The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-12
THE UNION.


tonsl far provided for the surrender OF fugtvss
from labor This discrimination Mr.. Van Buren, attempts
to orify by new distinction which his has dis.
covered but which Gen Washington and the Congress Of
1898 overlooked 1t is put forth with his characteristic
modesty. He says that the fugitive from justice rs
with public offence. The demand made for
him is made by the executive authority Of State. and he
must be removed TO the State having jurisdiction OF the
crime This is Mr.. Van Buren's great discovery dis
covery which every one knew before he undertook TO
enlghen the public this question. And what does
amount TO! Improving the unconsttuonaty OF the ugi-
tive law Certainly not Afugitye slave is not charged
with public offence, nor is the moon made OF green
cheese--two important facts which have about equal
weight in testing the constutionality of the fugitive
slave acts of 1893 and 1850. fugitive from justice is
delivered up on the claim of the executive authority Of
State. Why! Because the constitution desgnaes the
executive authority Of the State the proper source
from which the demand should emanae fugitive from
labor is delivered up the claim of the person entitled
10 his labor Whyi Simply because the constitution
says that he shall be delivered up such claim. The
constitution expressly says that the fugitive from service
or labor sha be delivered up clam Of the PARTY TO
toho,n such service or labor may be due"
The person delivered up fugitive from justice
(says MIR Van BUREN, is removed to the State having
jurisdiction OF the crime but the fugitive from service IS
removed to whatever place the claimant peases The fact
is not So But admit il to be and what does prove
tending to shake the consttuonay OF the laws OF 1898
and 1850, Just about much the important fact that
the moon is not made of green cheese. But Mr.. Van
Buren, is mistaken in his facts II the fugitive from
vice may be wrongully and illegally carried of to Brazil
and sod so may the fugitive pm justice be wrongfully
and illegally lynched by the way As to the trial by
ury--which Mr.. Van Buren, contends the surrendered
fugitive from Justice Of obtaining by being
remanded to the State having jurisdiction OF bis alleged
ofence-that cannot be made the foundation for
an argument inasmuch the surrendered fugitive from
service has the right of similar trial in any STATE into
,yich the person claiming has services may carry him,
or cause him to be carried If slave be surrendered in
New York, his owner cannot sell him in slave
holding State He must take him to slaveholdng
State and the very instant he into the borders OF
slaveholding State. the alleged slave demand his
freedom he can demand trial of the fact of slavery
the courts will assign him counsel-require his to
surrender him up to the officers of the law, give
pie security TO have him the trial. with ample time to
prepare his Defence and he will have justice done him at
the public expense The codes Of most if not all the
slaveholdng States have special provisions on this very
point and the practice of the bench and the bar has uni
formly secured to the applicant all the BENEFITS Of i'm
partial investigation.
But why argue with Mr.. Van Buren, further His own
statements and admissions calculated TO refute them
selves destroy all his positions and to expose the SIN
lister motives which appear actuate his political conduct
Speaking of the constitutional provision for the surrender
of fugitive slaves, he says The RIGHT OF RECEPTION,
WITHOUT 4 BREACH THE PEACE, WAS, IN MY JUDO
MEsT, THE REMEDY LOOKED TO AND SECURED BY THE
PROHIBITION" This admission all his argu-
ments The a. right of reception by the plaintiff is
enough TO Justify a much more summary mode of pro-
ceedng than what is set forth in the law of 1850.
Mr. Van Buren,, after making the pregnant admission
we have mentioned, goes TO argue that the claim
to fugitive slave institutes suit at common law.
curing jury trial in the jurisdiction where the claim
is made He then gives vent TO column of
words and sophsns intended only for ad edpta~dum
srgxemi which really deserve particular notice He
concludes hi. letter. however with this sedous advice
to the fugitive slaves to rests, the laws of the land
There is a distinction between unjust and
peaed disobedsnce the latter frequently the only
mode Of testing its unconsiituonality distinguished
most tranquil countie.-recsny adopted this mode Of
ing the consutonality Of city ordinance far from
oiier advice others this subject
have aitesdy said thar the law applies per,ons
coors and service OF every kind, and would simply
add tha II should be seized under this Law should
SYST with all the means could command"
There one point OF resemblance between the letters
OF Mr. Seward and Mr.. Van Buren, which deserves no
ce Both OF these gentlemen to be aware OF the
dangerous tendency Of the dsoganzng doctrines they
teach Both OF them the necessity Of dupng the PEG.
ple in order to avoid the popular Indignation which they
so Justly have incurred. MIR. Sewards words al
ready before our readers Mr. Van Buren, holds the fol
lowing language on this point:
Again we are told Union OF those States |. In
danger This Information comes to me, at least, excu.
uisr branch OF business Without intending TO say any
thing in the least dsespectu of either of these highly
classes OF traders cannot overlook the fact thst
ney both seeking southern support Their interests
ay misie ad and certainly
nxeiy magnify II not make, the danger. so far
know the feeling the North there is devotion
his iu constitutional rights believe the de-
voon the Union is almost equally universal mt the
South"
Thus we the insidous of these politicians.
who for mere selfish purposes, willing 10 leopard
the Union OF their country. They understand the dan
gers which such unprncpled eckessness is calculated
to provoke They feel that the people will those
dang ers 100 and hence their eagerness to show that
there is no danger 10 the Union that the homes; portion
OF the northern people may not rise up against them, and
crush them disurbersdangerous disturbers-of the
public peace.
Recent events and the letters which have been no.
cng, show plainly thaa strong sympathy exists, and that
coalition is at hand, between Mcssrs. Seward and Van