Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-11-07
Letter from Judge Davis.

Letter from Judge Davis.
On Saturday aticrnoon the LIST inst, short
time previously to our leaving Montpelier, the
subiolned communication was placed in our
hands. 1t was accompanied by the following
note from Judge DAvIs:-
GEN. D. w. G. CLARkE:-
SIR, ask the favor OF having thu enclosed in
serted in your daily and also your weekly, AS soon
as practicable.
Ii after perusa you should think it proper to de-
cline inserting it, will thank you TO return the
manuscript Immediately.
Your obed't. scrvt.,
CHARLES DAVIS.
Montpelier, Oct. 81 1851.
1t will be seen that even the inconsidcrablc
delay in the publication Of the communication
indicated by its date, is in no wise attributable
to us and we assure its estlmable author that
if it had reached us on Friday the 3Ist We
should have endcavored to make it "practica-
ble' to insert it in the Duty Free Press of
Saturday.
The following is Judge DAyIs's commune
cation:-
TO the Editor Of the Darlington Free Press:
SIR-In your weekly paper OF this morning, |
perceive under the head of " Editorial COrrespun
dence" from Montpelier, nearly column OF strc-
tn es upon the Report OF the Judiciary Committee,
made to the House some days ago. tie general tone
and spirit of which would eiiecually have screened
them from notice on my part, it not Tor several
r Z l,t,h Aectr
that the readers OF your paper should not remain
in error.
You assert that the Report expresses incidentally
q favorable opinion Of that beauty OF Law iainiar-
" known a. tho Fugitive Slave Law" II you mean
by favorable opinion, an opinion that the Law was
either pcdlent, Just o. proper, have only to say
that it neither expresses implies any thing OF the
kind The argument in reference TO that Act, though
making prctenslons to being cons Tered "eldbo-
rdte i. simply directed TO the question Vi It's consll-
/ tutionaliIy, and TO the view we are warranted from
the past in supposng the highest judicial trbuna OF
the Country will take of it. The author OF the Re-
port never supposed that its ine1pcdiency, however
firmly established could have any effect in weaken
in4 is claim TO obedience, and therefore thought II
quite useless discuss that point, in an inquiry look
ing merely to a supposed repugnancy between our
own local leg slation and that OF the general govern
menl. lie has not even taken the trouble TO inquire
OF the other members of the Committee what them
opinions were in that respect. My own sentiments
have never hesitated to avow on all proper occa-
SONS. in writing as well as orally. They in en-
tire harmony with what suppose to be the nearl.
unanimous sentiments OF the people OF Vermont :
that is to say that the Law Is harsh, neIpedent unc
unjust.
Ineyrr saw or pretended to see any bcailfy" il
it. never could have assentcd to lis passage had
been in condition to have entitled me TO vote up
on it, desrs its repeal or essential modification a
sincerely the Editor Of the Free Press can DO bu
am constrained TO add that see lutte or no pros
pect OF such consurnnation.
You say the Report is looked upon as an effort t
WebSterisc the Wing party OF this State. With hov
much Justice such design oan he imputed 10 the tw
members OF the Committee, whom you sIppos, t
have concurred in the Report, your readers vi
, probably be able Juls-, when they consider thu
neither oil them nave any aihnltrs with that party
and cannot therefore be suspected OF a design t
, mould public sentiment so as TO favor the pollticl
aspirations OF Mr.. Webster, any other promlneI
Wing.
G Being myself Wing it becomes proper for me /
+ disclaiIn, as | do in the most explicit terms, an
. such purpose. | have not hosted a Webster fla.
nor a Fillmore flag, nor Scott flag nor any oth'
flag When the great Wing party OF the Nauo
snail have put forward in the usual mode, cant
date for the highest post il the gut OF the people,
j have an abiding conviction that he will be such
man as can cheeriuy vote Tor.
In the mean time my individual preferences a
I,io tlv de IA M me- m
bring public opinion into harmony with my ylew'
nor had the vanity, which have not, 10 lmagil
u that they would be OF any avail.
n You say the Report argues the whole qneslc
N on the side OF that poor hotchpotch known as Il
le compromise measures"
a What wIIl the wor Id say, when informed that t
= Repot contains not u syllable warrhntng such
statement The idea of passing commemorate
. upon that system OF measures never entered the "
s. tiers mind.'
- With the view, presume, OF exciting an unlpu
lc ded prejudice, you insnuate coincidence OF vle'
- between the Castle Garden Safety Committee n
. myself You had not the slightest ground IN I
- world Tor such an insinuation
" My conneXion during the past winter with the
: York press made me somewhat familiar with I
IL principles and proceedings OF that Sonrn hat rrnow
d, ed body OF wealthy and talented Merchants and pl
IN iessiOnal men.
! never had the slightest sympathy with eth
" the one or the other, Their unpnncped altcm
or a. tar as Wings were concerned TO defeat the regu
n Wing candidate Ior Governor last Fall-their pl
as use expenditure OF money in setting up newsplp'
" advocating ultra Southern sentiments, procurI
aud paying for speeches and sermons Nc adyot
ing such sentiments, and worst OF all IN contrli
h' ting largely in paying the expenses OF slayr-own
IS, aud slave catchers in pursuing aud recovering III
to ugitivr- were acts which could not but condo
& IN decided tenn, and my position enabled me