Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-07-01

Hdft Lie HouoT lo DC, very ic>pcCt-
fully, your obedient servant,
S. A. DOUGLAS.
ROBERT G.. ScorT, esq.
Letter from Lewis Cass, Esq.
WASHINGTON, May %, 1852.
Sir: | received your letter of the
18th instant on Friday last, and shall
proceed to answer it frankly and ex-
plicitly.
consider the series of legislative
measures known as the Compromise.
including the fugitive-slave law, as the
final adjustment of dangerous agita-
ton, which threatened the stability of
the Union; and this view, which pre-
sented to the Senate on the 2lst of
December last, in some remarks upon
the subject, has been fortified by SUBJ
sequent events; and hereafter, wheth-
er in public or in private station. |
shall advocate their integrity and their
observance. And should the favor of
nv fellow-citizens call me TO the pres
idency, | should use all the ccnstitu-
tional and legal means within my pow
er to cause those laws, as we'll as all
others, to be enforced fully, fairly and
without exception. And SO far as it
might be proper, / should discounte-
nance all attempts to disturb or change
the provisions of the law for the re-
capture of fugitive slaves, whereby
those provisions might be rendered less
efficient in carrying into effect the
constitutional obligations upon that
subject.
l believe that the repeal or an es-
sentIal mOdiflcaIiOn OF this law, Inn
pairing its efficacy, would do more to
ALLEVIATE the South from the North than
any event-than all the events, indeed
which have led to those sectional
differences that have marked the pro-
gress of our history, and which have
happily yielded to a spirit of conces-
sion and Cancellation. Such a meas
ure would destroy all confidence, both
in the good faith of the North, and in
the value everywhere of the constitu-
tional guarantees and in my opinion.
would lead inevitably to a dissolution
of the Union. So believing, believe
it is the duty of every true American
to hold on to this Compromise, in all
its parts, as he would hold on to those
blessed institutions which have made
US the freest, the happiest, and the
most prosperous nation that the sun
of heaven ever shone upon.
And, besides, it is obvious to the
most superficial observer that spirit
has gone forth in some of the State:
of the Union which, were it not CHECK
ed by a sound public opinion, might
produce the most dangerous conse
quences. The right of property i
called in question, and the securities
that protect it, as sacred as any which
anywhere guard the social or politica
system, are derided and disavowed
and doctrines are inculcated utterl,
!; incompatible with the existence of tht
!; Union itself, or with peace among III
members, should God in his wrath sep
/ crate them into independent communi
ties. 1t becomes every one who love
his country, and who desires that it
future should be glorious and not dis
astrous, to. discountenance these efforts
; and to maintain in their integrity tn
true principles Of the constitution
/; A firm determination to do this, ant
not to yield to this dangerous spirit
| would soon render it harmless for
) am perfectly convinced that the grea
: body of our fel.ow-citizens in the non
: slaveholding States consider the right
, of our southern brethren as sacred am
5 inviolable as their own.
2 With respect to Withholding the Elk
: ecutive approval from bill modifyin
j or changing this law, $50 as to impai
: its valuable enactments," have to re
t mark, that there are various constitu
r tional guarantees of the highest i'm
!. portance to the people of the Unite
e S tates, and without which this gov
a eminent would never have been es
el tablished, which depend for their eff
0 cacy upon congressional Legislation
Y while without it they are mere barre
: declarations. Among these, is tn
I right of trial by jury, and the benef
f of the writ of habeas corpus, both {
: which would be dead stipulations,
: not brought INTO life by legislative az
S ton, and by the powers it confers VI
o on the judiciary. And among then
r also, is the obligation to surrender Il
+ gitives from labor, which furnished
h strong inducement to many Of th
$ States 10 adopt the constitution, an
e without which, and a firm belief in i
i faithful execution, they would not ha,
Joined the new confederation. II Wa
] certainly the constitutional duty !
II Congress TO pass efficient laws upo
d these subjects, and. having passed the