The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-23
Address or the Union safetx commlttee.

l
and who were disposed 10 sustain the Conslilu-
ton and the laws Of the country, and maintain
the Union.
At that meeting the Union safety committee
were appointed, charged with the duty, by cor
respondence or otherwise, of carrying out its OBJ
jects, which were declared to be, "To revive and
foster among the whole people of the United States
the spirit in which the Union was formed and the
Constitution adopted; and TO resist any attempt to
ALLEVIATE any portion of our country from the rest,
or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link to-
gether the various parts"
The committee now deem it proper to submit TO
those from whom they derived their authority such
reflections as have been suggested by the state and
progress of public feeling throughout the Union in
regard TO that question of paramount importance,
the compromise of peace
1t will be impossible to enumeraie the various
acts and proceedings of the committee since they
have been engaged in the performance Of the du-
ties assigned to them. But they find abundant
cause for congratulating the friends of the Union
upon the gratifying results that have followed tho
various Union meetings, here and elsewhere, in
the promises that were then made, the sentiments
that were uttered, and the principles that were
laid down.
These have been felt and appreciated in the
southern States, as furnishing evidence that their
held; that there were men at the North who abb
jured alike the pernicious doctrines of abolition
and secession, who acknowledged their obligations
to each other parties to common bond of Union,
and who would fulfil these obligations by com
plying with the injunctions Of the Constitution,
and obeying the laws of the land; and it has been
seen with pride and exultation that Union men
and Union principles have been supported and
sustained at the South by the great body of the
people.
The State Of Mississippi stands foremost in the
declaration of her people in favor of the Compro-
mise, and against secession; and Georgia has Just
followed in the same noble career.
Although continually excited by the efforts Of
abolionists, and too often discouraged by the evil
dences SO frequently manifested at the North, of a
dissemination to admit the Compromise of 1850 to
be final adjustment, the friends and ad vocates of
the Union at the South have still nobly persevercd,
and as gloriously triumphed
| Ii is with pain and modification, however, that
the committee find that this State, through its Lc-
| gislature and convenGons-although unfortunately
not standing alone in this respect among some of
| the States around hcr-sill refuses plain and
| plicit acknowledgment of adherence TO these Conn
promise measures, which secured the peace of tie
| Union, and the firm maintenance of which can
alone preserve the harmony of our Confederacy.
There Is, nevertheless, ground for confident belief
| that the great body of our people satisfied with
the Compromise, and will abide by il as a final set
| uenentj ana tnat, III que encouragement had been
! received from the proper quarter, they would al
| ready have expressed themselves accordingly.
But at the late conventions of both the old polit-
cal parties, formed, in case by the junction of
the friends OF the Cher law with the influence of
the higher authority, and composed, in the other,
of an unexpected majority, apparently contending
for similar doctrines, 1t made oappear that the
people thus represented were opposed to the Com
promise measures.
| 1t was fondly hoped that ere this New York would
have stood before the other States of the Union in
regard to this ngitating question of slavery, re-
deemed and regeneratcd. Its confidently believed
that such propitious result might have been at
tanned, fthe right influence had only been exerted,
and the proper energy had been displayed IN deal
ing with the party OF the higher law. But, unfor-
| tunately, ii has been ordered otherwise.
| While thus cruelty disappointed in the expecta-
! tons that were formed OF the probable course Of
this State, far, at least, the late conventions of
| both parties may be supposed TO represent the
! opinions of the people, the committee can appeal
with satisfaction to the prompt and efficient man
ner in which the Fugitive Slave law has been
ried into execution first, In this city, and then in
every State where the magistrates and the people,
the courts and their officers, have been called to
carry out Its provisions and support the Constits-
tion and there arises conscious feeling of secure
reliance upon the overpowering weight and infu-
ence OF public opinion in sustaining the laws of the
| land, and particularly in enforcing them in this
instance, when we find how calmly and effectually
| this has been done, notwithstanding the bold de-
| fance of aboliuonism, the persevering opposition
of species of philanthropy, misdrected, even if
well INTENDED, and the efforts OF misguided ZealOts,
and OF the self styled defenders of human freedom
The outbreak that has Just occurred in our own
State, where party was rescued from the officers
during the preliminary examination, ia indeed
a lamentable, though solitary exception. But
Syracuse, unfortunately for its own fair fame,
has, for some time past, been selected for the peri
odical displays and outpourings of fanatcism and
abolitionism, in the worst of forms; and the evil
effec is of these pes;erous teachings thus seen
in the conduct of their deluded followers. strong
er obligation, therefore, rests on the guardians OF
the peace, and on the friends of law and order and
on all others In authority IN that city, to see that
the offenders in this case brought TO justice,
and that measures arc taken prevent similar OUT
RACES for the future
Obedience TO the law is the first duty of an Ame-
rican citizen; and no people should be jcal-
Gus of its observance, alive to the due en-
| forcement of its mandates, than the people Of the
United States, and none are more deserving of the
severest denunciations of every man who values
the liberties of his country than those who attempt
to incucate doctrines tending, ever so remotely,
TO weaken our allegiance to the law. But there is,
IT possible, still stronger motive for enforcing the
provisions of the law in question IL was enacted
in compliance with injunction of the Constu-
ton, and designed expressly to protect the rights
and interests OF parties to the original compact,
| besides being law in furtherance of one which,
in all respects, it closely resembles, that was franz
| ed shortly after our Government established,
and is still existing our statute books.
But the principal danger that still turks abroad
and threatens the future peace and integrity of our
Union is to be found in the studious avoidance of
all declarations oil adherence TO the compromise OF
| $780, by the conventions that have lately formed
platforms for their respective parties The con-
ventions of both parties, indeed, promise acqu-
escence in the laws, because there is no alterna-
tive; nor will they oppose the execution Of them,
because the punishment of treason might be the
penalty of resistance. Neither do they desire
present agitation, because the moment may not be
propitious for any Interior designs But as they
cannot approve, and would not have voted for these
measures, notification which they deem essential,
and repeal which they consider admissible and
advisable, would necessarily follow their possession
ofpower
As an evidence that the Democratic party avoid
ed any issue this point refer TO the fact that
the following resolution was laid on the table by
large majority of the convention at Syracuse:
"Resoued, That the Democratic party of the
State OF New York still faithfully adhere to the re-
cent settlement by Congress of the questions which
have unfortunately divided the people of this State,
and will neither countenance nor sanction any sec
tonal agitation"
And in the platform adopted at the late Wing
convention in this State il is explicitly stated that