The daily union., 1852-07-04
TO the Members Of the seperal Democratic STATE and Couutv
Co,amlfses
Democratic Platform.

Democratic Platform.
The subjoined communication shows up with great
force silly clamor which OF the leading whig
journals Of the South recently attempted to raise against
the democratic PLATFORM and which noted the time
indication that those journals preparing 10 sur
render to the whig aboltioniss the fugitive law as sac
rfce. The "corrupt bargain" by which the whg plat
form adopted hal not then been struck and all the
commitments of the northern majority of the wings ap-
peared then render such bargain inpracicabe When
in such state of facs wings assailing the Ken.
lucky resolution f'9s, the ground that rsrdereS
the right Of the southern Staie reclaim their tsgive saue
could other motive for so monstrous propo-
son than wish to reconcile the South the loss Of
the fugitive law. by representing that law to be repug.
nant to the acknowledged political principles which The
great of the southern people have received from
the hands OF their leading democratic statesmen and
have always cherished and venerated We can still see
other rational explanation of the course taken by the
wing journals 10 which the subjoned communication
refers. But the dodge to which the Wing Convention
Unexpectedly resored in its compromise resolution ap-
pears TO have checked the game. These whg journals
now uphold the fugitive law and insist upon taking Gen.
Scott as its champion. II may well be doubted whether
by this change of policy they have materially improved
the consistency Of their position.
10 the Editor Of The Union:
Some two weeks ago the following article appeared in
Virginia wing newspaper and was republished in the
marks showing that It's editors actually swallowed the
dose.
In your paper Of the day AFTER you fully exposed the
aacy OF the article; but appears that the absurd pre-
tension put forth in il is still persisted in by portion Of
the whg press.
Here much OF the article is material 10 be az
hibiied:
the Richmond WING Of yesterday.
The democratic platform embraces The Kentucky reso-
iufions, as well as those Of pIgnm. The Charottes-
vile Advocate copies the second OF the Kentucky resolu
tons, by which appears that the fugitive slave law is
declared 10 be "n,iogeaer y0'd ard q no force" The
law TO punish any crime not specially enumerated in the
constitution and as stealing is not so defined ihs
fugitive slave law is lin effect declared null and void
We copy from the Advocate:
Thc second Of thos. celebrated resolutions is in these
Words
" R,sotped, That the constitution of the United State,
having delegated Congress power punish treason
copntecing the securities and coin of United
States. paces and felonies committed the high seas,
and offences against the laws ofnaons aud other cn
phafsper, and 1t being true as general principle and
Of the amendments the constitution having also declared
the powers delegated to he Uned States BY tho
constutoD prohibited by IL the States, reserved
he same ac o. Congress- passed on tho isb dsy Of ju
l79S, and entitled An act In addition entitled
States as also the act passed by them on The 9Th day Of
june i79S entitled An act to punish frauds committed
the Bank of the United States tand all other their
which define, punish crimes
those enumerated in the consution) altogether void AVID
of force and that the define, and punh
such oiher crimes Is reserved and OF right appenan',
solely and exclusively tho respective S,acs each within
its own territory
"This resolution, (says the Advocate) hch 10 eI.
pessy and by endorsed by The Democratic Coaven.
ion declares the fugitive slave law 10 be 'aioghsr pod
and Of force because the crimes which H Creates de-
fines and punishes among those waich the
.u,ion delegates Congress power punish and the
resolution ompha,csly declares that Congress has power
TO define. punish any crimes enumerated
in fhec tttuon NpF N le idedb
saying that the constitution sef provides for the end
ton Of fugitive slaves IL undoubtedly does but IL dos
not make failure 10 comply Nth its propisions ernt
and hence, according TO the second Of the Kentucky
uiions, Congress has power make The aiding and
abetipg fugitive slave effect his escape from officers
Of the law the resistance Of tho.e officers when the
discharge OF their constitutional duty, crime TO punish
tuch, because soch crime is enumerated in tho
constitution, and therefore authority sgiven to Congress
10 punish IT,"
It is really surprising that attempt should be made
TO mislead the public by such uniounded assumptions
for a moments examination OF the subject will suffice
10 satisfy any reasonable and impartial mind that by the
second OF the Kentucky resolutions il was simply in.
tended 10 deny TO Congress original and independent
power to provide Tor The punishment of acts which are
not enumerated as crimes in the constitution, nor in any
way connected with the execution Of some express pow
er or provision contained in that instrument
The constitution, in an enumeration OF certain SPECIFIC
delegated TO Congress, closes by conerrng The
authority 30 make all laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into execution The foregoing pow.
ers and all other powers vested by this constitution in
the government OF the United States or any department
or officer thereof"
And. again, we find in the instrument the following
declaration "This constitution, and the io1s of The uni
ted States uhih shall be made in srsof and all
treaties made, which shall be made under the author
,y Of the United States shall be the supreme law OF the
and the judges in every State shall be bound there
by anything the constitution or laws OF any State to
The contrary notwithstanding"
One OF the Of Congress OF 1898 which the resolu
ton in question denounced was the famous sediton law
OF the federal (now whg) party, and the other was
for the punishment OF frauds upon the Bank OF the United
States which deemed to be unconstitutional es-
labishment Thus, neither OF those two laws for
the punishment OF acts enumerated crimes in the con-
sution. in aid OF the execution OF any power or
provision actually contained in that instrument and, con-
sequently, mol made ~ pursuance thereof.
Congress has the power, under the constitution, 10 lay
and collect taxes and duties; and necessary for the
execution OF that power, has the right punish those
who resist obstrucr the collectors of and the
customhouse officers in the performance OF their duties
Yet this right is not expressly declared in the const'u
ton.
SO, too, Congress is authorized TO establish courts Of
JUSTICE and from this authority is the right derived 70