The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-12


the people an outrage upon the amened dead. and de-
serves il will receive, our nearly eAeeraoa or It's
RSsoi"rs Thai union makes the party nvincbe
Resolved. That must succeed il we but determine
upon success
On notion the meeting then adjourned with thirteen
cheers for the success OF the whole ticket
Extracts from Colonel Bigisy's Speech.
Colonel Bigler took up the subject OF the tariff,
and made some clear and iorcble remarks defining his
position 10 be the same often before expessediavor
able tarh Tor revenue, as contradistlnguished 10
tariff Tor protection only. Then followed his views of
the adjustment measures adopted by the last Congress
Before proceeding on this point. said the speaker,
desire to know II there is single individual within the
sound OF my voice in favor OF the abolition OF slavery
regardless OF the Constitution and the Compromise and i
there is single individual opposed to the glorious bond
of union under the circumstances which bind us To-
gether united States p. Not murmur heard,
and Colonel Bgler, continuing said As Tor myself am
decidedly IN favor OF the adjustment measures OF Con-
gess and prior TO their passage expressed myself in
letter TO my democratic friends IN Berks county in July
1850 | am most decidedly in favor OF a faithful main
lenance and thorough execution of every feature OF
those measures and OF removing every obstacle in the
way OF efficient ADMINISTRATION OF that feature OF the
Compromise providing Tor the rendition of ugtves from
labor and should attain to the distinguished station for
which have been nominated by the democratic party, il
shall be my pleasure, il will be my duty, as far as in
lies to facilitate the execution OF these laws OF Con-
gress. also favor OF cultvang the most friendly
relations with fellow citizens OF the southern States,
and of cheeruly extending TO them the full measure OF
calculated 10 promote the peace OF the country and
strengthen the bond of our national Union.
g" need not remind you in detail of the circumstances
which gave existence 10 those measures these are Ia
millar TO all Suffice 10 say that the controversy on
the whole slave question had assumed most threatening
aspect for the peace Of the country when great and good
men, like Clay and Cass, Webster apd Fooe and others,
forgetting their former differences and positions, and
gafdess of personal consequences, determined unite
their influence and arguments to bring about complete and
final adjustment OF those various and complicated items OF
conflict Their abors resulted in the preparation and adop-
ton of the compromise and there it seems TO
me, il would be wise and proper to let the matter rest
and, for one, must have other lights than those before
present. before could consent to either disturb or
! THAT acme of those measures Qhe whole of which
were certainly adopted IN spirit OF compromise cannot
be disturbed even by Congress- the very best reason
why those liable to change should be the faithfully
maintained. Those who complain OF the constitutional
provision for the rendition of ugves from labor should
moi forget that the compromise also makes pro-
vision for the suppression of the slave mart the Dis
lric Of Columbia, and that the question of extending
slavery into the Territories has been in the way
ferred TO the will OF the people who occupy the sofia
tribunal which it is not doubted will decide in nearly
every instance against its extenson This feature of the
adjustment stands high and glorious prncple-the
to found all our republican institutions And what have
our southern brethren in this djustment which may yet
be disturbed They have law providing for the rem
duon OF their fugitive slaves-a measure fully guaran-
tied to them by the constitution Every citizen Of
saveholdlng State has right 10 clam his fugitive by
virtue of The constitution He had the right before there
any congressional legislation the subject. end he
would still have 1t if all Legislation repealed But
he might moi be able to execute this right. The fugitive
might be secreed from HIM, or the might be pre-
vented from taking him by physical force The egisla
ton OF Congress points out to him the process and places
within his reach the power OF executing this consttu
tional right
"lt is, then, not question of whether the fugitive
shall be returned or not but merely of the mode and
manner OF accomplishing this end The constitution says
no person held TO labor or service in any State under
the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall conse
quence OF any law or regulation therein, be discharged
from service but shall be delivered up on claim Of the
party to whom such labor service is due Nor is this
constitutional provision one OF an ordinary character for
we learn historically, by means OF the debates in the
venuon, that this provision was an ultmatum with
number OF States and that the Union could have
been formed without IT, 1t is apparent therefore, that all
Congress do on this subject is to make provision for
the efficient execution OF the constitution and that any
law that did not secure an easy and prompt return OF the
slave TO his master would fall short OF the acquisitions Of
the constitution. Prior 10 1923 there had been no egs
aiion the subject, and yet the right OF the OF
slave TO into free State and carry off his fugitive
was not denied The Supreme Court OF the United States
IN the OF Prlgg Us. the Commonwealth of Pennsy
vana, laid down the principle that, the end being re-
CURED, II was for Congress 10 provide the OF OBJ
tanning it, II the constitution thus clearly intended that
every fugitive from labor should be returned his
ter, brought 10 the simple inquiry, Will the leg
aiion of Congress do thisdo it efficiently and in accord
ance with the constitution, and work no injury 10 the
rights Of freemen Believing that it may do all this and
therefore southern brethren the full benefit of
their constitutional rights this point. am for main
tanning the iaw as u.s. and against further congressional
agitation.
at is always unwise 10 complain OF evils without
the same time, pointing 10 practical remedy Those
who complain of the fugitive slave law should remem
Der that the evil which they lament is not much in the
law in the constitution from which the law springs
that the against which they declam was more the
work OF revolutionary fathers than OF our present
southern brethren. Nor should they forget that il the
constitutional provision left TO execute ITSELF the
rendition OF the fugitive would be accomplished in
much summary mode than that pointed out by the
late Congress. The claimant would then into the
State pack up his alleged fugitive, and carry him back to
the State from whence he fled, and try him there or
this process there would be much to complain
than Of the present law
In the general adjustment OF the slavery controversy
Congress has made ample provision for the rendition OF
fugyes, without the aid OF State action And this law
part of the compromise upon the observance OF which
may depend the perpetuy OF glorious national Union
All State legislation calculated the least to embauass
or delay its execution should, in my humble opinion be
speedily wiped out. II, laid down by the Supreme
Court, the right OF State 10 adopt concurrent egsa-
ton, TO cooperate in good faith with the action OF Con-
gress, be disputable ground how perfectly clear il must
be that any State law State legislation which inter-
rups limits, delays The execution of the law of Con.
gress, is unconstitutional and void.
"ln my opinion the execution OF the constitutional
provision for the rendition Of fugitive slaves concur
rent power vested IN the national and State
and duty enolned on all that, whilst the States have
power TO prevent the execution of this provision il is
nevertheless their right and duty TO facilitate the
ton Of the law of Congress intended TO accomplish this
end.
"And, in this connection, will remark that il were
the executive OF this Commonwealth, should not besi-