The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-05

Administration cannot stand upon the principles
of the message it does not expect to stand at ALL"
tDANIEL WEBsrER's Letter to the Union Meeting
at Westchester.
We observe that the Abolition newspapers
are amusing themselves over the Salvation of
the UniOn," and the efforts of the men who
have taken an active part in the restoration of
peace and harmony. 1t is 'sfun alive" to these
gentry to crack their jokes at WEBSTER and
CLAY, for their speeches and measures of pa
cifcation. Nothing pleases them better than
this, unless it is chance for sly hit at some
simple hearted parson who has ventured to say
in the pulpit that the laws ought to be obeyed,
and that it is no part of christians duty to re-
sist their execution. Then it is first rate sport
to smoke the old fellows who have joined in the
Union meetings, and have sought to revive the
sentiments of fraternity and good neighborhood
that once prevailed among the States. All
these sources Of mrth the Abolitionists and Dis
unionists draw upon almost daily, and seem to
think that the country has got SO safely out of one
convulson that it is about time to amuse them
selves with another. Since South Carolina is
apparently disposed to abandon the idea of null
LITIGATION, they desire TO encourage Massachu-
sets in taking it up.
For some months the Abolitionists in our
northern Legislatures, as in Congress, were
comparatively inactive. They were over
whelmed by the expression of public sentiment
in behalf of the Compromise that was called
forth by the PRESIDENTS message. They
~ - l.
rent of opinion, content to float along on its sur
face. But now, 1t seems, they think it expe-
dent to abandon their acquiescent policy.
They must at least lay the foundation for ano.
ther excitement Materials for this purpose
have sometimes been supplied as largely by
Massachusetts, as by South Carolina. The
people of the two States are equally obstinate
in their prejudices, equally sectional, equally
inclined to believe that nothing can go on right
unless it is on the precise square with their own
notions. good people, both Of them, equally
brave, generous, and high-spirited, but both I'M
fortunately suffering under some fashion of po-
litical mania that has frequently impaired their
due influence and importance in public affairs.
Massachusetts ran mad in opposition to the war
with Great Britain; and her politicians repudi-
ated SAMUEL DEXTER for taking the part of
the Union, just as they are now abjuring Mr..
WEBSTER for a similar reason. Mr.. BUCXING-
HAMS committee have gone into notification
about as deeply as any of the QUArTLEBAUMs;
and We see that the citizens of New Bedford,
under the stimulus Of the Mercury, have en-
barked In it so extensively that even the Mer-
la Il r
in pursuance Of warrant issued by the city
authorities. the citizens of that town, by vote
of l4S to a, have instructed their representatives
in the Legislature to give their support to the
bill and resolutions of Mr.. BUCKINGHAM, which
directly nullify the recent Fugitive Slave law
of Congress, and array the authorities Of the
State in open hostility to the Government of
the United States. And in the same breath
these consistent gentlemen express their devo-
tion to the Union! They love the Union, but
propose to resist its laws. They love the
Union, but advise measures which, if carried
out and followed to any extent by other States,
will inevitably lead to its dissolution. They
love tho Union, but they are willing to see it
sacrificed rather than be called upon to give
effect to the Constitution on which it rests
They love the Union, provided they can secure
all its advantages, and relieve themselves from
all its obligations.
How far this attempt at notification will be
carried remains to be seen. The fact that ii
has been made is sufficient to demonstrate the
wisdom and necessity Of the decided stand that
has been taken by the Administration in favor
Of the Compromise. 1t demonstrates the ne
cessity of adhering to it in good faith in all its
parts. If there had been any faltering on the
sublect-if the Administration had paltered with
Its duty-ifit had hesitated to assume the re-
sponsiblity-ifit had withheld its earnest and
sincere encouragement from the good men in all
sections who have sought to reconcile and har-
inonize local and conflicting passions and in
terests-there is every reason to believe that
other States, North and South, would have
gwen way to the fanaticlsm which now seems
"P'e,aii IN massachusetts. and which we hope |
oe uyihg away in South Carolina.
Inc Abolition journals NAV confirm. % &,
the expiring agitation. They NAV s,ro,I,,o
and encourage notification in the snr;, &c 81.
massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society-wb;cb |
announces that it seeks the destruction oe
slavery lover the ruins of the Anar;o..
Church and the American State" They
may continue to advise forcible resistance to
the laws, and call upon the free neqroe,
and fugitives to arm themselves TO the teeth ),
and to die. IT need be, in opposing the Federal
su'norisies' They may induce Legislators to