called for the ostensible purpose Of
affording Mr. Rantoul an opportunity TO address
an assembly Of the voters Of the second con-
gressional district, proved to be an out-and- ont
Free-soil and anti-fugitive slave law affair. Mr.
Robinson, of Marblehead, presided, and made
Simmer coalition address upon taking the
chair, and was followed by Mr.. Rnntoul, who
commenced his remarks by stating that the
meeting was called ut his suggestion Having
said that he wished no man, who had heretofore
voted for him, to vote 30 again. under any mis-
impression Of his vews upon tho most exciting
question Of the day, he read the following res
olutions against the Fugitive slave law, and sup
ported them in speech Of nearly two hours
length:
aResolred, That the Constitution of the IT,
States has not conferred upon Congress the
power to enact any law authorizing officers Of
the United States to determine the slavery or
freedom of persons found within the territory of
any State and to convey them ont Of the State
wherein they are found to be held as slaves in
another State.
RESOLVED That no person in any State of this
Union can be lawfully deprived of his liberty
without due process of law, which process, in
the case of an alleged fugitive from service, in
a suit at common law, wherein the fact, whether
said fug' i've was lawfully held to service in the
State from which he is alleged to have escaped,
shall be determined by n trial by jury.
Resolped, That such trial by jury should pre-
cede the delivery into the hands of the party
claiming him, Of such alleged fugitive, and
should be had in the vicinity where the said
alleged fugitive is found.
RESOLVED, That in the determination Of the
question Of liberty, all presumptons of law and
TACT are and ought to be in favor Of liberty.
RESOLVED, That the Fugitive slave law enacted
by the Congress lately expired, contlsvening
these principles, is unjust, unconstitutional, in
derogation Of the fundamental maxims Of free
government and ought to be speedily and for
ever repealed"
At the close of his remarks, Mr. Rantoul read
the resolutions again, and re-affirncd, with gr Il
emphasis, his entire and unqualified concurrence
in fem. The resolutions were then adopted
by nearly q unanimous vote and in like man.
ner it was voted to support Mr.. Rantoul at the
election to be held on Monday next.
Thus it seems that the Southern right of re-
claiming fugitives from labor, is to be defeated,
on the pretenco of State right to defend the
liberty of its inhabitants by jury trial.
There never is any lack of pretences fatal to
Southern rights. The share of the South in
California was taken away on the two-fold pre-
tence of right of the people of a territory to
form their own institutions, (Which was con-
strued into right to define their own territorial
limits) s)-and the power of Congress to admit
State
A large territory was taken from Texas, on
the pretence of treaty with Mexico, and the
right Of the South to colonize that territory,
was extinguished on pretence of the right Of
III NJ
The right of the South to emigrate to New
Mexico and Utah, is continually denied on pre-
tence OF Mexican law.