Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-05-09

ton. ne Only attempt TO NlndlCatc tne law
which has fallen under my observation consists
in the effort to reconcile the law of the State
with the act of Congress commonly called the
Fugitive lava task so hopeless. IN my iudg
ment that whoever attempts it will very soon
find it most convenient and most agreeable to
relinquish it.
It is my deliberate opinion that this law will
share the fate of other acts of hsty and mproy
ident legislation. OF which the history of State |
legislation is full. A few years since a similar |
law was enacted by the Legislature of Vermont, |
but in conformity with the decision of the Su
prcme Court, in the case Of Prigg IS. Pennsyl |
vana, was very readily repealed Such an
onfdent, wiH be the fate Of this law 10 len another
LEGISLATURE shat meet"
0F@We take particular pleasure in copying
the following article from the New York Cou-
rier 81 Enquirer uf the I'd inst. In our view
Of the case it embodies a very useful amount q
good common sense on an exciting topic. We
do not entirely concur with the writer; for we
do insist, that the Fugitive Slave Law is ahom
Unable because it is liable to be greatly abused
to the prejudice of the rights Of Freeman; (re-
member the Commissioner lngraham case, in
InlIduelDHld, winch TCSNTEU IL L ItCllltiI W
Slavery! y and because it is unnecessarily ofltn-
sve to a great majority Of the good citizens
this Republic. We, therefore, are emphalical-
ly for the unconditional rel cal of this barbarous
Law, if it cannot be essentially modified or
amended. The North the Wings Of the Moth
at any rate-ask for no exemption from their
duty to sustain the just and true "compromiso-
of the Constitution" They are entirely will
ling to be governed by the provisions, lightly and
fairly interpreted, of that noble instrument
They will never consent, however, that its pc.
tent authority shall be creSted from its construc-
ton TO favor the claims of Slavery. "Far play
| is jewel" Al the Wing Freemen of this
| Union ask is that Freedom and Slavery shall
have "air ht,"-gvng to the latter all the
Cons titutional" guarantees it can righllulIy
claim,-and with the result of the contest they
will not complain. whether it comedies with. "
outraces, their sentiments
but with the general scope ard intent Of
the Courier's article, we most cordially agree.
Laws muSiJe odeyed while they are laws the
remedy, the only remedy, is repeal or modiica-
ton. This remedy cannot be denied, with safe
,y or decencN in "a Republican government.
The ErprcSs insists that the fugitive Slave
Law sha be made d, l.St in patty contests here
after upon this question, II says "thr $ lu,n
will have recruits euo "gh IN the North to carry
all before them" ~ National Convention
even cannot be got - @uy othcr basis" than
that of allowing this law 10 stand ju,t as it Is.
!, Eitnnn States certainty brt,l4n',
not 90 INTO Convention with Us on any ether
principle
| This law was enacted by Congress, a MAJOR
, ity Of all the members thereof voting in It's ia
! yor. 1t may be repealed ,r amended IN the same
> way. The representatives, OF the people made
IT. the people through their representatives.,
may amend or repeal It. ihl- l. Il rght winch
the Constitution guarantees 10 the people; and
whenever it shah be bioteL out-Whcnever the
S people of the United Slatea shai cease To have
4 power over their owu legislation. then the
power OF seli-5overnment VIII have been exun-
gushed, and the very object for which the I'm.
ion exists, will have been defeated.
S The Express and those vino permit them
q selves 10 talk upon this subject III the same
, strain as that paper, forget that the Cunsutu-
ton contains more than one provision. They
seem to think that if fugitive slaves are recap
luIeu, inc SDIoLllutou 10 pJtN tu-lD lndlltT
4 how grossly lis other prov sons may be violat-
p, ed. The right Of free speech-lhe equality of a
citizen in every State Ui the Union,-thp rig
OF constitutional majority of the people TO make
g their own lawsuit these are great tundamrn-
$ tai principles of Republcansm. Oar Wl ole
frame Of government rests upon them. The
Union was formed, the Constitution was
framed Tor the express purpose OF securing
Il them 10 us and to our pnsterlty forever.
a Now we admit as fully As the ErprcsS car
g do the paramount obligation of thar clause OF
. the Constitution which requires fugirives from
service or labor 10 be given up, on claim of the
{ person to whom such service is due. No mai.
II ter how repugnant it may be to the feelings o
n some of our people, it must be executed. Blu
n so must every other provision of that inslru
ment. They are as sacred, and as important
: as this. Liberty, Repubhcanism,-,h lifrau,
II being of this great American family of States
N suffer as much when they are outraged, as whel
r that clause is dsregardcd, And that man win
h. would trample upon them, to execute the other
who wonId suppress free speech, or refn,
'e TO the people tie right to make and amend rhei
CT own laws, for the sake OF securing the surreu
ne der Of iugilives from labor strangies Lbert
o, under preense of sustaining that Coustltutio
which was made TO preserve Il.
- The Fugitive Slave Law was enacted b
Ks Congress, and approved by the President
de is law Of the land, and as such mus be obey
n, ed. We enter not at all into the difficult at
stractions which this question has been mad
T. to involve. 1t s sufficient to say that the lar
ST. must be faithfully executed, by those dul
". charged with its execution. No man has
IN right to resist it.. No good citizen will off
the slightest obstacle to lis execution. But
say that t must not be amended, that the pc,
20 pie may not send representatives, to Congrc,
ce who will vote TO modify or repeal it, is to mai
we it higher law than the Constitution itself :
re- IS to deny the right Of the people to gover
Of themselves. No one who will reflect upon Il
til, principle, and the consequences involved
le- such position, will take II for moment.
he The people have the same right to repeal
at amend this law, which they had to make it,
oil This right must be admitted, or we may
Of well abandon all pretensions TO Republicans
be- at once. But while we insist upon the right
ny repeal it, and look upon denial of that rig
ma as an absurdty, and at war with the Consult
the ton tselfre shall oppose every attempt to rere
to as not only unjust To the South, but as vlol