Democratic banner., 1851-06-25
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.

daniel WEBSTER, Whit on MS nortletn toul
with President Fillmore, eiecfioneering,a as is sup
posed, for the nomination of Fillmore for the mex
Presidency, made many speeches, in which h
said, as usual, when he speaks at all, a grea
many very fine things. If Mr.. Webster were
undertaking to illustrate and enforce the proprie
Ity of the old measures of the Wing party, h,
would find It rather an uphill business; but con
Isidering many Of them "obsolete," as he ha'
heretofore declared, he leaves them to slumbel
where, experience has placed them. and applies
|hinsslf 10 the practical questions Of the day.
Upon the questions connected with the slavery
agitation Of the present time, Mr.. Webster ha,
placed himself upon national grounds. Hi,
course in regard to it Of late years, has been en-.
|irely in eonsonance with what we deem the let.
ter and spirit of the constitution. His Logical
endorsements of constitutional duty, urged in the
most eloquent and impressive manner, should
have exercised a powerful influence in restrain.
ing the foolish falaticism Of the northern people,
and r~eyiying in them the lqng-lost respect due
TO tbee{ights and interests Of, the southern peo-
pie. = cannot be denied, that he had a great
share IN thu work Of creating this szcits,nens.-
He, however, discovered its evil tendencies, and
stept forward to avert the consequences Of his
own inprudence. The work had been seized
upon by rash and desperate men, regardless Of
che Constitution, and determined d. eject their
al the sscrifcs oftbe blessings of.hs Union.
The following Is an extrae: from bis speech at
Albany, N. Y: r...1 e.a4l .erga=
Now, under this state Of things, gentle
men, when the Constitution was framed,it it,
trainers, and the people who sdopted II,
came to q clear, express unquestionable
stipulation and compact. There had been
ancient practice for many yssrs-for q
century, for aughs l know-according to
which fugitives from service, whether ap.
preutices at tho North, or slaves at the
Sonth-should be restored. Massachusetts,
had restored fugitive slaves TO Virgins long
before the adoption Of the Constitution;snd
il ID well knoWn that in other States, in
which slavery did or did not cxist-theyI
were restored. And II was held that any
man could pursue his slave and take him
wherever he could find him. Under this
state Of things, It was expressly stipulated,
in tbsplainest language-andthe there Il stands;
sophistry cannot gloss tit cannot be era
sed from the page ofths Constitution-thers|
il stands, that persons held to service or
in one State, under the laws thereof
escaping into another, shall not, in conse.
qusnca q any Law or regulation therein, bel
from such service OF labor, butt
shall be delivered up,upon claim ofthe par
Ly to whom such service or labor shall bel
due. This was adopted without dissent
nowhere objected to, North or South-bu,I
as Q matter Of absolute right and
Justice to the Southern Stsses--cohcurred|
in everywhere, BY every State that sdopt-
ed the Constitution; and we look in vein for
any opposition from Massachusetts, to Geor-|
gia.
Then, this being the case-this being the|
provision Of the constitution, soon after
Congress had organised, in General Wash-l
time, it was found necessary to pass
q law to carry that provision Of the %consti-
tuition into effect. Such a Law was prepar.
ed and passed. It was prepared by g gen.
tleman from a Northern State. 1t is said i'll
was drawn by MI. Cabot, Of Massachusetts.
was supported by him and by Mr.. Good
hue, and BY Mr.. Sedgwiek, Of Msssachu-
.etts, and generally By, as ! think, all the
free States. There was hardly q tenth of
ill the votes against It, if I rightly renem.
Der. Il vent into operation, and, for q time,
i satisfied the just rights and expectations
Of everybody. That law provided that its
should be carried into effect
mainly by State magistrates, Justices oftheI
peace, judges Of State courts. sheriEs of
State counties, and other organs of Statel
authority. So things went on withoutloud
complaints from any quarter, until some if
teen years ago, when some Of the States
he fsp4 Stetss-thought it proper fol. themI
10 pass laws proiibit;ng their own magis.
and officers from executing this iawI
IF Congress, under heavy penalties, and rel
using to United States authorities the use
II their prisons for the detention Of personsl
as fugitive slaves. That is to say,
;hese States passed sets defeating the Law
If Congress az fer as wa in theis power.-I
Those Of them to which ! rsfsr-not oil, butt
Ievefsl--nGlliied the Law Of '93 sntiYsly.-l
\ hev naid-uWew ill mt ~ovsrnsa Il Nal