Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-24
John Van Buren, again in the
Field.

John an 0uf0u again LII LA6
Field.
At the great gathering at fremont Temple
on the day that Sims was consigned TO bondage,
a letter was received and read in the meeting,
from JOHN VAN buren,, among those Of Sc
wARD,C r. ADAMS and others. In this able and
eloquent letter, Mr.. Van Buren,, after showing,
with great force. the Fugitive Slave Law to be
unconstitutional concludes as follows;
But we are told we must not discuss these
subjects. Those who are daily whiting, speak
ing, meeting, dancing, and dining to put down
agitation, admonlsh us to be silent. We are told
that Congress has adopted a system of Comprom-
Use measures on the subject of Slavery which
must not be disturbed. My recollection of the
occurrences referred to is different from this
/ think as a system they failed-the bill which
embodied them as a Compromise was defeated
the Omnibus was upset. Even the most dis
tnguished men who advocated them in a lump,
took no part in their final passage. 1t was not
until the distinguished Chairman of the commit
tee OF thirteen retired from an eight months cam
paign in the Senate, which he lost, to Teinvigo-
rate his system in the waters Of Newport, and
his able associate as a fugitive from the justice
of Massachusetts escaped into the Cabinet OF
President Fillmore, that the several bills on the
subject Of Slavery in the United States sepa-
rateIy passed into laws. Each of them must
therefore now stand or fall by itself.
Again, we are told, that the union of these
States is in danger. This information comes to
me, at least. exclusively from politicians, and
merchants engaged in a particular branch Of
business. Without intending to say anything
in the least disInspectful of either of these high
y respectable classes OF traders, | cannot over
look the fact that they are both seeking south.
ern support. Their interests, therefore, may
nslead their judgement, and certainly then
anxiety may magnify, if not make, The danger.
So far as | know the feelings of the North, there
is a universal devotion TO the Union, and a gen.
eral willingness to secure to the Shareholder his
full constitutional rights. | believe the devo-
ton to the Union is almost equally universal al
the South. The signal failure of the two Nash,
VILE Conventions-the moderated tone of Ala
bama, Georgia and Mississippi, the loyalty, wis.
dom, and patriotism OF Virginia, North Carolina
Tevas KontLaky, Louisiana and Tennessee, oil
serve to show that the affection for the Union
"IlCu OuBHL w uC lllS COlLlnlOl SGHIlilIGII vi eV'
cry American, and the brotherly love and mutu-
al respect that should cement it, are limited tc
no section, but pervade the entire Republic
There are and ha Je been two unions in danger
which alarms the aged politician. refer to the
union OF National Wings, and the union ofNa
tional Democrats; these two organizations have
been shaken, if not dissolved by the agitation o
the Slavery question, and those who derive con
o,,,,oroo $50. E,,l,booI Er,n, o;tbon Louo L.,
naturally alarmed at the danger to those unions
But the union Of these States, in my humbl,
Judgment, has never been in danger since 1882
| distrust political punics and Washington crieI
of alarm | appeal from the fevers and Paintings
at the Capitol to the sound health and steady
pulse of the Nation. There is not a farmer, o
mechanic, o. laboring man in the United States
in my Judgement, that believes the Union il
danger. / appeal from the artificial heat o
partisan orators and writer's, to the more certaiI
thermometer of Wall Street, United State
Stocks, during all the alleged danger to tn,
Union have stood firm or advanced. But Their,
is no need of producing this evidence. Thos,
who have assumed a monopoly of saving thu
Union, / believe now concede that 1t is out O
danger. They fad leisure now to save them
selves.
But | must bring this unreasonably long com
munication to a close. | have awaited mysel
of this occasion to discuss the co0stitutionalit
Of the act concerning tugItives. ] have treate,
it, as the Constitution treats it, although as
question Of property, wholly emitting to adver
to the question of humanity and freedom so in
timately connected with it. | have assigne,
the reason why | think it unconstitutional, with
out stopping to consider how it shocks ever,
notion of Justice and right. | do not believ
there is a civilized country on earth that woul
now enact such a law. | do not intend to con
fue this remark to governments which permit
trial BY jury-nor to free governments-nor t
Christian governments. But | design to sa.
that no civilized government would tolerate tn
seizure and subsection to bondage of one of it
citizens or subjects in the mode that this LAY
allows, if it does not invite. But | have referre
altogether to its unconstitutionality. How ar
lis consequences to be avoided ? So far as thi
is to be done by legislation, it seems to me tn,
remedy is with the State Legislatures. Ar eX
%ceIlent bill for that purpose has been Introduce
into our Assembly by Mr.. Coffin, Of Otsego, an
| trust it may become a law. 1t does not pre-
sumo to legislate for fugitive slaves. Itprotect
the free inhabitants of our own State, and pre-
sumes all the inhabitants to be free. Othe
States will of course legislate as they deer
wise, In the meantime every individual shout
determine for himself what respect he will pa
to the act of Congress in question. There is
distinction between an unjust and an u%nconsti
%tutional law. The former must be obeyed till
is repealed. Disobedience to the latter is fire
qnentIy the only mode of testing its unconstitu
tlonaIlty. A DISTINGUISHED advocate of our State
the Judge of one of our oldest and most Tranquil
counties, recently adopted this mode of testin!
the constitutionality of a city ordinance. 1t i
far from my wish to offer any advice to other
upon this subject, | have already said that tn,
law applies to persons of all colors, and to scr
vice Of every kind and would simply add tina
it | should be seized under this law, | shout,
resist it with all the means 1 could command.
Respectfully yours,
]. VAN buren,.
New York, April A, 1851,