The southern press., 1852-05-22
Mr.. Floyd,s speech

uNes, nir. FLOYD, oil NEW forR, made very
elaborate Speech portions of which we lay be-
fore our readers as indicating the present views
of the Freesoi Democrats of that State whom
he represents. 1t will be seen that he talks out
very plainly:
The fourth act of the series constituting the
compromise, and known as the fugitive slave
law, has perhaps caused more excitement than
any other in the public mind. The constitu-
tlona provision on this subject is found in the
second section Of the fourth article Of the Con-
stitution of the United States, and in these
words:
.No person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shall in consequence of any law or
regulation therein be discharged from such SER
vice or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim
of the party to whom such service or labor may
be due"
This is to Northern people one of the most
offensive features in the Constitutions; but it is
clear and unequivocal in its terms, and as obli-
gatory as any other clause of that instrument
The clause Immediately preceding, in terms
almost similar, requires that fugitives from
justice who shall 'be found in another State
shall be delivered up;" and this has been carried
into effect for the most part satisfactorily to the
several States by arrangements between them
| In relation to the clause concerning fugitive
slaves, however, the Supreme Court of the
! United States, with its Characteristic tendency
to consolidation, which has ever been 80 much
feared by the republicans of this country, has
decided that to Congress belongs the right Of
! legislating upon the subject Of the taking and
delivery Of fugitive slaves-a decision, in my
humble opinion, erroneous as legal PROPOSE
L q .f1.N g. 4
the execution Of this provision of our Constitu
ton, and cohrming what ,oaS the Southern doc
trine, that the respectable bench of presiden-
tial candidates who. in all the dignity which can
be impaired by rusty black silk gowns, hold
their sittings in this Capitol, is an unsafe and
unsatisfactory tribunal for the decision of ques-
tons partaking of a political character; and
hereto agreed the convention of the State Of
| New York which ratified the Constitution, for it
/ proposed an amendment providing for a commits
sion to "correct the errors" Of the Supreme
Court. Sir, the danger TO this Republic is from
the judiciary. All history shows that the most
subservient tools Of bad government are po-
litical judges. Freemen, neither North nor
South, will rest long under wrong without n
remedy and when public confidence in this
count is lost as it may be--may it ot!-those
who are aggrieved, be they South or be they
North, will not be slow to "judge for them
selves the mode and measure OF redress" But
so it is; Congress enacts laws to carry into
effect the provision of the Constitution for the
delivering up" of fugitive slaves, and speci,
men of its handy work is before the country.
There is an ancient saying that the will of the
people is the supreme law, and wise men gem
orally endcavor so to frame laws as to meet the
appreciation Of the good men of the community
tl,n,, ha ID -,
slave law is, Of course, to be executed in the
free States One would suppose that it should,
therefore, have been so framed as TO conform to
Northern notions so far as il might without i'm
pairing its efficiency; but Judging from the
terms Of the law, from its practical operation,
and supposing that men OF sense intend that
which is the inevitable result OF their acts the
fugitive slave law was drawn and enacted more
for the purpc sc of wounding aud lacerating the
feelings of the North-of insulting its settled
CONVICTIONS Of right and wrong, than for the
purpose of securing the return of runaway
slaves. II may be that injustice is done TO the
trainers of the law by these remarks, for il NAV
have been intended as an experiment upon
; Northern seryity to exhibit to tho world the
profound depths of infamy TO which politicians
cln descend. Indeed, sir, the tradition connected
with the origin of this law is this, aud its pro-
bgbiliiy challenges belief, that the distinguished
gentleman who drew II, but who was opposed
TO the whole system ofthe compromise, purpose
ly filed il with provisions so shocking and re.
voting TO every Northern mind as 10 render its
passage. as he supposed, impossible Little did
he know how dearly some Northern men love
the South!
Sensitive as the North has always been upon
this subject, il may be profitable TO examine
tka nf fner Ia.
are calculated TO conciliate its prejudices and
secure a cordial discharge Of The obligations OF
the Constitution.
The power Of deciding the relative rights Of
men we 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 we'll established
moral qualifications, and legal learning ripened
by experience but the fugitive law scatiers
broadcast through the North a judicial spawn
under the name Of commissioners, who stink in
the nostrils Of the people-appointed by sys.
TEN Of fayori.ism, o. still more odious system
Of nepotism, distinguished by no quality which
can commend them TO the confidence Of the pub.
lie. They would suffer in the judgment Of God
and all good men by comparison with the ne.
groes they arrest. Witness the case at Buffalo
where the commissioner oyerruled the decision
OF the United States district lndge-the case Of
Philadelphia, where the willing Offices Of the
commissioner were made available In Kidnapping
free man--tbe case in New York, where all
: testimony in behalf Of the person arrested was
excluded--the case at Harrisburg, where a csuse
/ was tried and concluded before day.break. Now.
if Southern gentlemen doubt what sort Of per.
sons are appointed commissioners under thi.
law, let me ak them what sort Of persons would
be found among them TO fill an office, the sole
duty Of which is TO suPerintend the arrest OF
: runway negroes at S5 head. Is there any
honorable Southern gentleman upon this floor
who would occupy such an Office
Then, sir, the executors OF our laws, our
sheriffs and constables, are elected by the peo.
plc--chosen for their fitness for those Offices.
and responsible BY their bail for their official
good conduct. BY the fugitive law the com
} missioner is vested with authority TO appoint
persons To execute the process issued under that
law, and the character Of the persons may be
inferred from the character Of the appointing
power, and Of the duties TO be discharged. By