The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-06
Massachusetts,.

massathusotta.
A very interesting squabble is going on be-
tween the few conservatives left in Nassachu-
sets, as to the relative responsibility oflthe two
parties there for the renewed abolition excite
ment in the Senate of that State. The Boston
Post, which has always exhibited its hostility to
the coalition as far as it dared, thus charges
down on the Wing party in relation to this mat
ter. From the tone of its comments, 1t would
seem as though this last Outrage on the South
may meet with legislative sanction The Post
says:
"When Massachusetts wing conventions in
1850 deliberately resolved that the CoNsTITU-
TIoNAL CLAUSE under Which he (the fugitive
save) is claimed, odious in ITSELF should be rem
dered still more odious and detesable by the mode
Of its enforcement; when, to carry out this idea
these conventions advised the Legislature to pass
acts TO create a machinery of legal resistance,
and to authorize the use of the State treasury,
without limit, to nullify law of the general
government; when it was by such means, by
such demagogue appeals, that Democratic can
didates for Congress We're defeated, and Wing
members of Congress elected, it requires no
discourses on this very notification project, as
the Boston Daily Advertiser sees fit to deliver
as er cathedra to the Democratic members of
the Legislature, as to their dutis, in relation to
this very law which Wings advised!
But our readers shall Judge. The Daily
March 3O) prints entire Mr.. Sewall's nuifca-
ton bill, which, be it remembered, is precisely
what Wing conventions (l850) recommended
to the Legislature; and after stating that cor
respondent had relieved it of the duty of COM
ment on this bill, it says
Sour correspondent appeals particularly to
the Democratic member of the Legislature.
The Wings, we trust, need no exhortation
against the passing of an act by the State legis-
lature, expressly intended to render nugatory
an act of the Congress of the United States,
which act has been already declared by the Su-
preme Court of our own State to be constitu-
tional'
"There is GOODNESS about this remark, which,
in a sultry summers day, would have virtue
enough in it to refresh an entire region. We
trust the Wings need no exhortation against the
passing of this act On what grounds is this
comfortable trust based Who knows-does
the learned Daily know the contrary ?-but that
the identical men who made up the Wing dis
trct convention, for instance, that advised
this law, are now acting as Wing representa-
tiues from the towns of the district? If So,
would not they need lille exhortation Is the
Daily acting with its usual caution and deliber-
alton? Is it not hasty and even unwise in con-
GLIDING that Wings need no exhOrtatiOn?"
The appeal from the Wing side, to which
reference is made, is entitled "a few words to
the Democrats of the Legislature" and opens
thus:
"Gentemen-It is impossible for mere
Speculation to determine what the purposes and
party objects of the coalition may not induce
you to do. They have already caused you to
DO much that has amazed your ancient oppo
nents, and deprived them Of the power of re.
speeding you for what once was an unquestion-
able characteristic Of your party-namely, its
nationality. You are now required to do one
thing more-and that, too, step beyond any
that has yet been taken to array the State of
Massachusetts against the laws and Consttu-
ton of the United States, in obedience to the
behests of your Freesoil allies This step is
to pass Mr.. Sewals bill, entitled An act
| further to protect personal liberty"
| When the Massachusetts men begin to be
alarmed at the strides of aboltionism in theil
midst, is it not high time for Southern men tc
open their eyes?
1