The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-30

Tor having voAed contract by which the epauish go
privilege the British government Of imporne slaves
into Ter West Inc colonies That was not then repug.
70 show that the introduction Of slavery into South.
States Is not to be visited upon the generation that
trary all the eminent Of that day regretted t. And
you, my young friends Of Albany II you win take the
pains to go back to the debates OF the period from the
meeting Of the first Congress, in 1774I mean the Con-
gress of the Confederationo the adoption of the pre-
sent constitution and the enactment Of the first law
under the existing consttuton-anybody who win make
that ressarch will find that Southern men and
The Of In far more EARNEST and smphsto
terms than the Northern for though 1t did exist IN the
Northern States it was feeble taper just going out
to end-spd nothing was feared from 1t; whilst
leading Of the Southof Virginia, and the Caroh-
nas-felt and acknowledged that it was mora
and political evil; that II retarded the arm Of th
free man and kept back the progress and succea
of free labor and said with truth-and all history veH
flies the observation that IL the shores Of the Ches<
peake had have been made free to free labor tn
shores of the North River, New York might have bea
great but Virginia would have been great aison Th<
the sentiment Now this Of things, geI
ttmen, when the constitution framed its framen
and the people who adopted it. to clear EXPRESS
unquestionabie stipulation and compact. There had
been an ancient practice for for century,
service whether apprentices at the North slaves at
the Souhthat ugitiyes should be restored Massachu-
setts had restored fugitive slaves to Virginia long before
the adoption Of the constitutions ard II Is known
that in the States hereinthe centre where slavery
isted-they restored. And it was held that any
could pursue his slave and take him wherever he
could md him Under this state Of things 1t was
pressy stipulated in the plnest languageand there It
stands sophstry cannot gloss tit cannot be erased
the page the constitutionthcre it stands that
held to service labor in State under the
laws thereof escaping into another shall not in
quence Of any law regulation therein, be discharged
from such service labor but shall b. delivered up,
labor sa be d ns optsd wthost
whore objected to, North South-considered as
matter Of absolute right and justice TO the
Southern States--concnrrod in everywhere by every
State that adopted the constitutions and look in vain
for any opposition from Massachusetts, Georgia Then,
hsin fla l.n fha ~
stuton after Congress had organized, in General
Washingtons time. it found necessary to pass law
Such q law prepared and passed. 1t prepared
by gentleman from Northern State 1t is said 1t was
drawn by Mr. Cabot Of Massachusetts II supported
by him and by Mr.. Goodhue, and Mr. Sedgwck Of Mas
sachusetts and generally by all the free States There
and for time satisfied the just rights and expecta-
tons Of everybody That law provided that It's pro-
visions should be carried into effect mainly by State
gstrates justices Of the peace judges Of COURTS
shers Of State counties and other Of State
from any quarter, until fifteen years ago, when
Of the Statesthe free States-thought IL proper
aud officers from executing this law Of Congress- under
heavy penalties and refusing to the United States
thotes the Of their prisons for the detention Of per-
sons arrested fugitive savesthat Is to far the
States could 60 Those Of them to which refer--not
al but seyeranu,hei the law of 90 entirely They said
mot execute it, No runway slave shall be restoreds
Thus the law became dead eter-an entire dead letter.
But here the constitutional compact-here the
stipulation, solemn q words could form It, and which
every member Of Congress every officer Of the general
government officer Of the State governments from
governors down to constabes had sworn to support.
Well under this state Of things in 1850 was Of opinion
that common justice and good faith called upon to
make law-fair reasonable, equitable Just-that
should be calculated to carry this constitutional provi
sion into fleet and give the Southern States what they
entitled and what intended originally they
should rocevethat is fair right to their flu
gves from service from the States into which they had
Ned was Of opinion that it the bounden duty OF
Congress to pass such law The South insisted that
they had to It, and thought they insisted Justly.
