Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-06-04
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blmociATIc FI..aTEoRsI. !
Letter from ID. :. Dlckinson. ESQ.

that, amongst other mine has been asSoclateu
with the Democratic nomination for the Presidency
and propounding for my consideration certain inter
rogatories, reached me last evening.
have not at any time regarded myself can
ddate for the distinguished honor mentioned, and.
as presume is generally known early declared my
preferences for on of the eminent statesmen whose
names have long been conspicuousy before the pub
lie. Under these circumstances | feel some delica-
cy in publishing. at this time, :he opinions of pr
vate citizen, though none in expressing them. /
1t is due as we'll to the kind Partially which has
presented the enquiries as to my own determination,
whether acting as private citizen public SER
want to practice no evasions or concealments upon
vital questions that answer should be given in
spirit of frankness which becomes the occasion and
it is given accordingly long since declared it to
be my fixed intention and purpose, in whatsoever
station the vicissitudes of life might place me. to
sustain by any and every just means within my
control the measures Of adj ustment of 1850, beev
ing their adoption a whole to have been wise. and
their operation salutary. regard it the highest
duty and dearest privilege of the citizen to cherish
and preserve an Union of States, which has confer
red such incaculablc blessings VI on mankind and
this can only be accomplished by maintaining in
letter and in spirit, the integrity of the Constitu
ton.
That Constitution provides for the restoration of
fu etives from service, and the act of 1850 simply
provides for its execution
| On the 20th of February, 1919. while discussing
Mr.. Walkers amendment, providing for the tempe
rary government of the territories said in the SEN
ate:
i They (the Northern pcople) read. too in the
Constitution, that fugtiveS held to service by the
laws OF one State. escaping into another, be
delivered up to the jurisdiction from whence they
fed not to he ensavcd if they are freemcr is the
cant phrase Of the times but have their rights
= adj Indicated by the laws of the State where the
= service is claimed, All rejecting lst see
and know that it is much violation OF the let
ter and spirit of the Constitution in the sight Of
. God and in the Judgment of men, to harbor and
secree a fugitive from the laws of State which
held him to service, to shelter and protect flu
gitive from usce and that the is less CUES
" ti"nable in expediency fragrant in morals: than
the other.
/ These provisions clearly written in our fun
" damental law. and he who violates them. or either
" of them, under the shallow justification that they
are of no moral force violates the primary duties of
citizenship. and commits treason against his Gov
- ernmcnt"
On the Goth of August, 1850. on the final reading
of the fugitive slave bill which was PASSED and is
now law, said :. The act of 1893. providing for
" the restoration Of fugitive slaves under the Con-
= stitution would, in my judgment. have answer
ed the purpose for which it designed if it had
= been fairly construed and faithfully executed and
although we may obviate some defects which eX-
perience has detected and add to its force by pre-
scrbing penalties for resisting its mandates yet
the whole difficulty has rested in neglect to
ply with plain provision of the constitution the
remedy will he sooner found. if sought in cultra-
ting sound state of public feeling and constitu-
tional obligation among the people Of the free
States" &c.
f :" In entering into common compact the several
States of the Union solemnly covenanted with each
other, to restore fuSitives from Justice and from
service and these provisions are too plainly writ
ten in the constitution to be mistaken or d!src-
) garded with impunity''
After citing each branch of the article, add In
both the fugitive is to be delivered up
marily upon proper evidence and in neither case
in than the other. is he to be put up
trial in the State to which he has fled nor can
Congress do more than to provide that he shall be
- delivered up The theory of the compact is that
the fugitive will be justly dealt with in the juris
g diction to which he is returned. 1t assenteG
to in this confdng spirit, and have yet TO lcarr
g. that the practice is otherwise"
These opinions have been confirmed by snbsequen
experience, and ! am prepared, under all ccum
stances. whenever and wheresoeyer my action shall
be required to resist any attempt, to disturb o.
. change the provisions of the existing law to
duce it beneath the constitutional standard and th
render it less effectua for securing to people of h
= South their conceded rights. 1t would clearly be
;; the duty of the Executive, under these circumstan
ccs, to resist any such attempt by interpnsing hi
veto and should it be my fortune to be clothed
= with such authority, and the occasion should arise
d it would most surely be exercised.
y If you believe the publication Of this haSty letter
at this time will advance the interests of the Dem
ocratc party it is at your service accordingly; other
wise. for herenbGfOre stated, should prefer
II not to claim for myself in this respect the consider
e alton of the public.
] have the honor to be with high regard. yours
sc. D. s. DICKINSON
RoBr. G. ScoTT, Esq.