Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-06-27


ken measures fer separation--were prep..r-
Ing for disunion in some way? They con-
Cured with Texas, Tor Texas waS prepared
or preparing TO enforce her rights hy force
of arms. Troops were enlisted, ana doa't
YOU remember, gentlemen, that at this s5a.e
Of things how manv thousand persons ill
the South were disallec.cd towards the
Union, or were desirous for breaking it up
or were ready to Join Texas--to join her
ranks, and see what they could make in
war to establish the rights of Texas 10 New
Mexico? The public mind was disturbed.
There were thousands and thousands ready
to join Texas. Now, an the extreme
South at this time was disaaeeted towards
the Union. These very Inen werein con
dition TO fall into any course CT thugs
which should be violent and destructive
Well, then. gentlemen what was e be
done again, as far as Texas vas concerneo.
Allow me to say, gentlemen, there are two
sorts of foresight There is military fore
sight, which sees what viii be the result of
a due appeal TO arms; and there is also
statesman-like. foresight, which looks not
at the result Of battles and carnage. but
; through the results of political disturban
ces, the violence Of faction carried into
military operations, and the horrors atten-
dant on civil war. | never had doubt,
gentlemen that ifthe administration of Gen.
Taylor had gone to war and had sent troops
into New Mexico that he leou!d hare nhip-
ped them IN a Ueek. The power on one
side was far superior to all the power on
the other. But whatthen What if Tex
an troops, assisted by thousands of volun-
teers from the disaffected States, had gone
10 New Mexico, and had been defeated and
turned back, would that have settled the
boundary question? /? Now, gentlemen, /
wish | had ten thousand voice. wish |
could draw around me the whole people Of
the United States-and wish / could make
them all hear what / now declare in my own
conscience, before the Power who sits on
high, and who will Judge YOU and me here
after, as my solemn belief, that if this Tex
as controversy had not been settled by Con-
gress, in the manner called the adjustment
measures, civil war would have ensued-
blood, American blood would have been
she'd and who can tell what else would
have been the consequence? Gentlemen,
in an honorable war, if a foreign foe
invade us-if our rights were threatened
if it were necessary to defend them by arms
i am not afraid of blood. And, if / am
too old myself, | hope there are those con
nected with mc who are young, and willing
to defend their country TO the last drop oI
their blood. Sensation. But cannot
express the horror feel at the shedding OF
blood in q controversy between one of these
= ba Of he Ifa5f fart
States, because l see in it, in the sight Of
heaven, a disruption OF eli those ties that
make Us a areat and happy people. Gen
tlemen, that was the great question, The lea
ding question, at the commencement cf he
year 1850. Then there was the other, and
that was a matter of the Fugitive slave law
let me say a word about that ? Under the
provisions of the Constitution III General
Washington's administration IN the year
1898. there was passed a law for the resto-
ration of fugitive slaves, by general consent.
No one opposed IL al that period. Il was
thought to be necessary 10 carry the Con
stitution into effect. The great men of New
England d New York all concurred in It.
1t passed and answered all the purposes ex-
pected from il, till about the year 1871 or
1912, when the States interfered 10 make
enactments in opposition to it.
The law Of Congress sad that State mag
istrates might execute the duties Of the law.
Some of the States passed penal enaetnents
involving penalty on any who executed
authority under the law Others Of them
denied the use of their jails to carry the law
into effect; and generally at the commence
ment of the year 1850, it was absolutely
] say it was absolutely-indispen thai
Congress should pass some law for the ex
ecudon of this provision of the Constitution
| or else give up that institution entirely
, That was the question. l was not IN Con
gress when the law was passed l was for !;
proper law. had, indeed, proposed diff
ferent law | was of opinion that sum
mary trial by a jury might be had, whicl
would satisfy the prejudices of the people
but left the Senate and went to another sta
| ton before the law was passed. The law Q
1850 passed. Now | undertake as law
yer and on my professional character, 10 sal
to You and to all, that the law Of 1850 i
decidedly more favorable to the fugitiy.
than General Washingtcn's law Of 1898
and ] tell you why. In the first place, thr
: present law places the power in much high
er hands-of independent judges of the su
!. perior and circuit courts and commissioner
who are appointed to Office for their law lear
! ming. Every fugitive is bro't before tribu
, nal of high character, oferninent ability, .
, respectable station Well then in the frs
j place, when claimant comes from Virgin
: ia to New York TO say that one a or one !
q has ran away, or is fugitive from serricf
or labor, he brings with him record of III
/ county from which he comes, and that re
: cord must be sworn to before a magistrat
Q and certified by the county clerk as TO it
: correctness. The affidavit must state tha
A or B (as the case may be) had departet
!. under such and such circumstances and hai
, come here, and that record under seal IS, b
! the Constitution ofthe L. States, er.tisle'
: to full credit in every other State Vel
E the claimant. or his agent, cone-here, sn
{ he presents to you the seai of The eoarts G
: Virginia, that A and B had escaped fror
E service. He must prove that he Is here
4 He brings a witness and asks if this Is lh
i man. and ne proves il, or IN ten cases onto
= eleven the answer would be, :. Yes, Eiassa
i I am your slave, did escape from your seg
e vice Such is the present law. and So mue
opposed and maligned as it is. 1t IS a MOI
+ favorable law TO the fugitive than the law {
4 Washington Of 1898. which created .
. disturbance at the time it was passed, an
which was sanctioned By tie North as we