Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-29

e he confined himself strictly to the question at
v issue, expressed his views without disguise,
e and In manner so clear and logical as showed
= that he was master of his subject
e 1t was during the session of I843 that a
n strenuous effort was made to place the State in
an attitude of hostility to the fugitive slave act
: OF 1893, by prohibiting the use Of jais for the
: detention of fugtives, and by making it highly
penal for State officers to aid in retaking them.
e lhe leaders of the whig party were ready to
S lend helping hand, and not few Democrats
were disposed to favor the movement. Dr.
: Hubbard was appointed chairman of joint Sc
lect committee, TO whom petitions praying for
these enactments were referred He consd-
, cred 1t would be, if adopted, violation of a
| solemn compact of the constitution-that it was
not expedient to do this because it was not
4; honest-that it was alike unjust to the South,
D dishonorable to the North, and fraught with
! danger to the peace of the country. He labored
: successfully to impress his views upon his as
sociates, ma jority of whom agreed to a con-
t else and wel-reasoned report drawn up by him
and presented to the Senate, in which were
graphically described the evil results likely to
flow from such course of policy on the part
, of the free States.
: "What (says his report) would be the con-
sequence of such prohibition Ii, because
congress has not deemed il necessary espec-
tally to empower and authorize State Off
GERS TO ASSIST in the apprehension of slaves,
the Slate should forbid them from So doing,
might she not be justly charged with viola
ting the Constitution? With violating 80
: far as in her lies, the great compact, without
which this Union would never have been
formed? So far rs she can possibly act, that
is, through her officers, she virtually pro.
claims that fuGitiyes from service shall not he
delivered up. No one can tor moment
doubt that The consequences must be bitter
ness of feeling, acls of reprisal, and finally
disruption of the Union"
These predicted results the experience OF
the past few years have but too far verified.
A bill, prohibiting the use Of jails for the de-
tention Of fueiives, and forbidding officers of
the State TO aid III securing them, as prayed
for by the petitioners, passed the House Of
Representatives by a very decided majority,
but it was promptly rejected in the Senate,
and the report Of DR.. Hubbard unanimously
adopted.
II was mainly through the influence ofsena-
Tor Hubbard that the State of Maine was thus
saved from the hostile attitude to the consti-
tuition and to the South to which the passage
of such measure would have placed her,
and this result was doubtless largely instru.
mental in keeping her in the honorable posi-
lion, occupied, it is believed, by few if any
other States ia the Union, of having her
statute hooks free from any act that can he
construed into determination to evaie or
disregard a straightforward and honest
compliance with the provisions OF the COLI
stitution.
But while Mr.. Hubbard thus strenuously
opposed everything that might be regarded
as an Infringement of the constitutional
rights of the South by the North, he was
disposed with equal zeal and determination
to resis, all encroachnents by the South up
on the rights of the North, as will appear
by the following resolutions, drawn up
: and advocated by him a, the same session,
and which passed both branches of the egis.
lature:-
"Resolred. That, while we deprecate all
: interference with the social institutions and
S rights of other States, alG while we hold our
selves bound by the strongest possible obli-
cations 10 comply with every requisition of
the Constitution of the United States, and es.
pecially with that of Section Bud, Article 4th
we do hold the right OF every citizen, colored
, or not cOlored, to the protection of that Con-
stituton in his person and his property, 10
be equally good.
"Resolred, That we do most solemnly, in
behalf of the people of this State, protest
against The existence of any laws in anv of
the States or Territories of this Union, which
subject our free colored citiZens 10 the La
\ biIity of being arrested and imprisoned, and
C sold into slavery for The payment of the costs
/ of such arrest and Imprisonment; and that
we do protest against such laws as unconsti-
> > Iulional, and as endangering this Union.
u Resolved, That our Senators in Congress
o he instructed, and our Representatives be re-
v quested. to protest against such laws, and 10
If use their influence for their repeal
: He was for maintaining the Constitution as
v it is, and for abiding honestly and honorably
by its solemn com2acts. He was for resisting
= all violations of it in letter and spirit, from
j. whatever source they might come, as the only
o sure means of preserving the peace and per
# petuatng the institutions of our glorious repub-
e lie.
IS After the expiration of his Senatorial term,
e DR.. Hubbard resumed professional business,
J. which Legislative duties had forced him par
O TALLY to relinquish, and gave his whole ener-
gies to it until lS49, when he stood confessed
~ ly at the head of his profession in the State.
If In the summer of that year he received the
ID nomination as candidate for Governor from the
~ largest democratic Convention ever held in the
State, and in the ensuing autumn he was elect
If ed to that office.
D. In the following year, 1850, he was re-elect
T. ed Governor by an increased majority, and he
u has very recently received the nomination o
u his party for third term. lfany proofs of hi
~ popularity were wanting, these facts would be
IT. ample. Gov. Hubbard is emphatically mai
- of the people, possessing, in an eminent degret
n the qualities which win their favor and com
10 mand their confidence. To a puritanlcal up
rightness of character, and perfect simplicit
'r. of manners, he unites great affability, and
e, degree of frankness that has caused it TO b