Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-07-16
SPEECH OF R. RANT0UL.
Fugitive Slave Law IN conflict with state
Rights, ana In violation OF the Ecna
stitutiOH.

Rights, ana In violation Of the EcTa
stitutiOn.
| The question of constitutional law | now pro.
pose TO examine. 1t this is there in the Con
sttution of the United States grant of power
to legisate for the rendition of fugi.ves from Ia
Dor say there is not; and no man who calls
! himself a denocrat-whather he halls from
| New hampshire, or any other part of the Union
| can for moment sustain his character as
democrat upon the position that there is such a
grant Of power. Why, Sir, what is the distin-
| gushing doctrine of the democratic party
suppose it is the doctrine laid down by Jefferson,
IN his comments upon tie proposed veto Of the
/ first United States Bank. Thomas Jefferson
says 81 conceive the corner stone of the Con-
stiIuton to be laid in the tenth article of the
amendments to the Constitution - the article
that no powers can be exercised By the General
Government except such as are granted to it !:
that powers not granted to the General Govern
ment care reserved to the states or TO the people"
That is the foundation of the democratic faith, so
stated to be by Thomas Jefferson so understood
to be by Samuel Adams and Elbrice Gerry, and
all the old democrats Of New England as well
as by Virginia, and the democrats in the south :;
and that is the doctrine upon which intend TO
take my stand. This is the doctrine of the Bal
umOre resolutions rs they ,cers the doctrine of
the resolutions of 1898, SO, adopted at Baltimore
the other day, which gentlemen talk about in
such way as TO lead one to suspect that they
have not read them-the doctrine of the resolu-
tons Of l19S, 80, which declared the alien and
sedltIon laws to be unconstitutional, by u course
OF reasoning which applies as strictly to this
question OF the fugitive slave law as it does 10
the alien law or the sedtion law, or 10 any Sec
ton or clause of either
Bet the State of New Hampshire, when the
con9tiu,ionalty of the alien and sedition laws
came up in her Legislature. voted unanimously,
IN full house, one hundred and thirty seven
members being present, and unanimously in the
Senate, that those laws were clearly "constitu-
| uonal. and, in the present critical situation Of
our country said they, "highly expedent." Is
there Il man in New Hampshire who believes
that now New Hampshire bushes when tina.
I pnge of history is recalled to memory. 1t was
I then the unanimous opinion of the Senate and
House Of Representatives of New Hampshire,
that The alien and scdition laws were .'constitu-
/ nona!. It is the unanimous opinion of New
hampshire now, TINT they are unconstitutional .
and sir, the day will come when every mans chill
dion Will blush for his sarvile hcresy upon this
| question, as the men of New Hampshire now
blush for what their frhers did upon that ques
ton.
The question Of the consttut.onaity Of such
a grant of power is within a very narrow COM
pass. It's only necessary to take'up the history
,ho .'',',',,ea III tle I2uFn aruc.e Oh
,'',''I',1' an, see where 'hey came rom
wig. ''ty Hea"' ana What ehanges they under
"eh'" or everybody Knows thatth ConStiiu-
1"'''il' al o'"'i 1E OF tAe powers
5,o,-oa ~ 10y rs 1Ie powers granted 70
oId - rs '"ey ga III '!e
81 ,..,,. !" a"o'"cr pt
- ,,,''l.i'i U'slIi'o' nom 'he enutheFa"oh
Ga 20 ,'l,,',u - 'EIG9s' you ma CERTAIN
NAM IN nh IonJo ,,,bo Ill - .,ot "
Ito W.. "''u'' '""9 |" ug"y ti"I
etit,..;~, az - ~ ~
,,jf VI '' o-' zen IIl1 ,''LtS
E.5r Nv ',..' u ho"gi .'''.eIe. 10 '.'e
i. 49,, ol' ~; ~ r.oIa que9"o" ~
~ S,'.'', :" NC 'us'"''9 '''" ID
,,or ~, -, f s.', ~. oi"USt' N:''cI AI'e
f. c,aueo Of 49, - ,T,
i tho Question, '''9
Woll rn,." - ~, C,,-.;,,,..,o, l,-,.-
soI,a .t,,a,h - ''.''' 90
r,;,,eoa t ,'.{ 49, !" "fPoi"'" CoII.'
=. o'lo nom o"c'i ~, yoohy 10 report anu
' 10. VI l":'oI ne lPA' Gay 'ie com,
M"s "P1I"'tu an. ,oaItuoI Aoa's OF
W. ,'.' ''iC"'I'L lI0' ..l1' s'a'e
, Ipo,' H. vi, 'I,o 'l' 'u'f' l''' niue more
man ihon1n aI'crWaFuS' tmS committee repof-
70 time, and adopted ny Congress on the 10Th
November, lIHI They were ratified by the
states, one after another, until Maryland the last
on me list, acted upon them On the lstot March,
I'6l.
ne hrSt article established the style Of con-
!e"gfac y, SI2II DC me nIted states OF Amer
ica; me second aFicIe Is the key 10 the whole !;
anu IS therefore very important to DO considered
IL determines lhai The government to be cStab-
iished tor the management OF the general inter
csts OF the United States, shall be strictly held
an confined within the limits of powers express
y granted BY act OF confederation. Il is in these
words; Each state retains its sovereignty, free
Goin' ana 'ndePendahcG' and every power, Jurs-
ocuon' ana f'ght when IS not, IN this conedera-
Won, expressly de'egatcd 10 the United States
III congress aSSeno'ed'
no Implied powers there "hXPreSsIy deloGa-
ted ms say, IS the corner stone OF the
whole system OF the confedorauon-stato rights
Jealously preserved few powers clearly dotin-
cd are granted to Congress, fundamental Princi-
c'P'es o. Us existence, from assuming any pow
er mo' so granted -,
mere can De no dHhcn'y, then, IN ascertain
ing Wha' powers oe'ooged 10 congress under the
confederation. we nave only to read the emu
q on 10y