Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-03-27

sauss hin % ~ = b esroeeoo ~ oegoso4s
and n,Aies The sssest . - eisss y ~ Esssu.
We sssh"sHy esAi,1 susA irmanS, ~ shs agent
Of sush sMhssN3 sLpoi,:sd 10 receive the flu
g,tiss sud ~ osusr G,s fugitive u be delivered
to .uch apen, .hen hs shsll appear
This 10 The mandate a. to fugitive cfiminsls.
Congress The mere legislative agent of,he Sta,ss,
for osrtsih limited spsc'fied purposss, wthou,
ons word IN the constitution to juslify the At
roy ant assump,iun, not oily Lndtr!skss 10 leg
islute for the States, bu, 10 dictate 10 their Gsv-
srnors what they shsll or shall no, do, 10 carry
out compact made between them. But Il goes
still further than this with respect 10 fugitive
slaves. IL II had undertaken TO ordev The States
aud 'hsir Governor. 10 deliver up fugitive slaves.
although vas, sssun ption Of all hotity, It would
ha,. dealt equally with both u these closes
of fugitlves, under the words Of the contribution
nrdaiuing IKE rem1dy ior the recovery OF
both But It deals differently with fugitive
| sla,ss. II does not make the States act t'ioUy.
their Governors; III. provides tat III, claim
ant shall take biz slave before the judges Of the
| Umhed Gsatus SUuIt,. VI tue judges aud Magic
traiss Of the State courts. The States, finding
that the supreme Court Of the United S,siss
have asserted aud maintained the exclusive right
Of Congress 10 lsgislats for The recovery Of fu-
gi,ive slaves by the authority Of The General
Government, have refused TO allow their meg
is,rs,es and other officers to act. They hsvs
repealed the laws previously n4os % an in tho
recapture Of fugitive slaves. And, ,ndssd, siS,
IL it be true thut the recovery Of fugitive slsves
10 excl usivsly al .8air of the General o.. en-.
msnt. what else could the stsiss doP We're
no, such laws unconstitutional And would
they rot be set aside By the courts Of the Uni
ted Stsiss 7 Tbs docirIns Of hi. court not ON
y permitted, BIZ. virtually comm sndsd, the
Ststes, - s"vrreigns, aud the people Of the
States Is individuals to stand aloof and 70 leave
the slavehuldss to the in.irumsnsality Of the
Cove, nmsnt Of the United States, and to this
alone, to recover his fugitive slave. Sir, pro.
pro,es, against this docirins ] protest sgainst
this uaurpa,ioD on the part Of Congress. Il 10
fatal TO the rights of,hs South. ! maintain that,
by the constitution we have the faith Of the
States a. soversigns 10 = compact with us; and
tina, BY the compact the Government Of every
free State. every man in every free State, 10
bound. morally and oonstitutionslly, to cid in the
recovery and restnrstion of our fugitive slaves.
But Congress hiss determined other {. iss, and
the Supreme Cour, has determined otherwise.
] have great respect, personally. for the Judges
Of that COURT. ! believe them 10 bs able snd
uprigh. 4; but they are men-sery isilihls met !;
and l cannot but remember that, IN oil times, the
judiciary Of u Country hus Away, been on the
side Of the Government. Il has svsr been 90
, in England in I'll the struggles 70, liberty. Il
, has ever been 80 in this country. Mt . usuS-
patton "f Congress on the powers Of the con-
a,i.u'on has taken place, Oh, hs. been sancli,n
ri by the supreme Court Of the United Statss,
r from the alien and sedilion laws 10 tho late
bankrupt law.