The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-01

i make ha md
less expensive than sthe value of the right Il
designed to secure. As a democrat, and what
more, as staunch friend of the Union, am in
vor OF such law, and willing 70 make it sabst
tiai article Of my political faith. / do not do
that many who agree with me on this point, do
like the present law. If this is the extent Of our
| agreement, we are not separated by principle,
may act together. Agreeing in the end, we differ
to the means OF reaching it. / do not think
convention ought to be silent on this subject, aH
it is not expedient to indorse the existing law
| ought at least to go so far as to declare that
slaveholding States are entitled TO The full be-
| fit of that clause in the constitution, VIII
| provides for the surrender Of fugitive slaves
that proper laws ought to be passed to give
full and fair effect, without unnecessary b
den, rendering the remedy more expensive tn
The worth of the right. do not say
| present law is in all respects the best that co,
pc enacted on the subject. In some of its pro
sions IT might be improved; but it must | thin
IN candor be confessed that it has thus far work
iaiIiy well The instance Of objection to which
REFER was rather the fault Of the Commission
IMAM that OF the law. With all its defects, /
wiling to aequiesce in it, for the reason that
fairiy carries out its object, without seriously
dangering other important rights and for the f,
lneI sPeciai reason (Which is a wcighty one wi
Mel lnat IL Is part Of system OF comprom
with which the North had, upon the whole mi
reason to be gratified than the South. By pI
claiming dislike to the Fugitive Slave law,
lneleDy continuing tne agitation, we incur the i
i ~
| bargain which We like, andy to the other mar
| that which it likes. In this respect it ought to
looked at in light somcw hat different from that
which we would view ordinary enactments. The
| is also another consideration which would deter
from maniestifg dissatisfaction with the law unl.
moved 70 1t ny the pressure OF evil consequences:
| IL the almost inevitable certainty that nv obie
| would nc misunderstood, and my conduct ri
offence In quarters whore father irritation sh1,
be avoided, If it can be. without surrender of rieI
| OF di,fegas.'ng prime pcs. Aboitionists oppose
fusitVe slave law upon the ground that it civ
| practical erect to the consultation. They are,
lac,; opposed TO that part OF the constitution; an
IN the present state of feeling the South it il
reasonable TO expect any clear discrimination OF
| different grounds OF opposition to that awl
nave ,ndeavored to show. in manner confe
not very satisfactory to myself in what light
ACTON OF the convention will be viewed by l.
democrats here and Al other States ii il should $
what you suggest, and nothing more. Ii more
70 be said-and more think should be said, ey
that more be.
Here we enter upon debatable ground II i
convention should express a general approval
ana aequlescence in the compromise measures n
course Will ee Objectionable to some, becau 20 il "
include an approval of the Fugitive Slave lazy; All
II that is excepted and nothing said on the sube,
the convention will thereby place Itself in mar
lest opposition to that law. Il will, in matt
now grown INTO vital importance, cut itself of iro
all fellowship with Southern democrats: IL will .
clude them from its platform, and place itself
sectional ground. If it undertakes to di,tingu
its opposition to that law from the abolition grour
OF opposition, 1t must place its objection to it on
peculiar features of the present act express
concurrence in its obiect--and suggest other or
visions equally effective to carry it out, taking ca
That they are NOT ilnpracticable or burdensome.
order TO escape the charge of insincerity. I appr
|. bend there would be as much diversity of Opinon
the convention on such q resolution, az there W
be on the merits OF the present law. have tbOup
OF framing such resolution, but experience d
Gculty in bringing out sufficiently the strong poin
OF Objection to the present act.
In view Of these difficulties another course h
been suggested-sience on all matters relative
the affairs OF the general government. If am n
mistaken, took strong ground against this cour
IN my former letter. Subsequent reflection and d
vcloTmcnts have confirmed the views then presente
The Convention in Ohio went as far as YOU promo
TO go, in the resolution transmitted TO mo- b
omitted all alusion to the compromise measure
what Interpretation. let me ask, has been given
Its course. both III and out Of that State II h
been sad there, and reiterated here, that the res
lutions OF that convention, far as they relate
national questions. are anti-slavery, with the
cognitlon OF the principle OF non-interyen.ion wi
the States BY Its silence, it is said :" the compr
mise receives the rcbuke Of silent contempt = al
us course can be construed : only as a free :,
triumph" This may be harsh commentary, b
the proceedings OF the Ohio Convection afford
thing to rebut IL. Ii should be borne in niind tn
tins Interpretation of The views Of the Ohio ca
vent'en IL eXuirgly plomul gated here by tho
WHO are urgent in season and out of season to ha
COR convention take the same course az that TAX
by The convention il Chic; aud shonid their roii
ne pursued, there cau be no doubt that they won
use the same language Of cxuitaIion and triumph
regard I" the proceedings III this State | cam
peiieFe tile silent ipiicy viii find much fay
"ith tht members oi our convention. | Ia
met with very few Of either section wi
are disposed to advocate it and very MAJ
who are determined TO speak out on national qu.
tons he the effect ct dong SO what it may, on
Lanaony Of the party. The latter arc dcermn
to occupy no equiyocal position in the eyes of
democrats of the other States Of the Union b
willie they avow this determination, they proie
ana, Go not doubt, very generally feel, since
desire TO take course as little offensive possi
towards those who may differ with them Thoy W
generally express willingness to stand ON
same ground taken by the convention OF last yea
and resist any attempt 10 press matters 10 the 9th
extreme.
Ills quite "A mistake 10 assume. as presume sol
DO, thai those who urge harmony at the conventi
favor the policy Of saying nothing. or saying VIII
Is equivalent to nothing, national question
They mean to avoid extremes, and do enough ar
only enough to place themselves fairly on q nation
democratic platform. Under ordinary circumstanc
this would be done by eoncurring IN the rcsolutio
OF the National Conventions OF $50, 1911 and Is
but III the present oyigeucy of our national affair
il seems TO them that the compromise measi
should not be passed unnoticed and unapproved
some form. la regard 10 the matter above cOrside
ed. have nothing of my own to suggest bett
than the sixth and seventh resolutions of the la
Massachusetts, Convention. A large majority of th
body were what are called free soil democrats; a
though all Of that description did not approve
vote for those TWO resolutions quite a number
them did: otherwise they could not have been pa
ed, Something like these, a reiteraton OF the
solutions Of our own convention Of last year, Sigh
y modified. trust will find general favor in the /,
preaching convention.
Your resolution in relation to the canal la
strikes me fayorably. Perhaps il may be necessa
TO modify il AZ TO rcpcl the inference that
democratic candidates il elected, wonld refuse
act il, or regard il valid law, until its 60
stitutionaltv was settled by the Court of Appea
! sorry to trouble YOU with letter ~ IL
and 50 careessly written but am too lazy to
through The work Of correction AMI condcnsatiu
am still more troubled with the apprehension
an almost irreconcilable difference oi opinion
tween some points Of policy. With some m
such an antagonism would give me little uncasine
but you not of that class. | aware 70
opinions generally the result OF much rclect
and you ere guided in forming them by puse n
tiyes. ] respect them, as ought 20 bat not
much as 70 be able TO surrender my own % you
Our long general occurrence in pol. 'cal view