The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-22

recommended a kind of non-intercourse and
that public meetings in Georgia, the Carolinas,
and even in Virginia, advised that their people
should 50 buy at home," and carry on ''no trade
with the enemies of the South" II twas for this
that Mr.. ex-senator BAGBY, OF Alabama, and
Mr.. YANcEY, of the same State, OF Baltimore
convention notoriety, levelled their indignant
eloquence at ssbase and inglorious submission"
and called upon their coPatrlots Tor resistance
to the last. Ii was for this that Southern Rights
associations were formed, and that the Nash
vile Convention passed resolutions contemplate
ing ultimate action for "safety and independ-
ence," and that Mr.. RHETT, on his return
from that reasonable assembly, Said to the
citizens of Charleston 81 invite you to a calm
and serious consideration Of your condition in
the Union, in order that you may do your
part in the grand drama of its dissolution,
which, it appears to me, must take place at
no distant day." 1t was for this that the Gov
ernor of Mississippi called an extra session Of
the Legislature, and that the Governor of
Georgia called convention to consider the
mode and measure Of redress.
Whilst portion of the peace bills were thus
employed by the Southern Dsunionists for
purposes of agitation, the Fugitive Slave law
was similar God-send to the Abolitionists
and agitators of the North. In this regard,
again, Mr.. JULIAN, of Indiana, distinguished
himself. He protested that he would go to the
stake and burn before he would engage in such
"hellish business" as restoring fugitives from
labor; and declared, in the ''name Of God and
humanity, he was determined to trample that
law under foot" Mr.. CAMPBELL, Of Ohio,
another member of Congress, also threatened
to ''trample it under foot" A runaway black,
addressing meeting at Faneuil Hall, declared
that elf the Americans give in their adhesion
to this bill the streets of Boston will flow with
blood.' The Rev. Mr.. CoLvER. following or
leading his clerical brother of South Carolina,
proclaimed that, Constitution or no Constitution,
law or no law, they would not suffer fugitive
slave to be taken in Massachusetts. Other
reverend gentlemen volunteered in an anti-fugi-
tive-law agitation. The telegraph wires were
brought into requisiton. and all manner of sto-
ries ran through the country of the meetings of
negroes armed to the teeth, and of stampedes to
Canada, and threats of white men to resist the
execution of the law, and to aid the escape of the
fugitives. The Abolition press, and the resolu-
tions of Abolition meetings, not only abused the
law, but assaulted the Constitution itself as an
"atrocous bargain. )" and Compact with hell"
Following all these announcements came the
case of the CRAFTS in Boston, the maltreatment
of HUGHEs and KNIGHT, and the letter of the
owner of the slaves, DR.. COLLINS, to the PREsI-
DENT. 1t was in reply to this letter that the
PRESIDENT first had occasion to make public
his intentions in regard to these movements and
manifestations at the North, when he uttered
the sentiment that has controlled his entire
Presidential course: s'Our Union, SO dear to
. every American heart, can only be preserved
9 by strict observance of the Constitution and
6 an impartial administration of the laws"
Such were the manifestations, North and
South, by the parties who sought in the laws
the adjustment the topics of dissen-
sion. Meanwhile there was but little DISPOSE
ton manifested for agitation among leading men
of either of the great political parties. Those
who had been in the Congress which passed
the acts had been too deeply impressed with the
commissions and perils from which the country
had so recently escaped. Meetings in support
of the adjustment were held in the chief towns
of the Union, North and South. Letters sus-
tanning it of great point and ability, addressed to
their constituents, were written by Mr.. ELIOT,
of Massachusetts, and Mr.. TooMBs, of Georgia,
and many letters to public meetings by MIR.
WEBSTER, Mr.. CLAY, Mr.. Conn, Mr.. STUART,
Mr. CAss, and other leading men of both po-
sections, volunteered in the cause Of the Com
promise; but, in great measure, the effect of
all these movements was neutraliZed by the
of the agitators, and the result
of the efforts to execute the Fugitive law in
the northern States. Mr.. FILLMORE was
northern man. The South had seen him mani
fest a firm determination to maintain the
laws in the contest between New Mexico
and Texas; but they were doubtful to what
extent he might exhibit the same firm
ness in the execution of law unpopular
in his own section of the country, and supposed
to be at war with his own prejudices and pre-
possessions. They looked with solicitude for
his annual message, and they found it breath
ing not only words of Courage" but of wis
dom and Of weight. 1t called forth from all
quarters expressions that compelled respect
from the agitators, silenced them in Congress,
tranqulized the public mind, extorted even
from political adversaries reluctant commenda-
ton, and indicated to the world the character
OF President FILLMORE for consistency and
decision. Before drawing from these some
what minute sketches of the times the Sin
s,ruction" which they inculcate, it will be
necessary for us to make the message and it's
consequences the subject of a Second Chapter.
The directors of the company owning the
steamer Thomas Collyer havino rendered the