The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-24

nroyes H. Az early as l643, when the country was
wilderness, and the movement Of persons from one
mart 10 another unfrequent and exceedingly dith-
cult the colonies of Massachusetts, and Plymouth
Connecticut and New Haven, found il necessary,
even in that primitive and imperfect union which
they founded TO stay themselves against destruc-
tion 70 insert article substantially like this one
THAT If any servant run away from his master
into any Of the confederate jurisdictions, that in
such case upon certificate from one magistrate in
the jurisdiction out Of which the servant fled, or
upon other due proof) the said servant shall De
either delivered to his master, or any DINER lhaA
pursues, and brings such certificate and proof
But we need not pause upon this very carry eA
perience of our New England ancestors ne
Government OF the United States had not peeh IN
operation two years, when the necessary u so''
silch nrovision in some FORM to preserve the peace
of bordering independentStates was cieailyp.o'eu'
You know that in 1859 Florida belonged 70 opaln'
and stretched along the southern ooraer Oh georgia
Well General Washing ton had not been TWO years
in ofice when the people Of southern Georgia be-
came SO uneasy on account or the escape oil their
sIsves across the border into Florida, as to make
yerv urgent representations to the National Gov
eminent demanding redress. And thereupon or
ders were obtained from the Spanish court to ar
rest the further reception of the tugitiycs, and to
make restitution; and President Washington sent
a special messenger into Florida TO see TO the exc
cution of these orders.
II is unnecessary TO enlarge upon thisi II any
one in this age expects TO live in peace, side by side
with the slaveholding States, without some etiec
tual stipulation as 10 the restoration Ol IuSltNts,
he must either be wise TO foresee events in no
wayconnected with human experience, or go iool
ish TO reject experience and probabilities as
guides of action.
know ii may be said ''Let the contest come
we arc ready for it. Let the blood of the slaugh-
tered be upon the heads Of those who are III the
wrong" When look abroad over a hundred
thousand happy homes in Massachusetts, and see
a people such as the blessed sun has rarely shone
upon-so intelligent, educated, moral, religious,
progre ssve, and free TO do every thing but wrong
when call TO mind its admirable constitution oil
government, and that 1t comes as near TO periec-
ton as the lot of humanity permits; when remem.
Der that these things the free gifts of that awful
Being who holds peoples and nations In the hollow
of his hand fear TO say that should not be In the
wrong to put all this at risk, because our passion
ate will impols us TO break promise which our
wise and good fathers made, not to allow class Of
foreigners to come here, or to send them back II
they come.
With the rights of those persons firmly believe
Massachusetts has nothing TO do. 1t Is enough Tor
us that they have no right to be here Our peace
and safety they have no right TO invade; wnether
they come ugitives and being here act as rebels
against our law, or whether they come as armed
invaders. Whatever natural rights they nave,
and admit those natural rights TO their fullest ex
tent tis is not the soil on which to vindicae them
This is our soil-sacred to oTpeace-on whlch We
intend to perform our promises, and work out Tor
the benefit Of ourselves, and our poserlty, ana tbe
world, the destiny which our Creator has assigned
to u.s. So far as He has supplied US with the means
to succor the distressed, we, as Christian men,
will do So and bid them welcome, and thank God
that we have the means to do 1t. But We Will not
act beyond those means; we will not violate sol
emn compact to do it; will not do itby holding
up our hands and swearing to render verdict &C
cording to the law and the evidence, and then
knowingly violate that oath; we will not plunge
into civil dscord to do it, will not shed blood TO
1T; we will not 80 throw away the rich gifts
which He has conferred upon us, not for our bene
fit alone but in trust for the countless generations
of His children.
In NV judgment these are not means which He
has confded TO us to enable TO succor the needy
and the oppressed of other States and far as de-
ponds upon me, these means shall never be used.