Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-18

The following is the conclusion of Mr..
Summers speech on the Fugitive law.
Sir, might here stop. It is enough in
this plnce and on this occasion to show the
nnconsiituiionality ofthis enactment. Your
duty commences nj once. All legislation
hostile 10 the fundamental law of the lnnd
should be repealed without delay. But The
argument IL not yet exhausted. Even ii tlIis
Act could cllin any validity or apology nm
ter the Constitution, which il cannot, Il lacks
that essential support IN Me Public Conscience
Qfe Sfaies, tphsre II is 10 be enforced, ,ohich is
NE ne of oil inlC, and tciihcm rliich am laio
must become a dead letter.
The Senator from South Carolina Mr.
BurLERl was right, when, ut tho beginning
Of the session, lie poiniedly said tl'ut law
which could be enforced only by the bayonet,
WINS no law. Sir, II is idle to suppose that
an act Of Congress becomes effective, mere
ly by compliance with the forms of leesln-
ZION. Something more is necessary. The
Act inust be in harmony with tlit prevailing
r.s,ilic sentiment of the community uIion
which il hears. or course, do not suggest
thut the cordial support of every man or of
every small locality is necessary but do
mem that the public feelings, the public con.
victons, the public conscience, must not he
touched, wounded, lncerated, by every en-
deavor to enforce II. With all these it must
be- 80 far in harmony, that, like other laws,hy
which property, liberty, and life, are guarded,
il may be administered by the ordinary pro-
cess Of the courts, without jeoparding the
public peace or shocking good men. Ii this
be true us n general rule-if The public sup
port aud sympathy be essential TO the life of
nll law, this is especially the case in an en-
nctment which concerns the important and
sensitive rights of Personal Liberty. In con-
fornity with this principle the Legislature of
Massachusetts, by formal resolution, in 1850,
with singular unOuimity, declared:
awe hold il TO he the dIty of Congress to
pnss such laws only in regard thereto ns will
I've maintained by the sentiments of the Free
States, where such laws are TO he enforced"
The duty of consulting these sentiments
was recognised by Washington. While
President of the United States, AT the close of
his Administration, he sought TO recover
slave, who had fled to New Hampshire
Ills autograph letter to MIR. Whpple, The
Collector at Portsmouth, dated nt Phlladel-
phia, 2Sth November, 1856, which l now
hold in my hand, and which has never before
seen the light, after describing the fugitive,
and particularly expressing the desire Of "her
nlSlFtbS, NllEs ioi
employs the following decisive language:
al do not mean, however, by this request,
TINT such violent measures should he used as
WOULD EXCITE MOB OR RIOT, WHICH MIGHT
NE THE CASE IF SHE HAS ADHERENrs, on
EVEN UNEASY SENSATIONS IN THE MINDS OF
wELL-DIsPosED CITIZENS. Rather than either
of these should happen, would forego
her services altogether; aud the example
.uht,.l, l. of infinifa INN
.-- GEORGE WASHINGTON"
Mr. Whpple, in his reply, dated at Ports
mouth, December %, l79G, an autograph
copy of which have, recognises the rule of
Washington:
ar will now, sir, ngreeably to yonr desire,
send her to Alexandria, If il be practicable
.eilLout The consequences i0hich you erpect-that
ofereiting a riot or mob, or creating uneasy
c,nsaions IN the minds Of iceii disposed persons.
THE first cannot be calculated beforehand ;
il will be governed by the popular opinion
of the moment,Or the circumstances That niny
arise in the transaction. The latter may be
sought into and Judged ofby conversing with
such persons without discovering The occa.
sion. So far os have had opportunity,
perceive that different sentiments are enter
tained on this subject"
The fugitive never was returned; but Iiv-
ed in freedom TO good old age, down to a
very recent period, monument OF the Just
forbearance of him whom we aplly call the
Father of his Country. 1t is true that he
sought her return. This we must regret,and
find its apology. He was at the time slave
holder. Though often with various degrees
of force expressing himself against slavery
and promising his suffrage for its abolition
he did not see this wrong as he saw II at tho
close Of life, in the illumination OF anothel
. sphere. From this act of Washington, still
swayed by the policy of the world, appea
10 Washington writing his will. From
Washington on earth appeal to Washing
ton in Heaven. Seek not by his name &