The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03
One Phase Of Uerthern sentiment.


terms II will be seen that he not only justifies
the act, but elevates ii into the highest scale OF
duty. The plans and purposes of the Adolf
tionists are foreshadowed in these significant
threats:
4 have the highest confidence in the judiciary
Of this country. This confidence have always
entertained, and publicly and frequently ex-
pressed Hating slavery Diih an Intense and
perfect haired, look noU 10 the time when the
courts of this country shall operthrop IL BIZ their
solemn judgments. The Mansfield who in this
country shall with noble and manly courage
pronounce the judgment Of the law, that slavery
is incompatible with right, and that in the eye of
sovereign law, IL Is impossible that man can hare
property in man, is, ] hope, not now unborn
perhaps he already ,oears The ermine. remem-
Der at no distant day the slave trade was recog-
nzed in the courts as lawful tlaffic-that ships
freighted with gunpowder and rum went out
from the ports Of Old England and New Eng
land TO exchange for cargoes of human flesh on
the Guinea Coast-that merchant princes rev.
elled upon the gains Of this unholy, though law
ful commerce. "A decision of the courts of jus.
tice gave the death blow to slavery in England
Ia decision of the courts ended slavery in a
| sister State and the honor shed upon my own
name, by the humble share which one who bore
il had in that transaction, would not barter for
patent Of nobility.
/ II is said we shrink from this investigation 4
but second to the duty Of now vindicating the
right of trial by jury from the corrupt assaults
made upon it, the cherished desire of these de-
PENDANTS is to have an opportunity 10 prove to
an impartial tribunal, thai slavery has no legal
eristence in tke Slate Of Missouri. / hold it to
be demonstrable that il does not. That by their
own laws, and the well settled principles Of the
public lazy, the population of Missouri is free,
and by their bill of rights, they have Sc
cured the right Of emigration, Of which Jerry
avaed himself from thu State. We are as
anxious as the other side can be- to bring this
question to the test We shrink from no trial
4 re their bond entities them to the pound Of
| flesh, they can proceed to cut il next the heart
bnt they must not shed one drop Of blood
They must not trample upon The purity of the
| institution of trial by jury.
One word more and am done. beg leave
to say in advance, thst am a friend of law and
of order believe il the duty Of the citizen,
upon great principles of public morals and
safety, to maintain the laws But do not as
sent to the doctrine, that every enactment of the
| Legislature carries with it the sanction Of law.
If the legislature oversteps the boundaries Of
the constitutional thew attempt TO legalize
the bribing of judicial officers-to establish in.
justice, to destroy human rights--to sanctify OPP
preston, though they may have all the FORMS
they want the vital principle Of law.
In all free governments, as have before said,
popular outbreaks will sometimes occur, in which
The laws Of the land are violated but deny
that they are all worthy of equal reprobation--
the throwing of the tea into Boston harbor,
though equally against law, was not worthy the
same punishment MS the burning Of the convent
of Charlestown. In this case it may turn out
that there are strong circumstances Of mitigation;
that many of the accused are entirely innocent !;
| that popular outbreak was provoked, If not
actually sought, by the needless, not to say bfu
tai manner, in which an odious law was execu-
| ted however this may be, all that the accused
seek, is fair and impartial trial, according to
the ordinary forms Of law, and by its result,
/ whether it brings discharge from this prosecu-
ton or punishment, they will cheerfully abide.
following interesting correspondence:
From the dies upon which was struck the gold
medal voted to General Scott shortly after the
Mexican war, and presented to him some twelve
,eRtbs since, there was also struck one silver
. leyeral bronze copies of the original. The
b.Sr medal is deposited, we believe, in the State
library. Some Of the bronze copies have been
presented TO distinguished persons from time to
time. The late governor used the occasion of
the departure of two young Virgnians for Eu-
rope in November last, to send, as token OF re-
spect proper in ITSELF and as means of favora-
bly, introducing the bearers abroad, one Of these
bronze medals 10 the Duke of Wellington. The
correspondence on the occasion is here given.
The Dukes letter is written wholly in his own
hand, and is fully as difficult to decipher as was
that of his distinguished, but less fortunate an.
sgonist--Napoleon:
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. IL, 1851.
To Hrs GRACE, THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON:
SR:-As governor Of the commonwealth Of
Virginia, take the liberty Of presenting 10 your
Grace bronze copy Of gold medal voted by
the State to Major General Winfield Scott
hope you will accept it IS token, howe yer
slight, of the admiration which il felt in this re.
public, not only among our cities, but in the
gorges OF our mountains and in the deepest re-
cesses Of our forests, for the transcendant mill
tary genius you have displayed 10 the world
Wellington and Waterloo a.e household words
! in our land
. hope a copy Of the media which was voted
TO Americas greatest soldier, may not be unac.
ceptable 10 your Grace, who understands proba.
bly, better than any living man how to appreci.
ate military merit, and who can sympathize
above all Others in the honors paid to military
greatness.
With the highest admiration and respect, have
the honor to be your Grace's most obedient SER
want, JOHN b. FLOYD.
LONDON, Dec. IL, 1851.
SRI have had the honor Of receiving your
excellency's letter Of the. 18th Of November, and
the bronze copy Of The beautiful gold medal
voted by the State of Virginia TO Major General
Winfield Scott in testimony Of The sense enter.
tanned by the State of bis great and distinguished
services in command Of the army in the war in
Mexico.
am very sensible Of the distinction conferred
upon me by your excellency's notice Of me upon
this occasion.
Uncommon with the world at large, read with
admiration the reports Of the operations of Gen.
Scott, and ! sincerely rejoice that the State Of
Virginia has noticed them by this token Of its