Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-08

attention oil the Senate and Of eow citizens Of the
States the duty which thus devoes upon them under the
state Of things the existence Of which has been thus demon
straed These abolition societies exist where slavery does
not exist They protected by the laws Of the States
within which they exist and they have object within the
limits Of those States upon which hey operate. Their
origin, their purpose, their continued existence therefore,
not devoted the accomplishment Of any object within the
limits Of the State by whose laws they protected bot
the disturbance Of the peace and harmony of their sister States
of the Union. say it the bounden duty of those States
in the spirit Of that relation which exists between
confederate States to do what they do peaceaby and eff
centy, and what the Fedeml Government may be able
accomplish without the Of foce. say is the duty
Of those Sates by their Legislation, repress these ag
atons having no legitimate object within the limits Of those
States. and which only calculated to destroy the peace Of
the Confederacy
Mr. Presidents may be told that freedom Of speech and of
the press s guaranteed by the constitution. Be So But
there other rights also which guaranteed by that in
srument One principle of law Of justice and Of common
sense, is that however absolute h right which any
possesses, he may not it nct any injury upon
Others Sic utere tt, ut Gensm idcre, is maxim of
law, but it is maxim also Of common and Of Justice
the people thus associated and claiming this right Of Free
dom Of speech and the press exercise it for no legitimate
purpose within their limits for the enjoyment Of right
which they p,ssess but solely for the purpose Of disturbing
the peace and violating the rights Of Others residing States
in which slavery exists, they violate that principle and
longer within the pae Of the protection Of the constitution
The Senate will bear with me in very brief view of this
subject They willno, trust, consider that time mis-
spent which is employed in fixing this great principle the
basis which truth justice the laws Of nations the consi
tuition the country and uniform practice have esab
lshedit say thsn, II is established principle OF the
law Of nations thatno State has right to do thing,
within her limits which may operate inuriousy
the people of anoth, although foreign State, with whom
they at peace. The proposition is laid down simply,
briefly, and yet forcbly by Vste that will for
ment refer TO it, ker stating that nation ought to
init actions tendingto inure others, Vattel says
manuves tendinyto create disturbance another State, 10
fome disorder, sc, to raise enemies against it," Sc Sc
This principle o the law Of nations thus stated BY this
writer and recognized sy every other the subject en-
the Convsnsion Of Georgia BY the constitution Of the United
States one Of the objects declared in the preamble being
ensure The g domestic tranquility" Of each State The OBJ
legation, then, which exists beeen foreign States, by
any act committed within their Ims disturb the repose
any State, is recognised, enfacsd, and applied by the
constitution Of the United States to the people Of the several
States composing this condeay. And, sir, the Govern
men Of the United States has AIDED upon this principle from
its very foundation. II is acting upon IT, at the very
moment in which am speaking to you. That principle lies
at the foundation Of all the law your statute book which
nhibit citizens Of the UnteG States from fitting out armed
vessels within the United States to cruise against nation at
peace with them. The offence is complete before the injury
s done ts the foreign nation is the act Of fitting out with
the intent cruise agansa nation with which the United
States at peace So, also, the provisions which forbid
any warke preparation fol the purpose of doing injury to
the people Of such foreign State.
But again. this principe acted upon by this Govern
ment in the most decisive manner in its interference to pre-
the aid alleged have been given to the revouontsn
Canada by sending General Scott to the Canadian border to
prevent that assistance from being gven acted upon
in Texas when American chzens were forbidden to unite ID
aiding that portion Of brethren who had strayed from U.S.
their contest with Mexico for their independence. was
acted upon by the late President the United States when he
issued proclamation against those who were en-
gagged in fitting expedition against Cuba And II Is
now, this momen acted upon by the judicial trlbu
mails Of the United States in New Orleans where persons are
under the provisions Of these laws for having been
engaged in that against Cuba Then, cir, these
States totally unconnected and foreign to each ohe the
conduct of abolition society in one Of them seeking by Its
emssares and press excite to the slaves
in another State in violation would be Of the law Of
TONS would be grounds complaint and if continued, Of
open war Then the only inquiry which remains in ascer
tanning the duties Of the people Of these States is is this Prn
cple Of international law, applicable as between foreign ma
ons less obligatory and less imperative as between confede
States Joined together in one common bond OF Union,
one great and declared object Of which is to the domes
tic tranquility and peace OF each State
As further answer this objection, that the legislatures
Of these States by passing laws to press abolition societies
would interfere with the freedom of speech and Of the press
refer the Senate the very able State paper Of which
have spoken the message Of the Governor of New York.
in the wear 1885, In that message, with precise reference
to this question: between the confederate States of this
Unon the power and the duty Of the free States to suppress
these apatons OF the slavery question within their limits
and by their legislation fully considered and distinctly
affirmed After having spoken Of the conduct Of aboionss
in the State Of New York. the Governor says
regard for the character of State, for the public
interest for preservation of peace among citizens
well as respect for the obligations created by po
cal institutions and relations calls upon do what may be
DONE consistently with the principles Of civil liberty
nut an end to the evils which the sbotonss are bringing
upon us and the whole country"
Pursung the subject after examining the proceedings and
objects the aboons and stating the strong and repeat
ed dsapprobaton of their conduct which had been manifest
ed by great body Of the people Of New York. and
pressing the hope and belief that this would have the effect
of repressing further agitation, he says
But il these reasonable expectations should, unhappily
be disappointed if in the face Of and striking exh
bons Of public reprobaen elected from constituents
by lust fear OF the fatal issues which the uncurbed efforts
abotonsts may ultimately end any considerable por-
ton Of these misguided shall persist n pushing them tor
disastrous consequence then question, to our
then be determined how far the several States provide
within the exercise of their constitutional and
how far in fument Of their obligations resulting from these
federal relations, they ought provide by their laws for
the trial aud punishment by their udcatores o resi-
within their limits guilty Of therein, which are cal
cuated and intended to excite n,urecou and rebellion in
sister State"
Here then, is the question distinctly saied the question
on which the state Of things hers described will require de-
cision. and the Governor ssys upon that subject
al cannot doubt that the the power to
pass penal laws viii have the effect Of preventing hs
citizens Of this State and residents within from assing
themselves with impuny of the protection OF its sovereignty
and laws while they actually employed exciting insur-
recon and sedton in sister Sste engaged IN rsssoa-
able enterprises, intended to be executed therein"