The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-07-01
Editor & Proprietor.

It when It is pointed out. According TO my
recollection, soon after the passage Of those
measures he introduced resolution into the
Senate, or a bin, to abolish slavery in the
District Of Columbia thus showing to the
anti-slavery men Of the country that be did
not acquiesce in the Compromise measure, that
he was still for agitation. "Repeal" wasthe
cry which he raised. When fugitive slave
was rescued from the courts Of justice in the
ely of Boston by negro mob, and when
that city was almost in q state Of insurrec-
ton against the Constitution and laws the
country, the Abolitionists Of Massachusetts,
called convention to protest against this
Fugitive Slave law, aud they invited Mr..
Seward to attend. I will read the letter
which he sent in reply:
AUBURN, April 5, 1851.
DEAR SIR Your letter inviting me to at
tend convention Of the people Of Massa-
chusetts opposed to the Fugitive Slave law;
and to communicate in writing my opinion
on that statute, if should be unable TO at
tend the convention, has been received.
"While offering the pressure Of duties here
too long deferred as an apology for non-at.
tendance, pray you to assure the commit
tee in whose behalf you act of my profound
sense Of their courtesy and kindness It
would be an honor to be invited to address
the people Of Massachusetts on any subject,
but it might well satisfy a generous ambi-
ton to be called upon to speak to that great
and enlightened Commonwealth on qucs-
ton Of human rights and civil liberty.
4 81 confess, sir, thatI have earnestly de-
sired not to mingle in the popular discus
sions of the measures Of the last Congress.
The issue necessarily involves the claims of
their advocates and adversaries in the
E public councils to the confidence of che eoun-
, try Some of those advocates have entered
the popular arena, eliminating those from
whom they had differed; while others have
endeavored by extraordinary means either to
control discussion, or to suppress it altogetb-
err; and thus they have shown themselves
. disqualified by prejudice or interest for prac-
4 Using that impartiality and candor which
= the occasion demanded.
: 4 am unwilling even to seem to imply,
by reiterating arguments already before the
+ public, either any distrust of the position of
II those with whom stood in Congress, or i'm
patience for that favorable popular verdict
I which believe to be near, and known to
- be ultimately certain.
'Nevertheless, there can be no impropti-
ETY. in my declaring, when thus questioned;
s. the opinions which will gofeth IN vote up
Il, on any occasion when the Fugitive Slave
al law shall come up for re7ieR in the National
IS, Legislature. think the act signally un-
ne wise, because it is an attempt by purely
'e' federatiye government to extend the econo-
p my of slave States, throughout States which
III repudiate slavery moral, social, and po-
pic litical evil ANY despOtie government would
ID, awaken sedition from its Profoundest slum-
la bers BY such I'D attempt:
ne ''The attempt By tie Gotefhtnent has a.
y reused constitutional resistance; which will
III not cease until the effort shall be felinguisl,
'I- ed. He who teaches another faith than this;
'VA whether self-deeeived or not, misleads. I
Ine think, also, that the attempt was unnecessa-
on ry; that political ends-merely political ends,
are and not real evils, resulting from the escape
lLl of slaves-cOnstituted the prevailing motives
u.s. to the enactment,
Tn 'sI think; also; that the details of the meas
der ute are indefensble that the denial to the
OF alleged fugitive of trial of his alleged obi
en-; CATION To- labor, Snd Of his escape from if,
Viii BY court; and nothing less than court Of
VIII Justice; coustitatio1ally organized, and pro-
W bHS CO4IOS VI tuC CuIA
mon law within the State where be is claim
rty ed, is palpabIy in DECORATION of the Constitt
bed ton that the rules Of evidence, Which The
BAL law prescribesy arc oppressive of the veal
in and defeAceIess, and that ChFistendoni nigh
the be searched in vain for parallel to the pro
to visions which make escape from bondage
reat crime, by law retroactive in its effect, ant
the without limitations of time to favor the pre-
In SUMPTION of freedom, which, under rigcrcu
any penalties, COMPEL freenien to aid in the cap
nee, ture of slaves, and which oeI unniistaken in
con- ducements to false claims & false judgments
mes Finally, whatever chaBgesof opinions other
ach may have undergone, II retain MY eaIlist cor
the yietions that the constitutional provision o
con- which the law phrpbrts to be founded,
n merely acompact between the State and tbs
the the Congress Of the United States have 4
,ians jurisdictieh'of the subject.
per- s'Nor IS the Law, which il 50 obnoxious
has itself, commended 10 MY favor BY its come.
the ion with what are called the other measure
It in of compromise Compromise implies min
that ling oftruth and error, right and wrong
con. One of those affiliated measures denied Il
Vern admission of New Mexico, because she b,
New determined to come in as free State, al
resi- remanded' her, with permission to con
day back In the habiliments of slavery. Anot
b all en- distinctly intimatesd to tie Mormons L
BE consent of cons4ess tfl5t they should, if th
,feat- could, plant slave State in the very rcce
plisb Is Of tie continent A third abolished
Presi- public sIaye-mart in the city Of WazhingtC
S his without abating either the extent or dnrati
Icnee Of slavery in the District of Columbia
mo- fourth obtained peace on humiliating ter
0 far from one Of the youngest and feeblest me
d and bcrs 81 the Conf,deracy, in an atiituie of
this ditions While fifth on3y relue iitIg adn
&c es ted California as free State, When Sic
I've 81 fused to contaminate herself with slavery.
into w hieh ess of these measures las sapelslds
liries, merit, to Be received in extenHatioli Of
fsuch Fugitive Slave law2 Bat We are told th
'sts OF bad as these measuHesaye they were the
aatter that could be obtained. On the contra
-, N shere were always votcs enouah for the
o 1890 an Of California. The Thirtg-EEs C
~ lllls,-- - have admitted her, and left
4ges gEeaSs RAle ls .otl,o- Cso-,.,s. -;
eneral other Rlrss = 80 -, !,
en- instructed 81 theEaoplo, mss- ''sas :
d con betteEs and certainly eoat as. 7
WOrse
Get Is Nor do ind tie Fugitive save