The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-17

could expect Its abolition. Postal reform is new
nearly complete, or entirely so, IN the House. AT
the close of the day, Mr.. Phelps offered substi-
;ute for the whole BILL but have not the slight
est idea that il will be adopted The orr ,inal bill,
amended, will pass probably day.
Governor Boutwell,, Of Massachusetts,, delivered
his first message to the Legislature OF that State,
yesterday In reference the slavery question: is
able and patriotic document as has appeared
in public since the adoption of the compromise
measures by Congress. Govenoy Boutwell,
takes the proper ground when speaking of the
Fugitive Slave law. He says that it is in the
nature of treaty between sovereign States that
Congress was authorized to make it, and that all
acts Of that body passed in accordance with the
constitution, are binding on every State and on
every citizen. He gives the higher law dema-
gogues a rebuke which is indeed well merted
His remarks on this point commend 10 our
Fouriente contemporary, the Tribune, as well as TO
its managers and directors, Thurlow Weed, and
/ VIM IL. Seward lie says, a law thus passed,
! may, IN the opinion of State or an individual be
unjust, inexpedien,, unconstitutional but that
sueh opinion furnishes no excuse for resist NC il
while we have supreme judiciary to decide upon
\ its consttutionality. This is the right kind of
doctrine; but we apprehend it will not be very
palatable TO the free soilers who helped to elect
MI Boutwell,. He need not, however, care tor
any factlon or any set of men, long he fulhls
! his duty under the constitution. We hardly ex-
pected such an open, liberal, and ca add document
| from the State of Massachusetts as this message
of Governor Boutwell, The effect which it will
produce throughout the country, especially in the
| Southern States, will, we have no doubt, be at
tended with the bes, results Hitherto, our South
ern fellow citizens have been led to suppose that
the WI ole Of New Engiand--especially Massachu-
/ setts--was determined upon waeing war Of
termination against the social institutions of the
| South, and that Northern and Eastern people
would disregard any act of Congress which con-
| flicted with their :" hi CHER law ideas. If any
Southern ultra should hereafter doubt the public
sentiment of The North in reference to this matter
we can, with pride, direct his attention to the
message of the Governor Of Massachusetts,
as a refutaton. II there was a time when
the South could charge the North with being
hostile 10 them, and false to their constitutional
obligations, that time, We hope and believe, is
passed. The public mind of this section of the
country may have beea, and undoubtedly was,
for time, led ast.ay by artful and designing dcma-
gogues who perverted i, TO suit their purposes
| But Nntn the NUrth discovered IL nad gone 100
far in induleng false philanthropy, il quickly re-
traced its steps, and in day, as it were, enlisted
.self under tie ancient banner of the constitution
end the laws This message of Governor Boutwell,
is the severest blow that the Southern urras have
Jet received. Place it side by side with Governor
Qutrnan's message, and let the public decide which
| is The more pario,c-the more constiturional-the
more American.
| The Legislature Of Massachusetts has not ye
succeeded in electing a United States Senator to
supply the place of Mr.. Winthrop, whose term ex-
pres with the present Congress Other ballot,ings
have been had; but Mr.. Sumner has not go, the
requisite number of votes His election is uncer-
| tain.