The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-26

Judges Of tho Supreme and Circuit Courts
aud District Courts, and Commissioners
who are appointed to Office for their law
learning. Every fugitive is brought before
tribunal Of high character, Of eminent
ability, Of respectable station. Well, then.
in the first place, when claimant comes
from Virginia TO New York, TO say that one
A. or one B. has run away or is fugitive
from service or labor, he brings with him
record Of the county from which be comes,
and that record must be sworn TO before
magistrate and certified BY the county clerk
as to its correctness. The affidavit must
state that A. or B. (as the case may be. had
departed under such and such circum-
stances, and had como here; and that re-
cord. under seal, is by the constitution of
he United States, entitled to full credit in
every other State. Well, the claiment or
his agent comes here, and he presents 10
you the seal Of the Courts Of Virginia, that
a. or B. had escaped from service. He
must prove that he is here. He brings a
Witness and asks if this is the man, and he
proves il; or in ten cases out of eleven, the
answer would be, "Yes, massa, am your
slave; did escape from your service"
Such is the present law: and so much
opposed and maligned as it is, it is more
favorable law to the fugitive than the law Of
Washington's Of 1893, which created no dis
tnrbance at the time it was passed and
which was sanctioned by the North as well
as by the soi'h. But this opposition is q
sentiment Of modern times. From whom
does this clsmor come? Why, look at the
proceedings Of the Anti-slavcry Conven
,ions-look at their resolutions. Do you
find among all those persons who oppose
this Fugitive Slave law any admission what
ever that anv law ought to be passed tc
carry into effect the solemn stipula,ions of
The Constitution? Tell me any such case!
Tell me fany resolution was passed BY
the convention at Syracuse favoring the
carrying out ofthe Constitution? Not one! J!
The fact is, gentlemen, they oppose the
who!e-they oppose the whole! Not q
man of them admits that there ought to be
any law on the subject. They deny alto
gether that the provisions Of the Constitu-
tion ought to be carried INTO effect Well.
what do they say? Look at the proceed
|ings Of the Anti-slaverv Conventions in
Ohio, Massachusetts. and at Syracuse in
the State Of New York. What do they
say ?--,hat, so help them God, no colored
man shall be sent from the State Of New
York, back 10 his. master in Virginin!-
Don't they saw ihat?--and for the fulfill
ment Of that they pledge their lives. their
fortunes and their sacred honor. (Laugh
ter.) Their sacred honor! (Laughter.)--
Theypledged their sacred honor 10 violate
the laws Of their country--.hey pledged
their sacred honor to resist their execution
--thay pledged their sacred honor to com
NIT treason against the laws Of their coun-
try! God help them, and help them WIN
pledge their sacred honor. in such cause !!
(Applause.)
lhave already stated, gentlemen, what
your observation of this must have been.--
| will only recur TO il for moment, for'ihe
purpose Of persuading you, as public men
aud private men--as good men and patriot
ic men--thst you ought, to the extent OF
your ability and influence, to see to it that
such laws are established and maintained
as shall keep YOU and the South and the
West and all the country together. rs far as
is just and right, and as far us the Consttu
ton demands. lsay, that what is demand
ed Of US is, 10 be up 10 our Constitutional
duties--to do for the South what the South
have right TO demand
Gentlemen, have been some time be-
fore the public. My character is known
my life is before the country. profess to
love liberty as much as any man living
But profess to love American liberty, that
liberty which is secured to the country b,
the Constitution under which we live; and
| have no grea. opinion Of that liberty which
goes over the restraints OF law or the Con
stitution. hold the Constitution of The
United States to be the bulwark, the only
bulwark of our liberties, and our National
charter. don't mean that you should be
come slaves under the Constitution. Thai
is not American liberty. That is not the
liberty of the Union for which our fathers
fought--that liberty which has given us
right to be known and respected all over
the world now.
Gentlemen, let me say to you, that as
much as | admire the people Of Western
New York--ns much as | wish to retain
your good opinion--if you would ever place
me hereafter in any connection with public
life, let me tell you now, that you must no,
expect from me tho slightest variation. even
Of hairs breadth, from the Constitution OF
The United States. (Cries Of "good, good,
good!") am Northern man. ! was
born at the North--educnted at the North
have lived all my days at the North. !
know FIVE hundred Northern men TO one
Southern man. My sympathies--all my
sympa,hies-my love Of liberty for all man
kind, of every color, are the same as yours,
My affection and hopes in that respect are
exactly like yours. wish to sec all men
free--all men happy. have no associa
tious out Of the Northern States. My peo
Pile are your people. And vet am told
sometimes that am not liberty man, be-
cause am not Free Soil man, (Sensa-
tion.) What am !? What was | ever?--
What shall be hereafter, il ! would sacri
fee, for any consideration, that love Of A.
merican liberty which has glowed in my
Lro,vt o;,ca r,v infancy and which / hone