Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-29
VAGARIEs OF -UylRAIsM.


The debate In the Until Ctates senate on the B0s~
ton riot terminated on oath ult, in the reference Of
the Presidents messae to the Judiciary Committee.
But new aspect vas given to the whole subject
during the debate Jy speeches Of several South.
i ern Senators. The whole line of Southern arpu-.
4 ment on this object was broken up. Hitherto it
has been good southern doctrine maintain to be the duty
Of the Federd Government carry into effect by proper
Legislation he constitutional clause for the surrender Of fgi-
n tive slaves The failure to do efecualy has been the
ground Of heavy complaint against the General Government
The law of ls5Qwas held be the first effective step to e-
sure the execution Of this clause and the whole South a
ceped sufficient for the object, and good compensation
for the passage Of less approved bills, If it could be faithfully
administered The chief topic Of complaint and dstru has
been that could be enforced The Executive was Sc
yerey blamed for ressness In not removing the marshal Of
for neglect Of his part Of the duty in the case
Crafts; add but the other day, in this very case
cued fugitive the Pesiden, accused by some Of ndr-
to hisduy in not removing the officer who per-
med the slave In custody under the be taken from
his hands The right Of the General Government to execute
this law and It's obligation to do at all hazards was af
6rmedas unquesonable truths upon the acknowledgment
of which by the people Of the North unreservedly the safe
Southern rights within the Union held to depend
Tie extreme South and Southwest whose pecunary interest
the fugitive slave law IS extremely small invoked to
make the faithful enforcement Of this law Of Unionhe
only satisfactory proof that the compromise be respected
the pledge which must be exacted Of the hnness Of
| the Union to the rights Of Southern States.
But in the Senate the Gath, to the surprise, doubt
not, Of the whole country, this position abandoned by
part Of the South Several Of the Southern Senators became
extremely sensitive the subject Of the enforcement Of the
law. They alarmed at the consequences Of any effort
The part Of the Federal authorities employ coercive ea
to support its processes against mobs They saw
terrible dangers in the simple process Of using to aid The
officers Of the Union in executing the laws Of the Union.
They have suddenly discovered that it is alien the genius
Of Government depend upon any thing but the voun-
ay consent Of the subjects upon whom the law is intended
operate carry it into effect Laws must be obeyed from
free will and affection, not from fear Of consequences dread
Of coercion. So the Boston mob spirit must not be by
determined front Of Federal power vindicatng its own au-
horty That will lead eralation Of Federal authori-
h will be dangerous precedent for the Of the Federal
army against State rghsa terrible stride towards consoda-
dalton Hence the conscience Of those gentlemen, who
have in their thoughts the States against the authority
Of the General Government hereafter in crisis they think
they see determined Make shocked at allowing
even much vgor to the Executive will enable to
enforce perfectly the law, which, Of all the recent legislation
Of Congress- most the South have maintained
To reason these do from the case lawss riot
to that of organized State revolution making an analogy
between the repression Of negro mob and the arming Of
forces seeding State shows oregone conclusion
in their minds and raises the strongest presumption that they
look upon the csiso the conflict with the General Govern
be at hand and would strip the ordinary functions of
authority in the simplest form Of selfpreservation they
would in time of anticipated warare endeavor cripple the
power with whom they expect We understand
better motives for the Encouragement thrown in the way Of
the faithful execution Of the slave law by those who declaim
against the danger ofemployng force Laws only made
because something required than voluntary
keep and communities just towards each other and
law would be observed if it for the force by
which it is sustained. We do not that every law
qus the manifestation of physical power make observed
but law could be maintained at all against individual
price interest, but for the knowledge that society organ
lied and tribunals established, and array phys
force ready hand enforce obedience Force the
vital principle which makes any law of any value The laws
Of Congress- within their constitutional sphere, derive their
vitality from the principle any other law and to dis
courage assertion Of forces In such as the Boston mob
simply the power Of legislation, and reduce
the whole Federal Government to state Of piabe weak
ness prepared for and inviting dissolution by tho first shock
We hope such counses will have any effect upon the
Executive power the of the General Government
They have constitutional duty to perform in the maintain
the power Of the law and ought do thoroughly
and fully in the putting down Of mobs and the assertion Of
their ghu authority Il will be supported therein by the
great body Of intelligent and patriotic throughout the
Unon and especially in the South where the lawful
else Of unquestionabe power in cause which deeply in
ourselves will be thwarted discouraged
by those who deny the right to State, from the fear
Of less ustabe exercise in another state Of affairs
The Senators who take this ground Of dissent with the
Of the Executive sake the strong ground upon which
the South has entrenched itself within the constitution, and
for imaginary stimulated danger appear ready to throw
off at once every substantial defence attanable within the
Union. ,l. i4..,. I'll, at ~. rtn .s ,4 t4ees
Mr. Rhs Of South Carolina, goes further than this. in
weakening the securities given BY the fugitive slave law, and
dscardng the Federal authority the subject altogether
He boldly declares with Mr. Chase of Ohio the other ex
eme that the fugitive slave law is unconstitutional These
two the one South Carolina secessons and the other an
Ohio ab,ionist maintained 10 the Senate the doctrine that
the in the constitution for the surrender Of slaves
compact among the States be executed by the States only,
that Congress has power pass any law the sub
ect The act Of 1893 and the Of 1850 both pro-
nounced to be violations Of the constitution in contradiction
the decisions Of the Supreme Court Of the United States
that power this question with the United States, to the
exclusion Of the States According to this theory Massa
chuses perform all the legislation necessary enforce
the compact within the State, and according to the South
Carolina theory, may nuify BY refusing to execute it and
yet remain in the Union. yU
These vagaes Of various sections of the opposition to
the compromise laws and our readers will what wild the