The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-29
RoBr. G scorr. esq.

and defeat It,
am, with great respect yours; SC; ,,pcv
RoBr. G scorr. esq.
Letter from Le,eis Cas-, Esq
WASHINGTON, May IS, 1852.
SIR: | received your letter OF the nth instant on
Friday last and shall proceed to answer i frankly and
explicitly.
the Compromise, including the fugiyesave law, as the
final adjustment of dangerous agitation, which threat
ened The stability OF the Union and this view, which
presented the Senate the 2lst OF December last in
some remarks upon the subject, has been fortified by
subsequent and hereafter, whether public or in
private station shall advocate their integrity and their
observance And should the favor OF my fellow citzens
call me TO the presidency, should use all The conshlu-
onal and legal means within my power TO cause those
laws az well as all others TO be enforced fully fairly and
without exception. And far as it might be proper.
should dscountenance all attempts TO disturb or change
the provisions Of the law for the recapure Of fugitive
slaves, whereby those provisions might be rendered less
efficient in carrying into effect the constitutional oblga
tons upon that subject.
believe that the repeal essential modification OF
this law, impairing its efficacy, would do more TO alien
ate the South from the North than any even-han all
the events, indeedwhich have led TO those sectional
differences that have marked the progress OF our history
and which have happily yielded to spirit OF concession
and Cancellation. Such would destroy all con-
fdence, both in the good faith OF the North, and in The
value everywhere Of the constitutional guarantees and
my opinion, would lead inevitably TO dissolution OF
the Union. So believing, believe is the duty OF every
true American 10 hold this Compromise. in all its
ne WOulu OIL 10 tDOSc DtSteu
which have made the frees the happes and the most
prosperous nation that the Of heaven shone upoD
And besides, it s obvious TO the most superficial OBJ
server that spirit has gone forth 10 some OF The States
of the Union which, it not checked by sound pub
lie opinion might produce the most dangerous. conse.
quences The right OF property is called IN question and
the securities that project IT, sacred any which any
where guard the social political SYSTEM are derded
and dsavowed, and doctrines nculcaled utterly in
compatible with the existence Of the Union itself, or
with peace among lis members. should God in his wrath
separate them into independent communities IL becomes
every who loves his country, and who desires that
its future should be glorious and moi DISASTROUS dis
counenance these efforts, and to maintain in their ineg-
riiy the true principles OF the constitution. firm de-
termination to do this and no, 10 yield 70 this dangerous
spirit would render II harmless; tor am perfectly
convinced that the great body OF our fellow citizens in
the non-saveholding States consider the rights OF our
southern brethren sacred and iavioabc as their own
With respect to Withholding the Executive approval
from bill modifying changing this law so as 10
impair IFS valuable enactments" have 10 remark that
there constitutional guarantees oil the highest
Importance TO the people OF the United States and with
out which this government would never have been es-
ablshed which depend Tor their efficacy upon congress
sonal legislaton while without they are mere barren
declarations. Among these, is the right OF trial by jury
and the benefit OF the writ OF habeas corpus, bolh o.
which would be dead stpulatons, if moi brought into e
by legislative acton and oy the powers coniss upon
surrender fUgtves from labor, which Furnished sirong
inducement many Of the States 10 adopt the consin
ton and without which, and firm belief IN It's faithful
execution, they would not have joined the new conled
Grafton II certainly the constitutional duty OF Con-
gress pass efficient laws upon these subjects, and
having passed them, il is equally their duty not to repeal
nor SO modify any OF them leave the constitutional
obligations wholly unexecned executed as to fulhl
neither the dictates of duty OF good faith, nor the
just expectations OF that large portion oil ihe American
people much OF whose property depends Tor ITS value
upon the faithful observance OF OF these guarantees
From circumstances arising subsequent TO me passage
of the original law for the recaptne oil fnguve slaves
that law became In eject imperative leaving supua.
lion of the constitution, vitality important, TO one hall OF
the States OF the Union almost as useless as II II ha mad
4 place n that ch OF the government.
A short extract from some observations made an the
Senate the 18th OF March, 1850, urging the necessity
OF The immediate passage OF more efficient fugitive
slave law, will show that the opinions here advanced
were then avowed and urged BY me as the motives Tor
legislative action
sMy own opinion IT, that we should take Up the bill for
the recapure Of fugitive slaves, reported by he Judiciary
Committee
~ am disposed TO suspend All our discussions, and to-
lay aside all other business wh-a view 70 act upon thai
bib without unnecessary delay, and to Pass u Ia srch
form may be acceptable TO majority OF this BODY Thu,
the point upon which South feels acuely, and
in regard which has the most serious cause Of con-
paint laye heard but man in this bods deny the
existence Of ibis evil or the aa.cs and necessity Of pro
vding an adequate remedy.
81, one, willing TO take up The subject ana PFC
vide the Necessary means for carrying the provision q NE
constitution into l effect Such procedure wosa nsyS
BE- pledge Of our sincerity and OF our desire 20 90 1usuce
to that great section Of our common country
conviction of the nusce OF this state OF things, and
OF the Justice of the demand for efficient modification
OF the law led 10 the provisions migrated upon the
original statute, and which together provide adequate
ton II is my opinion that laws oil this nature present
peculiarly grave considerations, and that their eicacy
cannot be impaired without the neglect oil undeniabie
constitutional duties. Essential 10 the fdlhment OF un,
danenta guarantees, they in effect constitute portion oil
them, and far parase oil constitutional character az
10 be guarded against repeal, aay mobilization by
which the faithful execution OF these important supua-
tons might be impeded prevented.
i Aud in conformity with these sentiments, have voted
to Law upon the table, other words, not TO consider
the petitions presented at the present session asking tr
changes 10 the fugitye-saye law. was Determined or
one no, to touch the law and to prevent II possible the
renewal Of the agitation
Applying the principles here advanced to the law IN
question: and especially having reference TO The cond,ton
of the country and TO the Crisis through winch y has
passed have no hesitation in saying that, whoever =
President il would be his duty 70 withhold ms approval
from any bill so modifying or changing that law as 70
Impair iis present valuable enactnens which give 10
IL the necessary efficiency .s-,s
am, sir, very respectfully, your obcdent servant
/ LEWIS CASS.
RoBT q. Scorr, esqs Richmond, Va.
A Card.
f4 Kill