The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-04
Mr.. Summers Speech.


MIR. Summers Speech.
1t must be admitted that Governor SEWARD
will probably vote for General Scorr. The
odium of this fact must rest upon the WIG
candidate. But there are men in the North
equally Objectionable with Governor SEWARD,
who are warm supporters of General PIERCE.
1t is not necessary for us to recaptulate them.
The names of DIX, the VAN BURENs, PRES
TON KING, Governor CLEVELAND, MoLoNY,
CAMPBELL, FLOYD, H. B. STANTON, and of an
hundred others will readily occur to our read
ers. Add to these the leading DEMOCRATIC
journal of the Northern States-the journal
which for its circulation, ability, and zeal in
the cause of General PIERCE, stands without
rival in the country. We refer of course
to the Euening Post, published in the city
of New York, and edited by Mr.. BRYANT
and Mr.. BIeELow, distinguished leaders in the
ranks of the New York Democracy. No one
acquainted with the journals of the day will
deny to the Post the character we have as
signed to it, as altogether the most prominent
and able Democratic journal devoted to the
election of General PIERCE.
We desire that our Southern friends should
fully comprehend the position of the Demo-
cratic candidate; and we know not that we can
give them better insight into the tone and
temper of their Northern allies than by quot
ing from the EVENING Posi- the annexed para
graphs from an editorial article in its columns
extravagantly lauding the recent speech of Mr..
SUMNER upon the Fugitive Slave law:
at is no wonder that the Shareholders OF the
Senate should have bounced upon the Massachu-
sets Senator at the close of his Discourse with such
unanimous and determined zeal-somc, like Gle
mems, sputtering in impotent rage, and others,
like Douglas, hiding behind shallow sophistries-
for they must have felt that the solid blows of the
orator had completely shattered their edi6ce. He
left them not inch of ground to stand upon, not
a rag to cover their nakedness, not 30 much even
as decent pretenoe for their fiimsy position.
"The Abolitionists have wasted two thirds of
the ammunition Of assault upon slavery, by taking
grounds outside of the Constitution, and 30 invov-
ing an unpopular and unsupported question with
the general discussion.
"They have weakened position in itself strong
by trying to support it with arguments which are
untenable, and worse than Observation-Disclosures
Gus. But Mr. Sumner has shown them how they
may relieve themselves of this false ground if any
of them should be seized with q disposition to do
better. For, granting his first conclusion, which
straight reasoner can avoid, that slavery is
wholly sectional, and not ut all national, and the
Federal Constitution, against which they declaim,
becomes a powerful agency on the side of truth
and right. We ask them, therefore, to read this
of Ia wifb mi irpi-
mating attention.
"The second part of this speech relates to the
Fugitive Slave law, and is equally pertinent and
irresistible with the frat, which proves that slavery
is local. 1t disposes of the miths and fiction OF
those who worship the institution, with the came ia
tally of demonstration.
"He shows that the surrender of the slaves was
not among the original compromises, and that the
convention which framed the Constitution regarded
the subject, which has since expanded like the little
vapor of the Arabian tale into giant magnitude,
almost with indifference.
alt ia made clear, too, that Congress has no power
to pass such an act; that the decision of the Su-
premo Court in the Prigg case was extra-judcial,
and did not involve the question Of the constitution
ety of the law that the eaid law overrides trial by
jury, and the fundamental maxims of jurispru-
dence; and that is, in every respect, anomaly
In legislation.
"But no portion of Mr. Summers reasoning will
command more attention, especially the attention
Of Congress, than that which argues that the claim
for the delivery of fugitive slave is suit at com.
mon law, and must be determined on the general
principles of that law. Mr.. Webster, high legal
authority, has taken opposite view, but the
citations of his successor cast him clearly in the
wrong.
"We shall b'gin The publication Of this important
and eloquent speech in daily paper of to-mor-
ro,o and issue the ,Ohols of it, long as IL is, in .
,cetkiy Of nert speek.'
The weekly journal alluded to in the last
paragraph is probably the most efficien, and
reliable campaign paper engaged in the cause
of General PIERCE. The speech of Mr.. SUM
NER is part of the electioneering matter Of
the Post. Now, is it not nonsense for any
WIG to pretend that General SCoTT's posi-
ton and surroundings are less conservative
than those of General PIERCE, when we see
the leading DEMOCRATIC paper of the North
which will be the chief support of any DEMO
CRATIC administration, eulogizing Senator
SUMNER, and circulating his speeches against
the Compromise