The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-31
Letter from ID. s. Dickinson, Esq.
BINGHAMroN, N. Y, May 20,

Letter from ID. s. Dickinson, Esq.
BISeHAmroN, ~ Y, May 20, 1852.
My DEAR SIR: Your favor of the l7th sug-
costing that, amongst other names, mine has
been associated with the Democratic nomination
for the Presidency, and propounding for my con
sideration certain interrogatores reached me
last evening.
! have not at any time regarded myself as a
candidate for the distinguished honor mentioned,
and, as presume IS generally known, early de
clared my preferences for one of the eminent
statesmen whose names have long been conspic.
uQusy before the public. Under these crcum-
stances, feel some delicacy in publishing at
this time the opinions of private citizen,
though none in expressing. them
1t is due as well to the kind Partially which
. has presented the inquiries as to my own do,
termination, whether acting as a private citizen
or public servant TO practise no evasons or
concealments upon vital questions that an answer
should be given in asprit of frankness which
becomes the occ ision, and it is given accord.
ngIy. long since declared it to be my fixed
intention and purpose, in whatsoever station the
vcissitudes of life might place me, to sustain,
by any and every just means within my control
the measures of adjustment of 1850, believing
their adoption a whole to have been wise,
ana LnCT OtieTdIlOIl SulutaTy. TSnhTu III as lHt
highest duty and dearest privilege of the citizen
to cherish and preserve Union of States which
has conferred such incalculable blessings upon
mankind and this can only be accomplished by
maintaining, in letter and in spirit, the integrity
of tho Constitution.
That Constitution provides for the restoration
of fugitives from service, and the act of 1850
simply provides for its execution.
On the 2Sth of FEBRUARY, l849 while discuss
ing Mr.. Walkers amendment providing for the
temporary government Of the territories, | said
in the Sente:
"They (the Northern people) read, too, in the
Constitution that tugitives held to service by thu
laws of one State, escaping into another, are tC
be delivered up to the jurisdiction from whenc,
they fed-not to be enslaved, if they are free
men, as is the cant phrase of the times, but Il
have their rights adjudicated by the laws of tn,
State where the service is claimed. All reflect
ing men must see and know that it is as much
violation of the letter and spirit Of the Consttu
ton, in the sight of God and in the judgment o
men, to harbor and secre,e fugitive from
the laws of a State which held him to service
as to shelter and protect fugitive from
Justice, and that the one is no less question
able in cxpedency or fragrant in morals than tn,
other.
| u0S6 pIOEiSluuS are CiCaliy WIilLen III ou
fundamental law, and he who violates them, OF
either of them, under the shallow justification
f that they are of no moral force, violates the
primary duties of citizenship, and commits trea
son against his government"
f On the goth of August, 1850, on the fna
reading of the fugitive slave BILL which was
, passed and is now law, said
, "The act of 1893, providing for the resora
ton of fugitive slaves under the Constitution
, would, in my judgment, have answered the pur
/ poses for which it was desig ed, if it had beer
fairly construed and faithfully executed ant
/. although we may obvia,e some defects which
/, experience has detected, and add to its force by
prescribing penalties for resisting its mandates
vet as the whole difficulty has rested in ne
t gect to comply with plain provision of tn,
Constitution, the remedy will be sooner found
if sought, in cutivating sound state of public
feeling and constitutional obligation among thu
people Of the free States, &c.
!. "ln entering into a common compact, the sew
eral States of the Union solemnly covenaDtet
!, with each other to restore fugtives from justice
:. and from service, and these provisions are too
: plainly written in the Constitution to be mis-
: taken or disregarded with impunity."
: After citing each branch of the article, add
!, an both cases the fugitive is to be delivered
4 w, suiHlnaIHy, upou proper oNiueuSe, anu IL
= neither case, nor in one more than the other, il
he to be put upon trial in the State to which h,
:. has fed nor can Congress do more than to pro
. vide that he shall be delivered up The theo
ry of the compact is, that the fugitive will bt
\ justly dealt with in the jurisdiction to which hi
!; is returned 1t was asseDted to in this cOnfld
: ing spirit, and have yet to learn that the prac
!, tice is otherwise"
= These opinions have been confirmed by sub
sequent experience, and am prepared, under
all circumstances, whenever and wheresoeve
my action shall be required, to resist any at
tempt so to disturb or change the provisions
of the existing law as to reduce it beneath The
constitutional standard, and thus render it les'
effectusl for securing to the people of the Sousf
their conceded rights. 1t would clearly be thu
duty of the Executive, under these crcum
stances, to resist any such attempt by interpos
d ing his veto; and should it ever be my fortune
h to be clothed with such authority, and the occa
o sion should arise, it would most surely be exer
0 cised
If you believe the public alton of this hasty
h letter at this time will advance the interests Of
Q the Democratic party it is at your service ac-
9 cordingly; other wise, for reasons berenbefore
Y stated, should prefer not to claim for myself
in this respect the consideration of the public
have the honor to be, with high regard
: yours, &C., d. 5. DICKINSON.
!. RoBT G. ScoTT, esq.