The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-02

the act, out eicVotco ~ iuto tho utS'oos ncao VI
duty The plans and purposes Of the Adolf
tonists are foreshsdowed in these significant
threats:
| have the highest confidence in the judiciary
of this country. This confidence have always
entertained, and publicly and frequently ex-
pressed. Hating slavery ,0iih an intense ana
perfect hatred, look nop 10 The time when the
courts of this country shall 0rerthr0D il by their
solemn judgments. The Mansfield who in this
country shall with noble and manly courage
pronounce the judgment of the law, that slavery
is incompatible with right and that in the eye OF
sovereign law, IL is impossible that man can hare
property in man, is, | hope, not now unborn
perhaps he already wears The ermine. remem-
| Der at no distant day the slave trade was recog-
nizeh in the courts Us lawful tatfic---that ships
freighted with gunpowder and rum went out
from the ports of Old England and New Eng
land TO exchange for cargoes of human flesh on
the Guinea Coast--that merchant princes rev.
elled upon the gains of this unholy, though law
full commerce. decision of the courts Of JUS
tice gave the death blow TO slavery in England
IA decision of the courts ended slavery in a
sister State; and the honor shed upon my own
name, by the humble share which one WHO bore
it had in that transaction, would not barter for
patent Of nobility.
1t is said we shrink from this investigation
but second to the duty of now indicating the
right of trial by jury from the corrupt assaults
made upon it, the cherished desire OF these de.
PENDANTS is to hsve an opportunity to prove to
an impartial tribunal, thai slavery has legal
eristence in IKE Stale of Missouri hold it to
be demonstrable that il does not That by their
own laws, and the well settled principles of the
public law, the population of Missouri is free,
and by their bill of rights, they have Sc
cured The right Of emigration of which Jerry
availed himself from tho State. We are as
anxious as the other side can be, to bring this
question to the test We shrink from no trial
If their bond entities them to the pound Of
flesh, they can proceed to cut il next the heart,
but they must not shed one drop of blood.
They must not trampe upon the purity of the
institution of trial by jury.
! One word more and | am done beg leave
to say in advance, tht am n friend of law aud
of order believe it the duty of the citizen,
upon great principles of public morals and
safety, TO maintain the laws. But do not as.
sent to The doctrine, that every enactment of the
legislature carries with it the sanction of law.
If the Legislature oversteps the boundaries Of
the constitutional they attempt to legalize
the brbng of judicial oflicers---to establish in
justice, to destroy human rights--to sanctify OPP
preston, though they may have all the forms,
they want the vital principle Of law.
In alI free governments, as have before said,
popular Outbreaks will sometimes occur, in which
the laws OF the land are violated; but deny
/ that they are all worthy Of equal reprobation--
the throwing of the tea into Boston harbor,
(! though equally against law, was not worthy the
same punishment. as the burning Of the convent
of Charlestovn. In this case it may turn out
that there are strong circumstances Of mitigation;
! that many of the accused are entirely innocent
that popular outbreak was provoked, if not
actually sought, by the needless, not to say bru-
tai manner, in which un odious law was execu-
ted however this may be, all TINT the accused
seek, is fair and impartial trial, according to
the ordinary forms Of law, and by its result,
whether it brings discharge from this prosecu-
ton or punishment, they will cheerfully abide.
EY The Richmond Examiner contains the
following interesting correspondence
From the dies upon which was struck the gold
medal voted to General Scott shortly after the
Mexican war, and presented to him some twelve
months since, there was also struck one silver
aad several bronze copies of the original The
silver medal is deposited we believe, in the State
Library Some of the bronze copies have been
presented to distinguished persons from time to
time. The late governor used the occasion of
the departure OF two young Virginians for Eu.
rope in November last, to send, as token of re-
spect proper in itself, and as means of favora-
! bly, introducing the bearers abroad, one of these
bronze medals to the Duke Of Wellington The
correspondence on the occasion is here given
The Dukes letter is written wholly in his own
hand, and is fully as difficult to decipher as was
that of his distinguished, but less fortunate an.
tsgonist- Napoleon:
RICHMOND Va, Nov. IL, 1851.
To Hrs GRACE, THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON:
/ SIR As governor of the commonwealth of
Virginia. take the liberty of presenting to your
Grace bronze copy of a gold medal voted by
the State to Major General Winfield Scott |
hope YOU will accept it ms token, howe yer
slight of the admiration which is felt in this re-
public, not only among our cities, but in the
gorges of our noun aims and in the deepest re-
cesses of our forests, for the transcendant mill.
tary genius you have displayed to the world
| Wellington and Waterloo household words
in our land
hope a copy of the medal which was voted
to Americas greatest soldier, may not be mac.
ceptable to your Grace, who understands proba.
bly, better than any living man how to appreci.
ate military merit, and who can sympathize
above all others in the honors paid TO military
greatness.
With the highest admiration and respect, I have
the honor to be your Grace's most obedient SER
want, JOHN B. FLOYD.
LoNDoN, Dec. IL, 1851.
SRI have had the honor of receiving your
excellency's letter of the 10Th of November, and
the bronze copy of the beautiful gold medal
voted by the State of Virginia to Major General
| Winfield Scott, in testimony OF the sense enter
tanned BY the State Of his great and distinguished
services in command of the army in the war in
Mexico.
] aln very sensible of the distinction conferred
upon me by your excelIencys notice Of me upon
| this occasion.
! In common with the world at large, read with
admiration the reports of the operations of Gen
Scott, and sincerely rejoice that the State OF
Virginia has noticed them by this token of its
! admiration.
beg to express my thanks for the honor con
ferred upon me by sending me thi, beautiful copy
in bronze Of the gold medal struck by command
4 IL. O.. L.. r ,E,ll ,ntf