The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-12


Below our readers will fad an able and patriotic
letter from this distinguished gentleman written in re.
sponse TO an invitation 10 take part in The proceed
ings oil democratic mass meeting held during the late
canvass IN Pennsy lvania at East Smilhfeld II will be
perceived by the date OF the letter. that il was intended
for publication before the day of election and we learn
ia inc ueiay Oh rs appearance in the public prints
entirely The result, OF accident Its historical details,
however, are oil so much interest and its views are so
entirely sound and NATIONAL that we think lis publca
uon 4. 's ,me viii be OF good effect; and therefore
lay before our readers find ii in the North Branch
(Pa) Democrat Of the Isl instant
From the North Branch (Pa,) Democrat, Nov. l.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING AT EAST SMTHrELD.-We
nave oeen furnished the proceedings OF the mass
meeting heid al East Smthfeld, October s. We should
have published them in full before the election had we
received Them IN time. As they relate exclusively to The
election lhe pending, and the questions issue then in
VOWED their publication at this time cannot be interest
ing The meeting was large and enthusiastic Letters
recelvedirom Hon John A. Dix, Hon s. Dickinson and
others congrauaory OF the prospects of the democracy
Of Pennsylvania read with much interest The lei
ter of the Hon. Richard Rush, whose DISTINGUISHED NOS;
ton as statesman and whose long public life en,itle his
opinions to consideration, lay before our readers II
IS frank, manly, and eloquent letter it evinces jeal
GUS and ardent attachment TO the Union likely to be
cherished by statesman who, familiar with our country
in its infancy, had travelled upward and onward with it,
through all its eventfu struggles and had devoted his
life TO the democratic cause
Letter from Hon. Richard Rush
SyDnkBAM, (near Philadelpha,)
September 30, 1851.
GENTLEMEN It was only Saturday evening tina, your
kind invitation OF the 4th instant, written in The name OF
the democratic citizens OF Bradford county, 10 ion them
in mass convention at East Snitheld the slh oil Oc-
nj ut IN uyh u
This is not The first time have had marks of friendly
od-wil from them. They have often before reached
me IN very cordial ways II was the case whilst
was 10 Enga fulfilling public trust, and then espe.
cialy grateful as reaching abroad am very sensi.
BILE TO them all; and as il will be out Of my power 10
meet these Old Bradford friends this OCCASION in their
own county. (Which very much Iegre feel il but the
more incumbent upon me, under your gratifying invita-
ton on their behalf to say something OF public matters
the dlscussion OF these being the object OF the
yen,ion know that sentiments will be expressed at
the convention, transmitted it from sources more
authoritative but this is sufficient reason for with
holding mine the less as in my Judgment The season ia
one OF public peril when citizen who called upon
as you have been pleased to call upon me, ought to be
unwilling to speak out.
The little desire 10 say will be on the fugitive slave
law
Since the formation of the constitution of the United
States there has never been, far present remem
be any instruction OF any nature whatever 10 oyerurn
resist by violence the laws passed in pursuance of it.
IN any one State OF the whole Union except this; and ne
have had three
q
emphalically called, in 1894. Ii very formidable
one Ipervaded nearly all the western counties OF our
State General ashingtoB then at the head of the gov
crnmeni, did all that he could at FIRST or that mortal Wis
dom could, 10 suppress II by concaiory means; but
finally had TO be put down by military force Fifteen
thousand men were called into the field, made up by re-
questions from the militia OF Virginia. MARYLAND and
New Jersey well this State This great force over
awed further resistance to the laws Criminal prosecu.
tons and convictions for treason followed The Presi-
dent pardoned the conrlcts.
The second instruction in $780, chiefly in North
ampton county On that OCCASION all attempts to execute
civil process for focbe resistance To certain laws of The
United States proving above the militia and volunteers
from the neigh boring counties called upon 10 march
TO the scene of disorder Through their fundamentally,
cooperation with The Judicial power submission to the
laws restored Criminal prosecutions followed, as in
the former against those who resisted them by vio
lence. and convictions were had for treason But here
also the pardonng power OF the President-the elder
Adams--was inierposcd, and the scaold not erected
The third occasion on which we arrayed ourselves
against the authority OF the Union in the Olmsted
That strife brough! US towards the brink OF civil
war, and moment not very far from it. When the
marshal first attempted TO execute the process OF the courts
OF the United Saies IN that case be was resisted at the
point OF the bayonet This in Phladelp hia Finally
The process execued-not openly but by secret skill
humane sttatagem, and The splng OF blood hap
PLY avoided Here again legal convictions for the offences
took place, but punishment RENTED by President
Madison.
do no, recall facts intend no comments on them
History has written them down, and cannot obI,era,e
them. A Pennsylvania myself, desire to cherish just
pride 10 my native State. am gratefully sensible TO hav
ing had the honor OF sharing in her counses and conf
dence heretofore, and proud OF the long and high
merits in her history TO counierbalance the
recall BIZ, inst in proportion as ardenty cling 10 such
feelings do desire TO give expression al this uncure TO
Intense anxiety that she may be found TO acquit her
self well in all respects in executing the fugitive slave
law She ought not again 10 from her fealty 10
the Union when protesting that feeling but avoid every
appearance Of H. She ought rally around the fugitive
slave law in the spirit evnced the vast Union meeting
in PHILADELPHIA in November last when whole thousand
OF our wing friends, though political opponents enhus.
astcay cheered, with the devotion OF Patriots, and
wisdom above all party the resolution for It's full and
hearty execuon-not IN IFS words only, bat in It's great
import and ,ranscendent national objects.
am compelled however, for one, 10 say--indeed,
,rnih and ltanknes might well force upon OF
TO sayihat prescat attitude IN regard TO that para
mount law is very extraordinary. 1t is than that
OF any one OF the States composing this wide confedeacy
That law is more vital TO the preservation of the federal
constitution than any Of the laws OF Congress, all OF
them put together the opposition 10 which produced the
instructions have mentioned This IA my sincere be- /
lief Yet already have il resisted, and resisted
blood in this Staieno only ence bnl twice. There
no other State in which il has been resisted EXTERN.
tiles deplorable Is not this enough starte Pennsyl
vanans-to make them look around-to AK themselves
how il has about and, above all, what is the rem
edy Before give way TO any OF State pride,
as thinking ourselves main prop OF the Union, we
in presence of our SISTER States First came the murder
OF young Kennedy OF Maryland, al Carlisle; next the
brutal Killing and mangling OF Mr., Gorsuch, another