Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-29
Northern Sentiment on the Fugitive Slave Law.

The opponents of the Fugitive Slave Law are
resuming their activity A few DAYS ago they
held converts at Winthrop and Portland, in Maine
The latter was State convention and was large
and imposing A great number of letters of in
vited guests read at it. Three of them were
from c. F Adams, formerly member of Congress
from Massachusetts,, Judge and Senator Niles,
of Connecticut, and ex-Chief Justice Hutchinson,
OF Vermont, Judge Niles says in his letter
81 have examined that most extraordinary ACT
the fugitive law carefully, with reference to its
constitutionality and find no sanction for it in
the constitution. +"
&C This law is not only palpable and dangerous
violation of the constitution but is equally subver-
sive of all the great principles of liberty which
free people should CHERISH
Chief Justice Hutchinson goes little farther
Says he:
"My opinion of the fugitive slave
act is that it is, in all its provisions, rebeous a
gainst God, and warfare upon the sovereignty of
the non-slayeholdng States, and the personal
rights of their citizens that is directly uncon-
sttutional, and absolutely void.
The act is void, because Congress has no right
to pass any law on the subject. Each State stipu-
lated to deliver up, makes provision for delivering
up. If auy State neglects this, those who COM
plain must be content with the same remedy which
Massachusetts has for South Cardinals imprison-
ing her citizens and mobbing away her agents.
81 may stand alone with regard to the true po-
sition of fugitive slave when he has taken resi-
dence in a free State. Right or wrong, l enter
tain. most decisive opinion. My opinion is that
such fugitive is as free if he had never been in
slavery. He is as much bound to yield obedience
to the laws of such free State, and as much enti-
tied to the protection of such laws, if he had
never been in slavery. His former master or ow-
ner, has no more right to demand service of him,
while in such free State, than any other citizen
has. -
The Chief Justice does not counsel violence to
the law He says, however, that every man ought
to refuse, at any sacrifice to aid in enforcing it,
and that the object of its opponents should be to
have it repealed and that to this end they should
support no men in the election who will not ''act
boldly to procure its repeal
Mr.. Adams says, in reply to the request of the
committee for his opinion of the law:
Let me in turn, ask you what can think of
law which, having many friends in the free States
who show themselves eager to sustain it, yet has
not found, to my knowledge, one single man Of
character acilling to hazard himself upon justf-
cation Of its provisions on Heir intrinsic merits
alone, and 0thom regard to tie circumstances acc-
de'aalig attending its adoption. Could L brand it
worse if were to call it, what [ think it must be
regarded through all future time, disgrace to
the legislation of civilized people in the nine
teenth century Of the Christian era ! That which
amidst all the rampant servility of many, both in
church and state, finds no defence whatever of
positive nature, surely need labor to expose
its shame. -
This embodies very striking truth-particu-
larly that part in italics 1t shows fact which is
entirely demonstrative of the Northern attachment
and opinion of the lava fact entirely significant
too of its destiny.-MoJae Tri6une.