Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-10-21
MIR. CLAWS LETTER,


able and imposing from friends and fellow citizens so
numerous and intelligent, and to whom am under
such great obligations, have persued it with profound
attention and deference After advertng to the present
state public affairs, to the spirit adverse to the
sures OF compromise adopted during the last Congress
which prevails in certain quarters to the necessity of
unremitted exertions to preserve glorious Union,
and to what has been 50 seJsonably aud we'll
done, with so much ability, eioquence and pari-
otsm, by some Of our eminent countrymen, you
invite me to leave, for lue my quiet abode here, to
appear 10 your great city, aud to address my fellow
citizens on the actual condition. and menacng danger
OF our country.
deepest socltude, the full force OF all that you have
expressed and would gladly comply with your wish
es, and even dedicate the OF iiIe the lar
gest and best part of which has been spent in the pub
lie service, TO the cause OF the Union, if the state
OF my health would allow me, and if believed that
any fiesh eXertIons OF mine would be useful But
ever since the long session of the last Congress- during
winch my arduous dAes were greater than was well
able to encounter my health mas been de cate, and
1t has remained so throughout the past Summer. |
hope that it is improving, but it still requires the most
assdious care, and entertain serious apprehensions
mat II were 10 accept your invitation, and throw
myself INTO the OF excitement incident to
IT,, my strength might fail me, and my present
debility might be much increased, There is no
place, L am fully aware, where L should find
more ardent and enthusiastic friends in one party
and more courtesy and respect 10 the other than in
commercial metropolis of the Union Whilst
am constrained, with much regret, respectfully to de
|
cason to present some views which | have taken OF
public affairs, and which trust may be received as
substitute Tor any oral exhibition them, which could
lake before large concourse OF my fellow citizens
| in New York.
1t was not supposed by the authors and supporters
OF the compromise, In the last Congress, that the
adoption of The series of measures which composed
It, would secure the unanimous concurrence of all
Their reasonable hopes were confined to the great
majority of the people of the United States, and their
| hopes have not been disappointed EVERYWHERE
| tO,S an main tV
OF the people satisfied with or acquiesce in the
compromise. This may be confidently asserted in
regard to thirteen OF the slavehodng states and to
thirteen If not fourteen of the free states In few
OF both classes of the States and in some particular
localities dissatisfaction exists exhibiting itself
slonay in words of great violence and intemperance;
ed gradually yielding TO enlightened of public
duty will present rapid survey of the actual state
OF things, as 1t appears to both at the North and
the South, beginning at the former,
In all that region, there is but one of the cempro
mise measures that is seriously assaied, and that is
the law made in strict conformity with the constiu-
ton, Tor the surrender OF ugltlves from lawful
vice or labor But the law Itself, with two exceptions,
has been everywhere enforced opposition to is con-
stany abatIng, but the patriotic obligations of obey
ing the constitution and the laws, made directly or
indirectly by the people themselves, is almost
universally recognized and admitted If in the exc
cuon OF the law, by the public authority popular dis
content Is sometimes manifested, it has, with the ex
cep1ons mentioned, been invariably repressed or
prevented from obstructng the officers of Justice in
the performances ct their duties. If correctly in
formed, great and salutary change has been made
and is yet in progress at the North which authorizes
the confident anticipation that reason and law will
finally achieve noble triumph.
The necessity of maintaining and enforcing that
law, unrepealed, and without any modification that
would seriously impair its efficiency, must be admit
ted by the, impartial Judgment of all candid men =
Many OF the aaveholdlng States, and many public
meetings OF the people in them, have deliberately de-
elared that their adherence to the Union depended
upon the preservaon of that law and that its aban-
he aICFfIa ,lr,+,1
Union know that the abolitionists (some of whom
openly avow a desire to produce that calamitous
evenD and their partzans, deny and deride the exis
tence OF any such danger but men who will not per-
celve and own It, mast be blind to the signs of the
times, TO the sectional strife which has unhappily
arisen, TO the emblttered feelings which have been
excited, as well as the solemn resolutions OF delibers-
tive assemblies, unanimously adopted. Their disre-
gard of the danger, am apprehensve proceeds more
from their desire to continue agitation, which aug
ments 1t, than from their love OF the Union itself
You refer, gentlemen, to 'sresouons and addresses
adopted at conventions lately assembled around MS
IN which we have seen with regret as well as alarm
that the question of adherence to the Compromise is
avoided or evaded, and you Justly deRrecate The ten
dency OF these resolutions. have MOI been au mat
tentlve or indifferent observer Of them and with you
deeply regret their adoption | wish that these re-
spectacle bodies could have been less ambiguous and
more explicit, in declaring their determination to
acquesce IN, and abide by, great measure of peace
and compromise, which, forming epoch in the pro-
gress OF our country, was intended to reconcile and
restore concord and fraternal feelings among our di-
vlded countrymen. There was necessity to re-
right to discuss to modify and to repeal the
obnoxious law. Such right existed without the ex-
press reservation not only to that law but as to all
laws, and as to the constitution ITSELF which has in
cofporated IN It the right of amendment and conse-
quenty that OF discussion But there are occasions
when spirit OF moderation should prompt forbear
ance to exercise that right. If more were intended
than meets the eye more than to proclai the theo-
retIe right OF dlscusslon IT 1t designed to an.
nounce the rlghtet unremltted agitation, to continue
the distraction OF the country and, finally, if posi-
pie, TO repeal the fugitive slave law, patriotism and
harmony must condemn the UNIV Use course as fraugh
with the most mlschlevous and perilous conseouen
ces.
. But we must make some allowances for human
frallty and nordlnae pride of opinion. Many persons
al the North had avowed an nvncible hostility to the
fugitive law; and even declared their intention orci.
ply to obstruc Its execution and appealed to a higher
law, which, they commended was paramount to a II
human legislation. These unenable positions were
wholly irreconciable with patriotism or even with the
existence OF irregular government itself Obeyinp Inc
Dictates it Is TO be hoped OF wiser and puer and more
social counsels, the parties who under the impulses of
passion and tanatclsm, had assumed have now aban-
doned them, aud acknowledged their unreasonable
duty to submit to the law, until it s modified or re-
peaed by competent authority. In descending from
the high and perilous ground, which they could not
safely occupy, to that of concedng the obligation of
submission to the law, we discern hope, just HON.
age the dictates of civilization and to tha dutiee of
established government
If they have coupled with this proper concession the
useless reservation OF right Of discussion and of in.
slsng on repeal OF the amendment of law to which
they had taken exception may not hone that their
purpose was only to secure decent retreat with n
secret and patriotic determination to forbear from dis
turbng that return to harmony and tranquility, 80 ne
cessafy to the safety and prosperity OF the Union-
Should it turn out otherwise, should the reckless
splrlt otagaon continue TO disturb and distract our
country, to array section aga inst section and to threat
en- the ability OF the government my confidence is un-
shaken in the great body OF my northern fellow cit
zens that they will in due tme and in right manner
apply appropriate and efceual corrective.
In turning attention to the South, and 10 the
sayeholdng states, behold enough to encourage the
friends of the Unon and but little excite socitude and
alarm In all these states except three there is acqui
escence TO the of the compromise, and firm at
tachment TO the Union. ln two of these three (Geor-
gia and Mississippi have much reason to hope,
from their own patriotism and intelligence that the
same attachment exists the part of arge ma orities
OF The people: Al all events. those among them of