The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-16

10 the Editor Of the Uaion !:

10 the Editor Of the Uaion' sal
SIN Probably the enactment OF no law since the Tor
nation OF our has excited such general oppo
sition a. that designated as the fugiiiye-slave law
When properly eonsidersd II Is really dlmeuit 10 deter
mine WHY such hostility should exist among people pre-
tending 10 be guided by the constitution The consiiu
lion ss formed by the usous dead has been acquiesced
in and deemed almost incompatible for nearly three
quarters OF century Formed by the fathers OF the Iepub-
lie in convention assembled. the vital principle OF
compromise and concession intended in good faith
protect The rights and privileges OF all Looking TO The
great fundamental principle OF municipal government, IL
formed the unerring chart 10 which all could ap
peal for the security OF person and property, or Tor he re-
dress OF grievances. OF whatsoever kind, coming within
the sphere OF it's influence II was, indeed, covenant
entered into by those whose ke we shall not see again
for the peace prosperity and long being OF TINS glorious
confederation of States; and such u mas been helu
inviolae up TO the present time Shall now any ruthless
hand be found to aim destruction at It's existence Ionse
Grated it is. by the nobles efforts and PIeS' hearts
which adorn the annals OF history! WIN lanai
csm driven on by ungovernable Jury altempt 10 mar
its majestic proportions, TO cripple s iegiuma'e APP
pcaton, and bid defiance TO The most sacred OF com
pacts II such be the case, is devouy hoped that
returning sense OF good faith and fair dealing will stay
and palsy the uped hand OF meda,ed treason agans!
the laws and government. OF our sacred Union unai
opposoa TO the execution OF any law passed by Con,
gess Northern fanaticism, having been dsarmed OF all
the means OF political excltaon by the passage OF the
respective measures Of Mr.. Clay's compromise, has
now, forlorn hope. determined to resist the execu-
ton of law simply intended to carry out the provision
slaves Some Of this motley herd pretend to be acuatei
by the application OF "hgher law, which looks Tor It's
infamous paternity to William H. Seward, the most re-
markabe OF demagogues Until the iil-omened appear
Of this ntriguer in national council the ex-
istence OF law binding than the solemn obligations
Of the constitution not dreamed Of even in the wild
est imagination How it is possible Tor any man or SET
of TO acQuesce in the provisions OF our constitution
and at the same time oppose the execution OF q law
which il purely accessoal to IT. am utterly al loss 70
determine The constitution, by its fourth article, de-
cares that no person held TO service or labor IN one
State under the laws thereof escaping into another, shall
in consequence of any law regulation therein be dis
charged from such service labor, but shall be de-
ivercd up claim OF the party TO whom such service or
labor may be DUE This the other provisions OF the
constitution has for its virtue and effect the solemn con-
of all the States, without regard TO its appca
ton to particular species OF property BY the adoption
OF the constitution. property in slaves was recognised
s protection and safety secured, intended to be
cured by all the safeguards of constitutional enactmens
This property, them became vested right, OF which no
positive law could dvest the owners thereof without
the constitution enjons that Congress shall pass such
laws best calculated to secure the objects IN view
For this purpose the act Of 1893 enacted and to this
thsro was serious and open opposition From dispo
son, however, the part OF some OF the northern peO
pie to evade and render Intellectual its provisions, failed
to accomplish the end for which il was intended No
one Ut that time Tor moment supposed that that act
was unconstitutional dreamed OF opposing its execu
ton on any other ground because it simply intended
to secure to the citizens OF the several States the safety
and protection of their constitutional rights. Suppose
that the provisions OF the act OF 1850 had been Embodied
in the act of 1893: does any rational believe its
cuton would have been seriously opposed or even Oh
iected to by any organized number OF citizens! And
whyl Because the good faith OF our people IN the con
sttation was in its purity and vigor Everybody felt
and willingly recognised, its solemn obligations. Ii night
then. what has prodaced the mighty change which
exists. and seems to threaten the safety OF the Union
The constitution is the same, and the relative rights of our
citizens have undergone no change. The same spirit
which actuated people in 1893 ought now to guide
their conduct touching the important interests at stake
The constitution guarantyng certain mmunitles rights
AuAr tho ,f Tho NfufnS all
alike entitled TO the benefits thereof and justified
in looking TO it the charter in the diffusion OF whose
blessings all have an equal share and just right to par
tcipate Between the property recognised in slaves
and other chatel interest," the constitution makes no dis
dnction both rest upon common basis, and were In
tended to be secured upon the broad constitutional
law. becomes, therefore, outrage not 10 be borne
TO b deprived OF vested right by an evasion OF the
law or by an open resistance oil IT.
The negro who is purchased or otherwise fairly pos
sssssd s absolutely the property of the purchaser as
the horse COW which he owns, and especially so as
property is equally and consttu,onay recognised in
both The cilizens OF adjoining other State have
no right moral or legal therefore, 10 say tina, he shall
the and not the other, by any overt act 10
Lessen the value or safety OF ether for is vested night
OF which iege citizen should be Invested but by due
process Of law But grant the proposition OF the north
fanatics and shall be instructed 10 what spe-
cies kind OF chatel interest may or shall own.
The right to dictate in is the right 10 dictate IN
all. With the slave owner the proprety improperly
Of owning slaves is a matter for his determination,
without regard TO The conscientious scTupes or fanatca
assumed by the so-caled "hgheraw party strikes at
the very foundation OF all government and bids defiance
to the supreme power OF the State The shallow pre-
ence offered in exenuaion OF their reasonable threats
would justify opposition TO any law which Congress
might deem proper 10 pass. Living under constitution
which guarantees alike safety and protection IN prop
erty a. well as in person 10 all, II becomes, IN
eminent degree, the duty Of all good citizens 10
know the law, and peaceably submit its faithful
cution. Having entered into organized community,
We are bound, in good faith 10 submit 10 the laws and
regulations thereof. To act otherwise would be 10
loosen the bonds OF government and unchan the demon
OF discord and anarchy. Ii would, indeed, uprool
ciety, and make the proud pillar of State toppe the
ground. II law be passed by Congress which
peal of it While, however, is in force il ought to and
should be obeyed, and becomes the duty OF all 10
at least, that be not orcbly ressted because such
resistance be acauiesced in by the silence OF the
community, 1t makes a mere faction or mob the Judges
OIL the policy oil the law and gives 10 them quaslap
pellae jurisdiction as TO whether such law be necessary
and proper II 49, however, adently hoped that there are
ia every community sufficient number OF honest and
peace-oving men who will, with becoming dignity
frown down and hold in merited contempt any effort 10
disturb the peaceful relations of people The spirit
OF compromise and concession, individual safety, and
the happiness and prosperity OF our people, every.
where appeal, in language not TO be misunderstood,
State TO the Of the constitution and laws,
and rally around the proud standard OF this glorious
federation OF States, while the escuicbeon of our national
independence yet remains unarnished by the Ddelbe
stain OF civil rebellion But permit this spirit OF crmi
nal fsnaticlsm to the beautiful harmony which, like
some proptious divinity, has hitherto smiled
tional progress and all may be lost, 10 the rmest
behevers IN republican institutions. But allow portion
Of any community 10 resist the execution of laws,
and the objects of civil arc defeated the