The daily union., 1852-09-29

would have been fit instruments make slaves Of all the
Sss fs Linz ~ have been Tonsa hsy e;ss
House IN few words what is really my opinion tis
that The stamp act be repealed absolutely. totally, aud
Immediately" II repealed Within less than year
from lis original passage denounced and discredited II
was driven from the s,aue-book In the chansl house
oil history, with the uncean things OF the past il now
ros, Tnither the slave act is destined 10 follow.
Sir regarding the stamp act candidly and cautiously,
Tree from the anmostes Of the time, is impossible
10 see mat though gravely unconstitutional, il was At
most an Infringement OF pa liberty only not Of peyonl
liberty There was unjust tax OF few pence with
The chances OF amercemens by single Judge without
jury; bat by provision OF this act was the personal
liberty OF any man assaled Under no free man could
be seized as slave. Such act, though Justly obnox-
ons 10 every lover OF constitutional liberty cannot be
viewed with The feelings OF repngnancc enkindled by
statute which assals The personal liberty Of every man.
and under which any free may be seized slave
S IN placing the stamp act by the side OF the slave act
DO injustice TO that emanation OF British tyranny Both.
indeed, infringe important rights of property; The
other the vital right OF all, which is other rights the
sSn es DS by nan e a Sos are
measured by their relative characters As freedom il
more than propeityas man is above the dollar that he
earns-as Heaven to which all aspire, il higher than
the earth, where every accumulation Of wealth must
ever remain-so are the rights assaed BY American
Congress higher than those once assaed BY the British
Parliament And just in this degree must history con-
demn the slave acl more than the stamp act.
SIT. might here sop i is enough in this place. and
on This occasion, to show the unconsttuonaliy OF this
enactment Your duty commences al once All leesla-
ion hostile TO the fundamental law OF the land should be
repealed without delay. But the argument is not yet
exhausted Even if this act could claim any validity
apology under the constitutions which cannot. II lacks
that essential support in the public conscience OF the
States, where it is to be enforced, which s the life OF
all law, and without which any law must become Z dead
The senator from South Carolina MA BurLral was
right when, at the beginning OF the session. he
.polntedy said that law which could be enforced
only by The bayonet law Sir, 10 idle SUPP
pose that an act OF Congress becomes effective merely BY
compliance with the forms OF legislation. Something
necessary The must be in harmony with the
prevailing public sentiment of the community upon
which bears. OF course, do not suggest that the
cordial support Of every Of every small locality
is necessary but do mean that the pubic feelings The
public convictions the public conscience must not be
touched, wounded, laeeraed by every endeayor TO en-
force il. With all these il must be far in harmony,
that, like other laws, by which properly liberty, and life
guarded, may be administered by the ordinary pro-
cess Of the courts. without eopardng the public psace
shocking good Ii this be true general rule
public support and sympathy be essential to the life
OF all law, this is especially the case in an enactment
which the important and sensitive rights Of per-
sonal liberty In conformity with this principle the
Legislature of Massachusetts, by formal resolution, 10
1850, with singular unanimly declared:
I've hold be the duty Of Congress pas, such laws
only in regard thereto will be maintained by tho sen-
menis Of the free States, where such laws be
forced"
The duty OF consulting these sentiments was recognised
by Washington While President OF the United States,
al the close OF his he sought 10 recover
slave who had fed to New Hampshire His autograph
letter to Mr. Whppe the collector Of Portsmouth, dated
a, Philadelphia, 2sih November. 1885, which now hold
in my hand, and which has before the light.
after describing the fugitive and particularly expressing
the desire OF "her misress' Mrs Washington for hsr
return, employs The following decisive language;
I do not mean however, by this request that snch vio
lent measures should be used EXCITE MOE
RIOT WHICH MIGHT DE TBs CASE IP ADHsRxSrA
CITIZENS. Rather than either should happen.
would foeRo her services aogeiher and the example
"GEoRGE WASHINGTON
Mr. Whpple, in his reply, dated at Portsmouth, De-
cember o. 1885, an autograph copy OF which have
cognises the rule Of Washington
81 will now sir, agreeably your desire, send her to
Alexandria, II Il be practicable without the quenoes
which you except-that of exciting riot a mob
ating uneasy sensations minds OF per-
The first cannot be calculated beforehand 1t viii be-
governed by The popular opinion at the moment the cir
may arise In the transaction The latter
may be songht no aud judged Of conver.ng with
without discovering the occasion So far have
had opportunity perceive that different sentiments
entertained on this subject"
The fugitive never returned, but lived in freedom
to good old age, down TO very recent period,
aDent OF the just beaance OF him whom aptIy call
the Father OF bis County is true that he sought h,r
return. This We must regret, and find its apology.
He was at the time STAKEHOLDER. Though often with
various degrees OF force expressing himself against
slavery, and promising his suffrage for its abolition he
did not see this wrong he il al the close OF fs in
the illumination Of another sphere From this act Of
Washington still swayel by the policy Of the world,
appeal TO Washington writing his will From Washing
ton on earth appeal TO Washington in heaven. Seek
aot Dy ms name 10 Justify any such effort. His death
above his lie. His last testament cancels his authority
as a Shareholder. However be may have appeared be-
fore man, he came TO the presence OF God only the lib
orator ot his slaves Grateful for this example, am
grateful also that, while slaveholder and seeking the
return OF fugitive, he has left in permanent record rule
OF conduct which, adopted by his country, will make
save-huntng impossible. The chances of riot or mob
or "even uneasy sensations among well disposed per-
sons, are 10 prevent any such pursuit
Sir, the existing slave be enforced without
violating the precept OF Washington. Not merely "nn-
easy sensations OF welldsposed persons" but rage
mutt commoilon, moi, riot, violence death, gush from
lis fatal Overlooking fountains;
-hoo fonte derivata clades
In pat'inm populumque huxit
Not case occurs without endangering the public
peace Wotkmen are bruiay dragged from employ
ments 10 which they welded by years of successiu L.
bor; husbands are ravshed from wives, and parents
from children Everywhere there is disturbance--at
Detroit, Buffalo, Harrisburg, Syracuse, Philadelphia
New York, Boston. At Buffalo the fugitive was cruelty
knocked BY log OF wood against hot stove, and
his mock trial commenced while the blood still oozed
from his wounded head. At Syracuse he rescued
by sudden mob also at Boston, At Harrisburg the
fugitive was SHOT al Chrslisna the slave hunler
shot. Al New York Unprecedented excitement. always
with uncerain consequences has attended every
Again. al Boston, fugitive, according 10 the received
report FIST basely seized under preiex that he
criminal; arrested only alter deadly struggle; guarded
by officers who acted in violation OF the laws OF the
Sae tried in house surrounded by chains, con-
rary TO the law finally surendete ed slavery
by rampng the criminal process of the State, under
escort, in violation sgan OF the laws OF The State
while the puplls irembled, aud the whole people. not