Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-12
MR.. RANToUL's POSITION DEFINED.

] The Hon. ROBERT RANToUL, jr. late Senator
for few days from Massachusetts, has at last de-
fined his position. Mr. Rantoul is candidate for
Congress in the second Congressional district OF
Massachusetts, with prospects OF election which
have heretofore been any thing but encouraging.
It is also well known that Mr.. Rantoul has for
many years past been ambitious OF distinction, and
anxious to obtain seat in Congress. Finding that
the party to which he has heretofore been attached
was not likely to obtain sufficient strength to help
him to the coveted seat, bold resort he deter
mined to solicit Freesoil support.
Accordingly, Convention of the Democrats OF
the district assembled by request of Mr.. Rantoul.
The town of Lynn, being considered the hot-bed
lof AbOli,ionsm in the district, selected as the
most favorable place Freesoi support. The Con-
venion met on Thursday and Mr. Rantoul delivered himself
speech of two hours in length much to the edcaon Of
the Freesoes there who probably forgot that the orator
was member Of the Convention which nominated Gen. Cass
and strong supporter of the nonntervenon resolutions
Of tha, Convention.
The subject matter of the speech Of Mr. Rantoul the
fugitive slave law and the following resolutions which he
read the peroraion Of the Speech state his position
clearly Gas he very truly remsrked than the speech itse
Resolved That the Constitution of the United States has
not conferred upon Congress the power to enact any law a
horng officers the United States determine the slavery
freedom of persons found within the territory Of any State
and convey them of the State wherein they found
to bs 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 of alleged fugitive from
service suit law wherein the fact whether
said fugitive lawfully held to service in the State from
which he is alleged have escaped shall be determined BY
Resolved That such trial by jury should precede the de-
livery into the hands the party claiming him Of such alleged
fugitive and should be had in the vicinity where the said
alleged fugitive is found
Resoed That in the determination of the question Of
liberty all pesumpons Of law and fact and ought to be
in favor Of liberty.
Resolved That the fugitive slave law enacted by the Con-
gress lately expired contravenng these principles unjust,
UNCONSTITUTIONAL in derogaon Of the fundamental maxins Of
free government and ought to be speedily and forever
repealed.
The burden Of the speech Of Mr. RASroUL was, that the
decision of the Supreme Court Of the United States in the
Of Prgg the State Of Pennsylvania unconstu-
ona He held that the States alone constitutonaly
gislate for the surrender Of fugves When remember
that the Supreme Court is the Authorized exponent Of
constitution hardly know which the most deserving Of
dcu, the presumption Of Mr. Rantou in thus e1pounding
the constitution according his notions, his selcon-
ceit in setting up has opinion the rule Of action for party
against that Of the able and learned Judges Of the Supreme
Court.
The speech Of Mr. Rantou draws the lines between the
National and the Sumner Democrats He assumes to speak
the Democrats. and they party must take the
ground which he has taken OF be longer
ceive the support Of the national branch Of the party In
deed, he plainly ntmated that he did not want it. He looks
the Fseso party for sympathy and succo and hopes by
their aid obtain the muchcoveted seat in the lower branch
Congress- with the eversion Of Summers unavailable in
in the vacant in the Senate Whether the result
will justify his hopes remains to be seen. The Common
Oeah evidently snu danger in the breeze and very cooy
says Of Mr. Rantous effort that "he acquitted himself
readers will !" The wary friends Of Mr. Sumner do
not like the movements Of Mr. Rantoul-Boston Journal