The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-21

excite the prejudlces and passions of their au-
ditors against an institution which is recog-
Missed and protected by the same Constitution
which protects us in the happiness and pros
perity which we enjoy as a nation.
Next TO the cler9ymen, the merchants seem
to stand in Mr.. FLoyD's descending scale of
morals. The mercantile Interest in our north
ern cities Mr.. FLOYD describes as being ever
"a bidder for southern trade, potential in mo
ney, with the arrogance that money is apt TO
inspire-clamorou for southern rights, with
out any very definite notion of what those
rights are--the balance sheet is its higher
law Quick to note every breeze that brings
a bargain when the wind is southerly, a
northern merchant knows a hawk from Il
hand-saw,' and does not care to know much
beside. Find where lie the interests of com
merce, and there you will find the commercial
press; for where the carcase is'-we all
know the rest"
But worse than the clergy. and worse than
the mercantile interest, and the source of
the greatest danger to this country is the SUI
preme Court of the United States. Mr.. FLOYD
thinks their judgment in regard to the consti-
tutional provision for the surrender of fugitives
from labor ERRONEOUS" The Judges do not
agree with Mr.. FLOYD, and therefore they are
disposed of in the following paragraph:
Gin relation to the clause concerning fugitive
slaves, however, the Supreme Court Of the United
States, with its characteristic tendency to consol
dation, which has ever been 30 much feared by
the republicans of this country, has decided that
to Congress belongs the right of egislating upon
the subject of the taking and delivery Of fugitive
saves-a decision, in my humble opinion, errone
Gus ne a legal proposition, most unfortunate for
those interested in the execution Of this provision
Of our Constitution, and confirming what the
southern doctrine, that tie respectable bench of Pres
identiai candidates ,cho in all the dignity ,ohieh
be impaired by rusty black silk gocns hold their sit
hngs in this CAPITOL is unsafe and tisactory
tribunal for the decision Of questions pcrfaking of
political character and hereto agreed the conven
lion Of the State of New York which ratified the
Constitution, for it proposed an amendment pro-
viding for commission to correct the errors
of the Supreme Court. Sir, the danger TO his Re
public is from the Judiciary. All history shows
that the most subservicnt tools of bad govern
ment political judges. Freemen. neither
out remedy; and when public confidence in this
court ia lost as it may be-may it not those
who aggrieved. be they South or be they
North, will not be slow to Judge for themselves
the mode and measure of redress But 30 it Isl
Congress enacts laws to carry into effect the pro
vision Of the Constitution for the delivering up
of fugitive slaves, and a specimen of its handi
work ia before the country"
In further illustration of the amiable and
concialory temper in which Mr.. FLOYD seeks
to restore kind feeling between the North and
the South, let us read what he says of the
commissioners appointed by the Justices Of the
Supreme Court OF the United States, and en-
trusted with numerous official functions besides
those imposed on them by the Fugitive Slave
law:
'The power Of deciding the relative rights OF
men consider one Of the highest and most
sacred functions of government and men, for
this purpose, are selected from among the most
respectable in the State OF well established neral
qualifications, and legal learning ripencd by
'pericnce; but the Ftgitipe lane scdtt9s broadcast
through the North a Judicial spaton under the
Of commissioners, toho stink in he nOsbiis Of the
peopie-cppoinied by system Of faroriism,
'fa odious system If nepotisa. distinguished
. By no quality trisch commend them 10 The con
fdenes Of me Pablo They ,oorld ssfer ia the
: judgment Of God and all gpcd nm BY comparison
ruth us negroes Dsy arrest Witness the case al
Buffalo. where the commissioner overruled the
: decision Of the United States district judge-tbc
case at Philadelphia, where the willing Offices Of
the commissioner were made available in kidnap-
ping a free mantle case in New York, where all
. teati nm in ehalf If he cd VIVA
excludcd-the at Harrisburg, where a cause
was tried and concluded before daybreak. Now.
. il southern gentlemen doubt what sort of persons
arc appointed commissioners under this law. let
me elk them what fort Of persons would be found
among them to ill office, The sole duty ef ,chieh
10 10 superintend The arrest Of runaway ntgroes at
. So head!"
Again, let us hear this mild and amiable
gentleman who is SO anxious 10 restore harmo-
ny between the North and the South. lie is
speaking Of Pennsylvania, and criicising the
recent inaugural address of Governor BIGLER
lie says:
"In maintaining tho Compromise, she tPcnnsyl-
vsnial will not disturb tbelaw fixing the boundary
OF Texas, and giving that State $4,000 900. for
the law is fixed fact, aud the money paid; she
will not eject California from the Confcderacy;
{ she will not repeal the law establishing Terri
torial Government in Utah; shc will not c-cstab-
9 lsh a slave market in this District; and IRE all
knoic that she ir tJscuie The Fugifiue Stare iGtc
because she did at CirisfianG. and hs tcay sh,
did Il Is caution 10 prsons pyrsuing slaUo under
difficult circtgnStanees T"
Gentlemen in pursuit Of their rights under
the Constitution were shot down by mob:
and 10 this occurrence Mr.. FLoYD aludes as
if it were capital Joke. lie seems gratifed
at the reception which the runaways gave
their master at Christiana, exults over it, and
by his tone evidently designs to encourage such
proceedings in future. Ii is such Jolly fine
fun TO Mr.. FLoYD-this riot and murder--that
he cannot refrain FROM giving the stakeholder
a familiar poke under the ribs. aud tollisg
him that Pennsylvania executes the Fugitive
Slave law, and that the way she executes it is
"a caution to persons pursuing slaves under
difficult circumstances"
Now we confess we are not astonished when
a speaker. who displays such qualities as are
manifested in these elegant extracts from Mr..
FLOYD, is opposed To the Compromise. We