II was no concession-yielding nothing-eves up mo-
tbiI &. When called on TO fuhl compact, the question
is, Win you fulfil And for ready. viii, fu-
I'll IL by any fair and reasonable act ofegsation Now,
complished by it First, il TO make the Law
favorable for the fugitive than the Law cf 1893 1t did
because called for record, under seal from court
in the State from which the fugitive might be sadA,
have come, proving and ascertaining that he wasl
fugitive, so that nothing should be left when pu
sued into a free State, but to produce the prooff
his identity. Next, it secured a higher tribunal.
placed the power in responsible hands. The judg(
If the Supreme and District Courts Of the United Stacy
and learned persons appointed by them rs commN
soners to TO the execution Of the law There!
a more favorable law in all respects to the
fugitive than the law passed under General washing
tons administration in 90 Now. let say that this
law has been discussed considered and adju,lr,d in =
great many Of the tribunals this counary IL has
the subject Of discussion before judges OF the supreme
Court Of the United statesthe subect Of discussion be-
fore courts the most respectable in the States Every
where--on all by all judges, has been
holden TO be- and pronounced 10 be. constitutional
law. So say Judges Nelson Woodbury. and all the rest
Of the judges far know So says the naaimous
opinion Of Massachusetts, herself expressed by good
Court-unanimouy and without hcritation-and says
every body. eminent for learning and const law,
aud good judgment without obstruction without oppc-
ton, without intcrmixurc Of dissent Of judicial opinion
any where And hope may b. INDUCED this occasion,
gentlemen partly on account Of high personal regard,
and partly q the excellence and ability Of the production,
to refer all 70 very short opinion OF Mr. Prem
tice the District Judge Of Vermont. (Applausc True,
the before him did not turn much the ques-
ton Of the consuonalty OF this Law, the uncons
nationality and legnty, aud utter inadmssabuity, of
private men and polite bodies setting ur their notions
hr Int Ell
where between and the third heavens never knew
.eisetly where (cres Of Good and laughter) Az
find man In the profession in New York whose income
reaches Thirty poundsa year who will stake his profess
rputation Ia not worth the thirty pounds. Renewed
lsoghter And yet this law Is opposed-violently OPP
lovers OF human bery-thesc friends OF the save-ths
fugitive sarcs-don't put their hands in their pockets
tom they are not In that habit much. (Laaghter.D
That Il not the way they show hrir devotion TO liberty
any kind sui nsy meet ana pass n;., m% .nnx
not be executed at ratcurdcr any circumstances
IL has been said In the states Of New York
and Ohio and again. that the Law shsl not b.
executed. That was the language Of convention in
Worcester in Mass in syracuse New York, and else-
where And for this they pledged their lives their for
and their sacred honor (Laughter) Nov. genes
these prcceedings-f FAY It upon my professional
reputation-are distinctly reasonable Resolutions Of
Ohio. certain resolutions in New York. and the
ventions held In Boston. distinctly reasonable.
And the act Of taking away shadrach from the pub
lie authorities in Boston. and sending him Oh, was
an act q clear TREASON. speak this IN the
hearing who iawyers-I speak II out
to the countryI say II everywhere. my professional
reputation II treason aud nothing el-c-that u to
say IL men get together and combine together and re-
solve that they will oppose law of the government not
in any but IN all cacsI say. they resolve TO
resist the law whoever be attempted to be made tho
ruhect of H. and carry that purpose into effect by re-
sstng the application 81 the law In any hat
sir IL TREASON Turning TO Mr. spencer and stamping
with emphasis You know VI well Continuing TO si-
drcss Mr. Spencer The resolution itself unscei on,
y not trcsson-it only manifsts treasonabe purpoe
when this purpose j. proclsmed-snd II L. proclaimed
that " will be carried out In all casc~-and IL carried
into effect by force Of numbers in any case,
that constitutes a case looking against the Uncns
and II II necessary. I might cite In illustration
the Of John shays, who suffered death In ash
ipgtons time. for being concerned in the vhiskey
insurreciion Of that day. There IL probably
here. shays rebellion was In Massachusetts,, aud
the whiskey insurrecon In Pcnnsylvanial Nov,