The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-26

f.r =, respsc,. Massachusetts,, she may make such
I4ws ~ ~ thipks pSoplf within her own limits.
ceoformakly to the Co%Stituuon OF the United
Geetes and ihe eenstitutpg Of that State Il seems
" me suspS rising chat any man can be found With
ia sight n FaIeuil Half, that old cradle of Anne
ri<an liberty, who would hesitate for one moment
70 sweep forever from the statute-book laws
framed in such spirit and leading to snch con-
sequences.
Again, why cannot this law be executed The
honorable senator from Virginia says that the
people will not Join in the execution Of t--that
the people are opposed TO it. What does the hon.
orabIs senator mean by that he does not mean
that every man in Massachusetts should volun-
tarily get up and assist in the recaptuFs OF fugi
tive. He does not mean that Of course. II the
Constitution is carried out in good faith, and the
owner Of the slave or his agent i clothed with all
the necessary power and authority, that II al you
can ask Of the legislative department Of the gov
eminent; and all you can AJAX Of the executive de-
partment is that neither the owners its officers
should be interfered with or resisted in the execu
ton Of the power given them by the law and by
the Constitution. But it is said that the people
are opposed to the law. That il no objection to
the validity Of the law, TO its due execution.
Opinion 10 one thing and actual resistance another.
If murderer escapes from Michigan into Vir-
GINA, you cannot expect the population to rise up
and run after him.. II is not reasonable to aEtici
pate such thing.
Mr.. MASON II would be DONE
Mr.. CASS. Would the honorable senator leave
Winchester and go to hunt up murderer, or
forger, or thief who had escaped from another
State
Mr.. MASON. would, it was necessary to
execute the law.
Mr.. CASS. Ifit was necessary to execute the
law, Of course he would do it with pleasure. So
would l. and SO would everybody with correct
mar firms nfa ot,h,A Ruf I r.
ing of the voluntary oction ofthe people, Of their
gratitious and uncalled efor interpretation. The
only idea meant to convey was, that the with
holding of this voluntary action doea not consti-
tute reasonable ground for saying that the law
will never be executed. The public sentiment in
nate as it is wrong. No man deplores it more
than do; but believe the law will be executed
there, and wherever the flag Of the Union waves.
That ia my fem belief. No man has right To
doubt it till the subject has been fairly tried. A
wonderful change in public sentiment has taken
place. 1t is going on, and will go onward until
the great object is accomplished. We see it at
the North; we see it at the West, and all around
U.S. and we cannot mistake it. AS my friend from
New York [Mr. DlcKNsoN] very truly and i'm
pressively stated, the decision in the city of New
York in the case Of Long has been Of great value
towards carrying into effect the provisions Of the
Constitution in relation to this subject. Its i'm
it, leaving everything free TO be discussed for and
against the law, and finally the delivering up by
the officers of the United States, aided by the po-
lice of the city, of the fugitive, was a beautiful
trial Of public opinion, and illustration of the
effect of this law, and has been felt throughout this
Union, from one end Of it to the other. Let us
try the law, and not denounce it beforehand
These forboding predictions do no good. 1t is
not. surprising, after the wonderful agitation
through which we have passed, that the waves do
not instantly subside. II is not in human nature.
Time must be given for reflection before calm
can take place. Give these elements of sound
public opinion, and let it be seen that the law will
be carried into effect; and whenever resistance
arises to it's execution, let it be at put down
fairly and promptly. | believe in that manner
the object will be accomplished, and speedily.
join in the general reprobation 30 well ex-
pressed by the senators from Kantucky and Vir-
ginia, Of the foreigner who has Come to our coun-
try. If an American went TO England and con-
Quoted himself in the same manner, he would not
only be put down by public opinion, as the hon.
| orable senator from Kentucky says, but he would
be on his way to Botany Bay within month
after the meeting of the first court that could try
him for treason or sedition. Yet, many persons
and many papers in our own country advocate
the course Of this vile disturber of the public
peace-advocate his right to come to our country
| and denounce our institutions, and disseminate
doctrines which, if they prevail, will lead to the
dissolution of this Union certainly as that the
sun, which is about to set, will rise again to-mor-
row. Yet we are asked tamely to suffer this state
of things. ! see that the papers in Edinburgh and
regard and watchfu care for the honor and insti-
tutions Of the United States, are denouncing the
opposition to this man, and maintaining his right
to go from one end OF our country to the other,
abusing our people and our institutions, and pro-
pagating views as false as they are dangerous.
The honorable senator from New Hampshire
seems to think that this is all <air; that there is
not particle Of illwill or anmosity in it, but the
kindest feelings towards the United States that it
is generous philanthropy alone which instigates
this foreign political propaganda. Credat Jl-
deus .4pelia Let him believe this who can. !
judge the man by his acts and doctrines. If there
were neither physical nor moral evils in England.
and not enough Of either 10 engage the most en-
Inrged philanthropy, should have more patience
with man who sets out to try to find them in
another country. But he comes here from land
Astounding in misery to arraign institutions,
to abuse our people, to condemn our government,
and, by falsehood and misrepresentation, to ex-
cite one portion of our country against another
by deeds of awless violence.
| am not among those who believe that he is
sent this mission by the British government |
do them such injustice. But he is doubtless
stimulated and encouraged by false state Of pub
lie opinion in that country, originating in feelings
and motives which do not now stop to investigate
There can be no mistake as to the bearing of pub
lie opinion there upon his efforts. They are al
most universally approved. Nor do believe, if
he should accomplish his object, and give practi-
cal effect to principles that would break up the 60
vernment and dissolve the Union, and direct our
energies to internal war rather than to the great
enterprises Of peace, that many sincere regrets
would be felt in that country, however sentimental
might be the paragraphs in the papers.
Mr. MASON take If for e1 thot the
honorable senator from Michigan MIR. CAssl did
not intend to misquote me. | did not say, and
have never sad that this law will not ever be en-
forced. ] cannot pretend to look so far into fl-
turity. What sid was this, (and repeat it,
that if the honorable senator from Michigan con-
siders that this law has been executed in such a
way MS to yield the fruits of the law in every in
stance where the slave is not recovered by effective
violence and resistance to the law, he does not in
terpret the execution Of the law do. mean
to say that except in some instances--some few
instances-this law, as far as ] am informed, has
not yielded the fruits Of such law; for when the
property il returned to the owner, the cost Of
getting him back is equal to the value Of the pro-
perty IF the honorable senator from Michigan
means that this liz an execution of the Iaw with