Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-11

have done othet5se than give that sanction. As Pre-
sden of the United States, his responsibilities were
very different from those OF representative in congress
from the Erie district
"From the moment that the compromise measures
became laws, he Gov. F. had unhesitatngly, at all
times, avowed his acquescence IN them. lie would
not allow his private judgment, as to some OF their pro-
visions interfere with his duty, either as citizen or
a magistrate, to uphold the supremacy OF the laws 10
submit to its provisions to let them be enforced and he
would add, while he could not sacrtlce the night to
maintain his opinions with regard to the lmpohcy
of Of the details ofhose laws he would not here,
in any position or at any time, press those ooIec-
tons Tor the purpose OF agitation, TO the risk OF pro-
ducing revving sectional controversies or enblttered
geographical divisions Believing that the constitution
entitled the South to laws, efficient TO secure the rig nus
which guaranteed to It, he could not look win Ia
yor upon proposition for repeal; and while he earn
esty hoped for modification and amendment OF some
of the provisions of these laws the time OF excitement
was not in his opinion, the time Tor wise ana prudent
action.
"He did not desire present to discuss these ques-
TONS He hoped and believed that the time would soon
come when the excitement OF the late agitation should
be only matter Of history and should from its remem
brance serve draw closely the bonds which had
united and will again. for long yeats unite in friendly,
harmonious and confding affection and sympathy and
brotherhood the remotest portions OF our common
country and wien he confidently believed, the justice
of brethren il section of the country will not
deny the reasonable demands Of those in another He
earnestly and anxlousy hoped Tor the arrival OF mat
day,
of the compromise measures?" He had given his an
swer-whie he did not approve, he fully and upreser
vedy acquiesced"
Readers of This paper need not be told how exactly
this manly avowal agrees with what we commenced Tor
during the tendency OF the Senatorial electIon ana
how eectually it demoshes the reckless assertions OF
those who persistingy opposed the WISHES OF tnelr e
low Wings in the matter OF his election, to say nothing
OF certain Democratic journals that were proies;edy
more anxious about his patriotism than they were about
| his politics. We say professedly because we do not
believe that any intelligent New orker ever, for mo-
men really doubted the patriotism, conservatism and
| Unionism OF Hamilton Fish, 1t was safe to bring rail-
ing accusation against him then, Governor Fish having,
| at the promptings ola commendabe dehcacy. ndepsn
dence and sense of honor, refused whie his name was
before the public a candidate tor high and dstln
gushed truststo answer questions or to give pledges,
| or to submit TO dictation OF any kind.
Now however, and perhaps the very first fitting
OCCASION he defines his position and is found where
we knew he would be found-reservng private opin-
ion the details of those measures, and not hestang,
| at proper tmes-as what freemen woud--to give his
own views OF those measures, but nevertheless cheer
fully and cordially acquiescng in and supporting them
now that they the constitutional enacmens OF the
| land; and deprecatng any agitation respecting them
until harmony is fully restored, and there has been
ample time and opportunity to watch their operations
No reasonable man, claiming tor himself freedom o.
thought and speech, could desire more Of Senator OF
this Union than full admission OF the T,sht OF the
we'll as 10 the entire control of their slave property
coupled with the declaration that he is opposed to the
repeal of the law and would not be party to an agl-
tation for the modification OF until all the excitement
respecting it is supplanted by friendly harmonious and
confidng Affection sympathy and brotherhood"
We have only to add few words upon very fell
cous incidental remark by Senator Fish in the course
of his speech before the society, to the effect tatwe
should have had less Of excitement and agitation up
this subject had the discussion both before aud since
the adoption Of the compromise measures been contn-
cd to the times, the places and the occasions ia which
it naturally and OF necessity" In this we fully
agree, merely in the one application given to it by
the honorable Senator, but as general rule. As
people we are perhaps apt both BY the pen and the
tongue, to force on discussions and to excite public
agitation which might otherwise be either avoided al
together or greatly mitigaed. 1t is contended on the
other hand that this eager polco.inellectua conflict
has many advantages, and results generally in more
immutable and general agreement upon the points at
ISSUE The advantages ofmpartal and earnest conro-
versy we fully admit; but our meaning is that even
good thing may be abused, and may lose much OF
its efficacy and value BY being made too common.