The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-30
SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 30. 1859.

that an answer should be given spirit Of irankness
which comes the OCCASION and il il given accordingly
long since declared be my fixed intention and our
pose in whatsoever station the vcisitudes Of life might
place me to sustain by any and EVERY just within
my control the measures OF adjustment Of 1850 beev
ing their adoption. as whole, to have been wise, and
their operation autary regard it the highest duty
and dcarett privilege tf the citizen to cherish and
a Union Of States which has conferred such in
caculelle blessings upon munknd and this only be
accomplished by maintaining in letter and in spirit the
integrity of the constitution.
That constitution provides for the restoration of f
vcs from service and the act Of 1850 simply provides for
its execution.
On The 2Sth Of February 1s49 while discussing Mr.
Walkers amendment. providing for the temporary 60
veinment of the territories, said in the Senate
They the Northern peopel read too. in the consti-
tuition that fugitves held to service by the laws OF
state escaping into another TO be deli, cred to the
jurisdiction from whence they fled not to be enslavcd if
thty arc cenen as IL the cant phrase Of the times but
TO have their rights adudicated by the laws Of tho State
where the service i claimed All rejecting must
see and know that II Is much violation Of the letter
and spirit Of the constitution in the sight Of God and in
the judgment of men to harbor and coretc fugitive
ffom the lava OF State which held him service as
shelter and pro ct fugitive from justice ana that ths
ono is no les questionable in expedioncy fragrant in
morals, than the other
" These provisions clearly written in our funda
mental law and bc who violates them, or either of
them und'r The shallow that they Of
moral force violates the primary duties of citizenship
and commits treason against his government"
On the 2cth Of August 1850, the final reading Of
the fugitive layc bill which passed and l. law
said 1.-The act of 1875 providing Tor the rcstoia of
fugitive slaves, under the constitution. would, in my
judgment have answered tho purposes for which it
des signcd il il had Icen fairly construed and hruy
executed and although we may obyiatc some defects
which experience has detected and add to its force by
prescribing penalties for resisting It's mandates yet tho
whole difficulty has rested in neglect to comply with
plain provision Of the constitution. the remedy will be
sooner found, if sought in cultvang sound state of
Pubic ieeng and constitutional obligation among the
people of the Tree Statesn&c.
In entering into a common compact, the several
States of the Union solemnly eoyenantcd with each
other TO restore fugiycs from justice and from service
and these provisions too plainly written in the censti
tuition to be mistaken or disregarded with mpunily."
After citing each branch OF the article add In both
the fugitive is to be delivered up summary upon
proper evidence and in neither nor In than
the other is he to be put upon trial in the State to which
ne has fed nor can Congress do more than to provide
that he shall be delivered up The theory Of the
pact j.. that the fugitive will be justly dealt with in the
jurisdiction to which he is returned II assened to
in this condipg spirit and have yet to learn that the
practice ia otherwise"
These opinions have been confirmed by subsequent cx.
pegi.nce, and am prepared, under all circumstances,
whenever and wheresoevcr my action shall be required
to resist any attempt to disturb change the prov
siona OF the existing law to reduce beneath the
stuona standard, and thus render 1t less cectual for
securing to the people OF the South their conceded rights
1t would clearly be the duty of the Executive,
these circumstances resist any such attempt by inter
posing his veto and should it be my fortune to be
clothed with such authority and the occasion should
arise, 1t would most surely be exercised.
you believe the publication Of this hasty letter at
this time advance the interests of the democratic
reasons hcrenbeforc stated should prefer not to claim
for myself in this respect the consideration the public
nave INC henor to be- with high regard, yours, &C.
koBT G. ScoTI, Lsq. d. S. DICKINSON.
LETTER FROM GEORGE NJ. DALLAS, ESQ.
DEAN S,n-Your letter Of the 18th instant reached
by the post this afternoon and the very kind terms which
you are good enough toapply to my conduct and chac
public man. impose upon mo the duty of replying
at once wit candor and explicitness.
Although the contingency on which your enquiries are
based be ono not regarded by at all likely to
as one which in sober truth have thought just and
wise in myself rather to shun than sccyct my high per-
sona respect tor yourself and my dsinclnaton
greatest of national questions oblgc me to adopt your
snpposition 80 that may answer exactly to wha, is
piopoundsd
Should you be nosainatad by the Convention and
eieted TO the Presidency by the people, in your adm
every means within your power enforce, and have
ted in all their parts the various acts OF Congress
sttutng what Is known the PROMISE and especially
he cnactmcnts Of that law relating to the recapurc by
heir owners, Of fugitive slaves, And again. whether
houd be elected President Of the United States you
would discountcnance by every proper means, all
ttmBts To disturb change the provisions Of that law
whereby these provisions might be made less eiIectual
fer securing to the people Of the sonth their constitu-
tnal rights iii the possession and enjoyment Of their
slave properly Ana should unfortunately. bill be
pa@ed by Congress modifying or changing the law re
fntd to- to mpair it, present valuable cnactmcnts.
would you, as President Of the Republic veto any such
TO each and all these undergraduates give you the
only answer which my mind rcconciles with sense of
Executive duiy-ibe ouly answer which assure the
tloir tnion-the only answer whcha chief magistrate
were he about to swear that he win support tho const
me f. mo
tal "Yes / would - give Won dis answer the more
decidedly because IL Is not the birth oil tnu moment hut
conforms with sentiments which have long entertained
ard orcny ayowcd which ! have No desro 10 conceal
&. toaiaify on any occasin or for any purpose and
which in my humble but firm judgment, il noble and
benefcent structure Of mt i to be presoryod
must animate t breasts and regulate the conduct Of all
its functionaries from the highest to the humblest.
have the homer 10 be, dear sir, tIruiy aud respectfully
yours: q. III. DALLAS.
TO EopEnT &. SooIr, ESQ.
LITTER FROM TuOs T. RISK ESQ Z.
1y,au,xern. NAV oi 1871
s,nI have ,ccoivod corr letter as ia i7ii ;aSt l.,
which Won n,onound certain inerroratnriel rcsnectin
nj nj ,ro ., mod tbc ,nrom;sa,. aeis nacj IL o.
crvs and errcc;allv ho law aubori,na e recoynrv If
1pciiiyc siaves '.' "
Is, answer to Tho ouosons oa by yo, 7 do mt
Id sitotc IN e,r tI.t tl 4, would h ho3 oiior ~ s
ui Tho nroy,,i, ,,s ~ L ious rsrrad r., a,d ~
"a tbc sof, or ho II;o,, ~ ron,i Nv c a.;
Il Mi IA rrneaJ te In rIat;nr to c rncoycrv Of ,gi
live slaves The irht 10 yer tbir nronnry a
,lanly Guaranteed 10 Inc soutbcrn s,tcs ~ tb CON ~;
luton and b irg essential TO ther existens never
b.. olnnd,, "a lv 1b.m Tbo n,ors 10, ~ ia s,,
rery ourst IN bos tardoncy 10 oxci1a d ar,itar III.
cpas If tbose who comnoec our national connnilsro