The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-08-06

imy opinion. The settlement az il,esFsxsd
questions aFising oul n the acquisitions d
IonlloFy from MEXICO. and The relations
between The slayshaldlng and non slave
holding Siaief. commonly called he con-
psomiss arts o. 1880. ought 10 Be FsgaId-
81 n al sections a. faal adjustment ;
~ upon is faithful observance lnusi
mainly depend shs peace and qniei Of The
rouasfy. Nhilsl IL has nos effected every
Thing which oas own section might have
insisted on or desired. il still. in my jadg-
meni. places our peculiar interests under
seenrer protection than they have en-
joyed Tor the last twrnly years. Not 20
mention The rejection Of lie Wilmol pro-
riso from The Territorial bills Of Utah and
New Mexico. by n decisive roie Of ihe
House Of Representatives. sfIer the long
protrscied contest, year alter year. upon
Abolition petitions. il was an acquisition
Of no lrifing importance TO obtain such an
enactment as the Fugitive slave law.
True. IL does nothing more Than enforce
The covenant 81 the constitution. But il
is legislative acknowledgment Of our
rights and The provision Of sanction fpr
their Observance. such as fear rould not
hare been pros urcd for many yean pre-
ceding.
Bat this is bat part of the benefit.
The judiciary Of the United States sus-
lsins this law in spirit and inirni. The
Justices and Judges both of The higher
and inferior courts. hare every where met
the responsibilities imposed upon them
by il. in manner. and with an ability.
learning and foriiludc. worthy Of the dis
ciples and successors OF John Marshall.
They have mol only maintained il in ex-
ecuiion. but vinsliraled il in elaborate
charges 10 the Iuries. which they have
caused TO be Published Tor general infor-
nation. We are people Of preccdenls.
and Of hdbitual reverence for the opin-
ions ofihc Judiciary, under the high sane
lions OF ofirial oaihs. These Judicial AL
dresses will do FAR more To roncct villa
ted public opinion al The North, Than all
the arguments Of statesmen or politicians
on The floor Of Congress.
Nor is This all. The executive Of The
United States stands ready. in every case
legally requiring il. IN bring the military
power 10 the aid Of The civil Officer. in the
execution Of this Law. And here, I shall
moi be restrained by any apprehension
Of being thought guilty Of adnlaiion by
The censorious Few. from doing an act Of
justice 10 the Chief Magistrate az q nation.
IN bearing my testimony 10 the . clear.
ness in his great Office" with which he
has irodslen the path of duty. in regard
TO this statute, without usurpaiion. oslen-
iaiion or evasion, without vanity, fear or
reproach. Such concurrent action on the
part Of every department Of the Federal
Government, moi only gives TO us the pro.
lection Of public authority. but cannot
but have saluIary effect in bringing bark
The people OF the non slayeIlolding states
TO sense Of their obligations under the
constitution. and convince those who are
sincere, that instead Of conscience rcquir.
ing their aid in the escape Of the slave, OF
passive Indifference in regard To him. il.
demands that they shall give their assist
lance in all proper eases for his recspiure
and surrender. Need / add. tina, large
part Of the press. the pulpit and The pub
lie men Of the North. a, The head Of whom
stands the great cxpounder Of The consti-
tuition, are also ON our side in the contest.
While these go,d influences are nj
work on our behalf in the non. slavehold
ing States. and the Government throws
over us the shield Of lis protection. in
maintaining the compromise. il is with
nnfrigned regret. that I perceive in our
own section Of the country, some who,
while PROGRESSING a willingness 10 abide
by IL. disparage il in such terms as 10 per.
suasle all others not 20 do so; Others who
regard Il as Of no effect. and are ready 10
reagilale The whole subject Of slavery, 0d
infiiifun; while others ,lenouncc Il as a
most iniolerable grievance. making a real
cdsns BELL, aud jnsiifying a Revolution
OF The Government, under the name of
secession.
] cannot now discuss these various mn.
slilons. But il cannot escape ohserya.
ton, that the advocates of all three of
them are most anxious 10 obtain a recoc. |
milton Of the doctrine that stale NAV 4,
pleasure secc,le from the Union, and that
alter such declaration of secession, there
IS no lnnger any power. in The Govern
Ineni OF the United Slaie.. 10 enfarce the
Laws of the United States within our
limits. Their anxiety and zeal Tor this
doctrine in theory. places The two rlasses |
nf persons first advrried to in the same
category with The practical srcessionisi.
u The fact be undeniable. ilat one is for
secession, and another soI,ril.
nus 10 have his right recognized TO do sal
with impunity. il is difficult Ia perceive
low he coud more eif'rluaily aid and
'nconrage him 10 that fatal result.
Nor can dwell ON the Juc,rine Of Sc
'ession further than Ia 10 say. tia, il is
Utterly inconsistent with and rcprynant to
he constitution of the Unilci States: and