Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01

nel;sye that they decided the they believed
he cor stiuion required think, however, and KNOW mat
vs,v MANY intelligent citizens of the slave states concur IN
49, on thai Inc decision was in its practical effect upon
hs right of reclamation extremely unfortunate one Tor
par,ies interested in that right -
Mr.. DOUGLAS. will tell the Senator from Ohio what
meant by the declaration which made. meant tnat u
his o5inon could prevail that the Congress OF the onea
States had power egsate upon this SUBJECT ana t
Government had power enforce It's laws ana 'nal eae
State left for ITSELF understood MIN 70
that the law would he practically dead letter. aho
ntmaon implied every officer and citizen IN eacn OF 'he
free States OF this Union would be ecreant TO MS
unde. the constitution and under bis oath. =,
Mr. CHASE. am no, responsible for the understanding
Of the Senator.
for nv understanding But now will analyze bis under
standing as he has proclaimed to the Senate Today ne
saws thst decision practically nulihes the provision In tue
Constitution Of the United States How does Pactcaly
nnfy That decision declares that Is the duty OF the
CONGRESS of the United States pass laws for the carrying
into EFF CT that provision Of the constitution the Senator
had obeyed that decision and had obeyed the Constitution Oh
the United according TO it. he would have been mere
the of the fugitive law instead OF its enemy for that
onb have been bis duty under the decision to which he
fers Blu, that decision goes further II says tina, the con-
sution is imperative, comforting the right 10 reclaim 'he
ssye that the master has right 60 and reclaim MN, and
that no citizen has a right sbstuct him. Then how could
thar decision make that clause of the constitution dead let
ter How could eIpunge that clause from the consnu-
tor unless the Senator to intimate that there are
men this country who prepared to disregard me cons
tuition who are prepared disregard the laws OF the land
That decision saws that Congress must law TO carry the
clause of the constitution into effect 1t says that every i
zen is bound aid in its enforcement II the Senator ana
those who with him, would obey that decision the iug
tves from labor would certainly be sent back according 10 inc
constitution When the Senator says they will po ne casts
an mputaon upon the people Of the free States OF this Union
that they disregard the constitution disregard their oath 10 sup
mort il disregard the decisions of the Supreme Court OF the
United States and that hey will take tho law INTO oe own
tha def
raj Government That what understand to be the direct
and legitimate consequences Of the argument which he has
made and against that intended to make my protest.
believe to be caumny upon the Tree States oil this Union
to say that their prepared TO perform every obi
CATION under the tuition. do not believe that the Tree
States of this Union sent ever will send four sena
this chamber who claim that there aw higher
than the constitution which authorizes them to commit per-
dy their God and treason to their country by dlsobeylng
the constitution which they have sworn TO support.
These Mr. President, my opinions upon this subject
afraid will be led to protract my remarks beyond what
intended but follow the Senator few steps fur
Their He necessity for the proclamation OF the
President will argue that point, He looks upon the
Of the Of fugitive at Boston as an ordinary
and trivial Transaction do not; and the reason do not
regard il in thai light this 1t well known that there has
been systematic organization throughout many of the free
States of this Union evade the obligations of the consu
ton Of the United States and to prevent the enforcement OF
the laws the United States in relation to fugitive slaves
This organization has been general throughout most OF the
States although embrace one
citizens of those States But il has Of talent men OF
genius energy and Of daring and Of desperate purpose
its head and the opposition this fugitive law has been
combined and concerted action Is In the nature OF con-
spracy against the Government 1t is conspiracy to NO.
late the supreme law Of the land to the intent that it shall
not be obeyed say, therefore, that these conspators be
they 10 Boston, in New York, in Pennsylvania In Illinois,
be they where they may responsible for all that any
Of their number may do resistance to this law The doc
ne Of confederaes applies to them. Where there is
to
conspratos responsible for each performed by nd
vdual consprator. Sir, hold white within the
range my sight responsible for the violation of the law at
Boston II done under their advice under their teach
ing under their sanction under the influence Of their speeches
do that they advised it in this particular instance
but say that any negro who in possession Of speeches
made in presence during the last session would have felt
himself authorized and justified by the express direction
high in authority go and set the constitution and the
laws defiance These negroes bave only done what thei
white confederates have prompted them to do The negr
has been put forward the active instrument while the In
sgaors had not the moral to show themselves IN th
front rank When these trials shall on, when the
esy the law shall be asserted when the judgment Of h
shall be pronounced trust il will fall upon the con
spiratos themselves upon the leading distinguished white
who put them up 10 it, instead OF upon the ignorant
simple and abused tools and instruments that they
carry their designs. 1t is pity that the negroes
should suffer for the offences Of others who should be punished
for their acts.
The negroes in the free States have been armed by the
aboonists during the last six months Gro where you will
and you scarcely find free negro that not armed with
pistols and bowie knives These have been furnished
by white for the purpose Of violating the fugitive
law They have been told to commit murder, If murder
necessary, resistance to the law Sir have stood
n meeting Of two thousand men, and have heard speaker
after speaker tell them strike and kill the first who
attempted this fugitive law have witnessed th
phrenzy. have heard this advice proclaimed in public
meeting have the weapons that have been prepared
by white abolons enable the negroes to resist this law
that when the penalty for this offence shall be inflicted
it will fall upon the white abolitons and not upor
the negroes who have been stimulated to these
which they would have thought Of but for the
sgement of white conspirators and insgators.
Mr. BUTLER. suppose there is little hazard in at
tempting to group States did the Northwestern States.
still persist in What said Of Illinois Under her former
suon rather under the promises Of her former consu
iion know for had occasion to examine this subject
fully once great many free people of color did 60 Illinois
They there under the promises which her former con
situGon held them which could not be fulfilled sat
that of policy, and did not araign the policy
Illinois had right to take what measure she pleased to ex
cude further ingress of population OF the kind And dt
y that whenever the time arrived that she would expe
population Of that kind from her borde her present const
tuition would operate harshy That my proposition.
made the same remark in regard to Indiana did not how
ever pute people of Indiana the people of Illinois
any disposition encourage the escape of fugitive slaves
When my remarks be inspected such thing will
be found in them. l. however, rather imputed somewhat
different disposition TO the people Of Ohio Now predict
aud predicted BEFORE and it is prediction that Is found
ed upon the signs Of the times will not be very long before
Ohio will not only prohibit the immigration OF free people
color into her horde but think from the present symptoms
may say that it will not be very long before she
viii be prepared to erpel them.
In conneIion with this allow to make another remark
thauo bod. L.,