The southern press., 1852-06-17

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the Constitution and laws of the country, the
Abolitionists of Massachusetts called conveu.
ton to protest against this fugitive slave law,
and they invited Mr.. SEWARD to attend.
will read the letter which he sent them in re-.
ply:
AUBURN, April S, 1851.
DEAR SIR: Your letter inviting me to attend
a convention of the PEOPLE Of Massachusetts OPP
posed to the fugitive slave law, and TO commun-
icate in writing my opinion on that statute, if |
should be unable to attend the convention, has
been received.
While offering thepressure of duties here too
long deferred as an apology for nonattendance,
1 pray you to assure the committee in whose
behalf you act, of my profound sense of their
courtesy and kindness. 1t would be an honor
to be invited to address the people of Massa-
chusetts on any subject, but it might well salts
| fly generous ambition to be called upon to
speak to that great and enlightened common
wealth on question of human rights and civil
liberty.
confess, sir, that have earnestly desired no t
to mingle in the popular discussions of the
measures of the last Congress. The issue ne
cessariIy involves the claims of their advocates
and adversaries in the public councils, to the
confidence Of the country. Some Of those ad-
vocates have entered the popular arena, crimi-
mating those from whom they had differed, while
Others have endeavored, by extraordinary means,
either to cortro! discussion, or to suppress it
altogether, and thus they have shown themselves
disqualified by prejudice or interest, for prac-
ticing that mpartiaity and candor which the
occasion demghded.
an unwilling even to seem to imply by re-
iterating arguments already before the public,
either any distrust OF the position of those with
whom stood in Congress- or impotence for
that favorable popular verdict which ! believe
to be near, and know to be ultimately certain.
Nevertheless, there can be no improperly in
my declaring, when thus questioned, the opinions
which will govern my vote upon any occasion
when the fugitive slave law shall come up for
review, in the national legislature think the
N act tignaly unwise, because it is an attempt by
la.purely federative government TO extend the
economy of slave States, throughout States
which repudiate slavery as a moral, social, and
political evil Any despotic government would
awaken sedition from its profoundest slumbers
10y such an attempt .... ..-. ...
The attempt by the government has aroused
consti utional resistance, which. will not cease
until the effort shall be renquished. He who
teaches another faith than this, whether self.
deceived or not, miseads, | think, also, that
he attempt was unnecessary that politica!
ends-merely political ends and not real
evils, resulting from the escape of slaves, con
stituted the prevailing motives to the enact
ment. a.... ....
Think also, that The details of the measure are
indefensible that the denial to the alleged fugi
tive of trial of his alleged obligation to labor,
md of his escape from it, by court, and moth
ing less than court of justice, constitutionaIy
organized, and proceeding according. to the
course of the common law within the State
where he is claimed, is palpabIy in derogation of
the Constitution; that the rules of evidence,
which the law prescrbes, are oppressive of the
the weak and defenseless, and that ChristendOm
night be searched in vain for parallel TO provi
sions whish make escape from bondage crime,
by law retrOactivein its effect, and without
limitations of time to favor the presumption of
freedom, which under rigorous penalties com
pei freemen%o aid in the capture Of slaves, and
which offer unmstaken inducements to false
claims and false judgments. FiraIly, whatever
changes Of opinions others may have undergone,
| retain my earliest convictions that the const-
tutional provision on which the law purpors to
be founded is merely compact between the
States; and that the Congress Of the United
States have no jurisdiction the subject.
Nor is the law, which is so obnoxious in itself,
commended TO my favor by its connection With
VI hat are called tie other means of compromise.
4 Compromise implies minging Of truth and
error, right ard wrong. One Of those affiliated
4 measures denied the admission Of New Mexico.
\ because she had determined TO come in as free
State, and recommended her, with permission to
come back in the habiliments of slavery.
Another distinctly intmated TO the Mormon-
the consent Of Congress that they should, If
they could, plant a slave State in the very re-.
cesses Of the continent. A third abolished
public slsve-mart in the city of Washington.
without abating either the extent or duration
of slavery in the District Of Columbia. A fourth
obtained pence on humiliating terms from one
Of the youngest and feeblest members Of the
confedercy, in an attitude of sediton. While II
fifth only reluctantly admitted California as q
free State, when she refused 10 conlaminate
herself with slavery. Which one OF these
measures has supernuous merit, 10 be received
in extenualion Of the fugitive slave law? But
we are tod, that bad rs these measures are, they
were the best that could be obtained. On the
contrary, there were always votes cnought for
the admission Of California. The Thirty. First
Congress might have admitted her, and left the
other questions TO another Congress, which n
sructed by the people, might have done better,
and certainly could not have done worse.
Nor do | find the fugitive slaFe law growing
in my favor on the ground Of the already falsi
fed promise Of an end Of the agitation of slavery
In the republic an agitation which, whether be.
nifcent or otherwise, is as nseparable from our
political organization, n the winds and clouds
are from the atmosphere that encircles the earth
have weighed, moreover, the argr ment that
some portion Of the people, in some Of the
States, have made the perpctuity Of the fugitive
slave law a condition OF new declarations OF
loyalty TO the Union. That loyaltyis duty re.
sulting from the Constitution, and is equally
due, whether the measures Of administration
are satisfactory or unsatisfactory. ] regret that
anything should have happened 10 encourage q
belief That loyalty could be accepted on condi.
tons, and specially on The conditions Of
forbeadng to repeal a repealabls statute
But since Il IL %, ] can only ssy that We, on
VIII m Che recent s>tion Of The government bears,
as il seems 10 ps. 80 unjustly, are in the Union
for richer OF poorer, FOR better or worse, whether
in majority or in a minority, whether in power
or poweress, without condition, reservation,
qualification, or limitation, forever end aye that