Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-19

protection against lis penalties The law Of Congress para
mount, and must be obeyed.
Opinions expressed in the case Of Pgg VS.. the Com
monwealh of Pennsyvana that The power Of Congress
provide the mode Of suenderng up the fugitive under the
suton exclusive and that the States disabled from
acting at all on the subject Others that the power was con-
current and although the States could pass law in
ict with the ac Of Congress- il was competeot for them "a
pass laws in aid Of and in srhersnce Of the execution
the constitutional provision.
important here express any opinion upon these
different vews o whether the the other shall finally
PREVAIL the result Is the same In either view, law in
fict with the act OF Congress is void and of no effect
Il is not to be disguised that the legislation of most il no,
all Of the Northern States tending embarrass and in some
instances to annu the provision of the act Of l793 has
strongly impressed our Southern brethren with the conviction
that those States have resolved to throw off that constitutional
obligation. They take it for granted and il is difficult 10
deny the inference that the reflect the sentiment
Of the people the subject and that it must have become
deep and abiding to be sufficiently powerful mould the
State legislation.
It this legislation, than occasional rotous assem-
bes in resistance Of the law that has forced them to the
ton whether the Unon with this provision Of the funda-
mental law rejected and conemneda provision vital to the
rights and interests of that portion, and without which the
Union would never have been rmed-is them blessing
curse question raised, not by disaected and tumu
assembagesoen very equvocak evidence of the real
sentiment Of the pubc mndbut by the people Of the States
through their organized governments and question
amned and discussed in the mode through the agencies that
examined and discussed that Of entering into the Union at the
adoption Of the constitution
This question has been raised by fifteen States Of the Con-
federacy, six of whom original parties the compact
has been examined and considered over and over by
the Governors In their public messages by the Representa-
ves in their Legislative halls by the people in their primary
assemblies and BY the press and they have to the
soluon and ALL that if this hostile legislation 10
ed into effect, and the constitutional obligation longer ad
hoya1 bu hoirN h,tfh oft
garded, and contemned, the Union is longer blessing,
and should be dssoved that the abrogaon of material
provision of the fundamental law destructive Of the
pact and the portion Of the Union for whose benefit il
adopted and whose rights and interests thereby endanger
ed, is sbsolved from its allegiance.
This believe be the settled conviction and sentiment of
fifteen States of this Unon and presents issue Of the
graves aspect d one that can neither be evaded nor sup
pressed.
II is an issue which the Northern States must determine
fer themselves That laws exist the statute books of
If not all them in conflict with the act Of Congress- and
pugnant to this provision Of the constitutions is matter Of his
tory That the enforcement Of these laws would be vr
us abrogaor Of the provision il is not to be denied re
mains for th@e States determine whether any attempt
shall be made to enforce hem-wheher they remain
on the statutebook dead letter or be repealed
These questions of transcendent import; for the deter
minaon them, in my humble Judgment involves the per-
petuity Of the Union.
am that opinions are entertained, and doubtless
honestly entertained that the Union has not been at any time
in DANGER and is not wish these opinions were well
ounded My deep conviction and belief is that depends
this upon the confidence inspired by the late pro-
ceedngs in Congress- and by the indications of public sen
ment in the ne States that this constitutional obligation will
be hereafter executed in the faith and spirit with which
entered into that the friends of the Union In the savehod
ing States now maintain their ascendency and the allegiance
Of their States by the confidence thus inspired And that
n of any action the part of the Northern States
destructive of that confidence, and Of all hope of the
ton Of the obligation, it would not be in their power to main
add thov
could
any one supposes that this Union be preserved after
material provision Of the fundamental law upon which it
rests is broken and thrown to the winds by section of it
provision in which nearly oneha Of the States comprising
deeply and seriously nterested-he is laboring under
deusioD which the he gets rid Of the better If Is
not preserved, which do not doubt will by stern adhe
this fundamental law, and to every part and parcel
IT, no one section Of the Union throw of the obga-
ton Of part in which has interest," because another
is exclusively interested, and expect to preserve it.
The very supposition implies degradation and dshonor
broken faith the sde and abect submission on the
other.
Neither can the motive for breaking the compact afford
any apology justification. If article may be set aside
by portion because repugnan to their Of right
and justice, another may be, because it is against their in
teres.
sNo State shall without the consent Of Congress- lay any
mposts duties imports exports by article of this
fundamental law. Suppose New York. deeming this article
prudcal to her interests BY crPpng too much her re-
and revenue, should levy duties upon the immense
trade and exchange exsng and continually increasing,
between the Great West and Eastern brethren upon
the vast coal trade which neghbong sister, Pennsy
vania, for which afford extensive market would the
motive afford any excuse for the nacon of the constitution
And yet looking the compact and to the constitutional du
ties and obligations arising out Of It, and binding all this
motive is just Is available any other to justify
the nfraction.
The example Of breaking the compact upon any motive is
dangerous With what face can State rebuke another
for Of allegiance when she has thrown it off herself
Her rebuke would be "iaughed to scorn."
This Union must and shall be preserved at ALL by that
storm, odashioned honesty and principle which nculcates
the fument Of the whole constitutional duties and OBJ
legations and every part Of them It was this spirit that
formed the compact and has thus far preserved through all
its trials and assaults; and it is this spirit that must and will
trust carry it safely hereafter through whatever pers and
misforunes it may be destined to encounter.
As men possessing these sturdy and manly virtues have
thus far been found in the republic equal every trial and
exgency, 80 do not doubt they will be hereafter. And
they will have their blessings of all good men of
the times in which they live and Of unborn millions, who
will be indebted he under the favor Of heaven for the
rich heritage they enjoy.
scrsx sor IN TIE BILIs-On Saturday evening" at
the Walnut Street THEATRE in Phladelpha at the end Of the
performance of the new tragedy, "The Lydan Queen,
written by Mr. Duganne the author called for and came
before the curtain and after thanking the audience for the
compliment to him. turned with much severity on Mr. Coul-
dock, who had part in the tragedy charging him with
butcheng" it. well by his actng by omissions and
interpoations-and ntima.ed that characteristic of
foreign actors conemn native dramatic productions and
that these unwaraned liberties with the text exercised
from evil and not from good motives. The assault fol-
lowed with much confusion and noise, amid which Mr. Coui
dock appeared conessedy much excited To the complaint