The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-29
ROBERT G. Scorr, esq.
Letter from Gensrai Joseph Lime.

WASHINGTON, May 81, 1859.
SIR The letter you did me tue honor TO address me- of
the nth inst, received lfmy is before the people
for the first office in their Gift has been by their action
and not nine. | neither solicit political preiermeni nor
shrink from dnty, nor have any conceaDienls but
knoxlcdge The rghtiha all have who would elevate
TO place OF high trust 10 know my political opinions
You inquire :" Should sou be nominated By The Con-
venon and elected the presidency by the people,
administration OF The government will you sustain, and
BY any means within your power enforce and have
ecuted IN all their parts, the various acts of Congress,
constituting what is known the Compromise, and
pecially The enae,ments of that law relating 10 the
capture by their owners oil fugitive slaves" answer
unhesilailngly, Yes.
presume you aude to the fugitive slave law espe-
cay because II now the only measure OF the series 10
which there appears be any serious opposition, indeed
IL is the only one with single other exception susceptible
of alteration repeal The subject of the rendition Of
fugitive slaves obstacle a The period OF the form
alton OF the constitution. The recognition OF the power
to reclaim them was prerequisite 10 the establishment
OF The Union, and was, and is, an existing Compro.
nSs, inboed isio the federal constitution ITSELF and
making part OF it, The laws OF 1898 and 1850 are but
legal enactnents to carry into effect You inquire
again Whether, SHOULD You be elected President OF
the United States you would dscounlenance, BY every
proper ms all attempts to disturb change the pro-
visions OF that law, whereby these provisions might be
made ess eectua for securing 10 the people OF the South
Of their slave properiy and should unfortunately bill
be passed by Congress modifying changing the law
eued TO, as to impair its present valuable enactments,
would you, as President OF the republic veto any such
Without entering nlo The inquiry or making the asser
ton, yet II Is possible That oil the details OF the
usilve'save law detective, even TO carry oui the
intention OF it's friends but because il was an important
feature m compromise, and the only part, OF a
practical character, that is susceptible OF modification or
repeal and above all, because would deprecae and de-
plore renewal Of agitation upon that dangerous ques-
uon, would feel IL my duty to resist all attempts TO
open that subject of legislation and IT, as President OF
The United Staies bill "shoud, unfortunately be passed
BY Congress modifying changing The law referred TO-
50 as TO impair its present valuable enactmenis, shosd
promptly veto IT,
In conclusion, allow me to add however that my op.
position 10 interference executive or legislative the
part OF The federal government concerning the institution
OF slavery, luther than TO carry the compromises oil
the constitution on that subject, did commence with
either the conception passage OF the measures embraced
IN the Compromise TO which you aude bu, is general
in rs character. and OF date coeva with my earliest
trance into public life, (no now short one) an the Jour.
malls oil the legislature of Indiana will testify The events
Of the last three years bave but tended TO pen into
settled conviction opinion long entertained that IL the
subject OF slavery allowed 10 enter the halls OF Con-
gress, and form ssmea ~ the general potcso the
country II must later prove fatal 10 tho eacc
harmony, and integrity OF the Union.
am, SIR, with great respect, your obedsn servant,
JOSEPH LANE.
RoBr. G. Scorr, esq