Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-06-04
not;cal sVstet are derided and disavowed and doc

nolitica SYSTEM are derded and dsavoted and doc
trines are nculcated utterly incompatible With the
existence of the Union ITSELF with peace among Its
members should God in his wrath separate them
into independent communities 1t becomes every
one who loves his country, and who desires that its
future should be glorious and not disastrous to dis
countenance these Efforts and to maintain. in their
integrity the true princip pies of the Constitution
firm determination to do this and not to yield to this
dangerous spirit would soon render it harmless tor
am perfectly convinced that the great body OF our
fellow citizens in the slavehoding States consld
er the rights of Southern brethren sacred and
inviolabe as their own.
With respect to withholding the Executive appro.
val from a bill modifying changing this law, so
as to impair its valuable enactments: have to re-
mark that there various constitutional guaran-
tees of the highest Importance to the people of the
United States. and without which this government
would never have been established. which depend
for their efficacy upon Congressional legislation,
while, without it, they mere barren declarations
Among these is the right of trial By jury. and the
benefit of the writ of habeas corpus-both of which
would be dead stipulations if not brought into life
by legislative action, and by the powers it coners
upon the judiciary. And among them, also. is the
obligation to surrender fugtives from labor which
furnished strong inducement to many of the States
to adopt the Constitution and without which, and
firm belief in its faithful execution they would not
have Joined the Confederation. 1t was certain
ly the constitutional duty of Congress pass efficient
it is equally their duty not to repeal modify
any of Them rs to leave the constitutional obligations
wholly unexecuted executed to fulfil neither
the dictates of duty, of good faith, the just
expectations of that large portion of the American
people, much of whose property depends for its val
ne upon the faithful observance of one of these
guarantees.
From circumstances arising, subsequent to the
passage of the original law for the re-capture of flu
gitve slaves that law became in effect, imperative
uToko of kboG
portant to onehalf of the States of the Union al
most useless if it had had place in that great
charter of the government.
i short extract from some observations made in
the Senate on the 18th of March, 1850, urging the
necessity of the immediate passage of more efficient
fugitive slave law, will show that the opinions here
advanced were then ayOwed and urged by me as the
f motives for legislative action
My opinion is, that we should take up the
bill for the recapture of fugitive slaves reported
by the Judiciary Committee.
Il am disposed to suspend all our discussions. and
to lay aside all other business with view to act
upon that BILL without unnecessary delay, and to
"pass it, in such form as may be acceptable to a
8 ma Ority of this body. That is the point upon
which the South feels most acutely and in regard
to which it has the most serious cause of complaint
= have heard but one man in this body deny the
existence OF this evil, or the Justice and necessity
r 6 of providing adequate remedy.
81 for one, willing to take up the subject and
| pro-
Sc vision of the Constitution into full effect. Such
procedure would have the very best effect upon
1.-THE South at this time. 1t would be pledge OF
our sincerity and of our desire to do Justice to that
q great section of our common country"
A conviction of the in Justice of this state of things
and of the justice of the demand for an efficient
modification of the law, led to the provisions now
engrafed upon the original statute, and which to-
geher provide adequate for carrying into eff
feet the constitutional obligation. 1t is my opinion
hat lou Cof%h
considerations and that their efficacy cannot be i'm
paired without the neglect of undeniabIe consttu
r, tional duties Essential to the fufment of funda
mental guarantees, they in effect constitute portion
e of them, and so far partake of constitutional cha
racter to be guarded against repeal. or any modi
r, fcation, by which the faithful execution of thes
l. important stpulations might be impeded or prevent
It ed.
C And in conformity with these sentiments hav
voted to lay upon the table, or in other words no
e to consider, the petitions presented at the presen
session. asking for changes in the fugitive slave law
| have determined, for one not to touch the law
and to prevent if possible, the renewal of the aga
ton.
Applying the principles here advanced to the la,
in question: and especially having reference to tn
h condition of the country and to the crisis throug
l. which it has passed. have no hesitation in saying
" that whoever is President, it would be his duty
IS withhold his approval from any bill modifying
changing that law g. as to impair its present valua
BILE enactments which give to it the necessary eff
e cheney. am, sir very respectfully, your obedien
e servant, LEWIS CASS
d RoBr. G. ScoTT, Esq. Richmond Va,
Letter from James Buchanan, ESQ.
II WHEATLAND, NEAR LANCASTER, Pa, MAY a. 1852
E. RoBr. G. SCoTT. Esq:
G. Sir: have received your communication of tn
l. 18th instant, asking whether in case of my nom
l. nation and election to the Presidency, would i
n the administration of the government sustain an
enforce the various acts of Congress- consttutin
n what is known as the Compromise and especiall
the enacments of that law, relating to the RECAP
ture by their owners, of fugitive slaves g.
o And also, whether :'would discountenance b
every proper means, all attempts to disturb chang
of the provisions of that law whereby these provision
ID might be made less efectual for securing to til
people of the South their constitutional rights in til
possession and enjoyment of their slave property g.
al And again. whether, ' should unfortunately
.e bill be passed by Congress, modifying or changn
'e the law referred to, to impair its present va
liable enactments would I, (you! as President of tt
y Republic, veto any such bill 2"
no These three several questions, I answer, wtho,
the slightest hesitation, in the affirmative In tn,
answering Ito repeat the language of my Richmor
letter of February last,) 81 purposly refrain fro
discussing the original merits of the compromise
cause consider it, to employ the expressive langua
of the day, as " fnality,' fixed fact, a most ir
portant enactment Of law, the agitation or distur
on ance of which could do possible good, but mig
,ly produce much positive evil. Our noble vessel
State, eghted with the hopes OF mankind, both f
the present and future generations has passed thu
W. the most dangerous breakers which she has ever e
On, countered. and has triumphantly ridden out h
nd storm. Both those who supported the measures