Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-03-22

prcval.n NJ la lis practical fleet does no more man II
wa in Intended Il, shareholders tie benefit al that
rovision OF the constitution requiring the surrender OF iuei
live slaves [! this be 80 really does no more IMAM Ia
carry ont the old and reveed doctrine OF the democratic par
tho main Of the compromises OF the constitution
TO this The democratic creed ancient aud as often
-ared other in ital pesumeare willing to saosco'
and repetition of i, by the convention with reference :"
obvious relation that constitutional provision, msn su
pcrsede ANY 1i.cct opinion the fugitive slave law
is nothing in the compromise measures OF eslecitu %
the South, but this law; and they regard oplosiu,
the law or refusal 10 sustain it, a determination 10 WIN
hold from then the practical benefit oi maj lfoVso, u M
constitution which relates fugitive slaves 50 iat Us hu
tions,s ar. ,,ncc;ncd believe might include Diners
opposition To the in fact opposition to inc
lion. They all il the igher la" 10 rePehi II. ~, ~
BODY of the de mocras hope may say all
tainv ali who w!eh 10 remain in communion with inc ma
tonal Democratic party who had or now nave ooJecr
that law, founded their objections upon Tue eGu bnnId
orpvon,; bu, urc willing that the object OF the law snou
no ATTAINED ia proper way. For myself not ohy nrqu
e,ce in the Iaw is hut should regret 10 sec any
made TO change modify H. because IN It's ohecl
the Sop,h ar does no than fairly subserVe the oo
ccts intended 1t does not, as am aware produce 'hy
Qrcyance- does in its operation put /" perm VIC ,isa
iberty of tie free coloed Opposition 10 IL on peci
liar ground is through the slave holding States nhher'oou
10 be opposition objects OF npposi'on 10 INC con
stituon Taking this view - me shpsc sno"n ee ~"
difficulty myself--intecd should DESIRE II We're IN inc
convention express direct and untquVoca approval o
this among the Other compromise nirisnres-Eel IN acie
ence TO Others who differed with me IN lie views ABOVE eA
messed would waive such expression II IN any other
way could give 10 The Democ'as IN all sections
OF the Union that those oi THIS state are determined 10
fidelity 10 all the provisions OF the constitution much as
that in regard TO fugitive slaves, as 10 any others
Signed W. l.. MANU-
The ror,ons Of the above letter omitted related State
policy on the canal measures.
Mr. Marcy's correspondent 1--WE further from the
Bottom post) replied the above letter, again urging The
Indispensable necessity of the convention not endorsing the
compromises as the only possible ground OF reunion :"
the Democratic party in New York MIR. Marcy again re-
pclled this position still emphaticay in The following
letter He would 10 the qualified ana eSasiVe
position then 40 common among that portion oil the De-
mocracy inclined 10 yield TO or fear The ABOLITION storm
against The fugitive slave law, viz that il was enough 10 re-
affirm the Baltimore resolutions of sl9 and omit all aliu
sion TO that law Mr. Marcy This with the most direct
disapproval: ,, ,cz,
NV Dear Sir.On my return home after short absence
found your letter Of The 2ls and have subsequently, gwen
my best consideration was apprehensve thal you anu
could not discover grounds which we could place our
selves and ac tremendously together II was hardly reason
able TO hope ba delegates in the convention would be
successful have therefore fell disposed 10 get az near
your positions principle and policy would permit Dohg
this fear is considerable space between u.s. ma
no difficulty in giving my hearty assent TO most OF Tue posi-.
ton. il the of present resolutions with which you have
ayored me- In the aspect Of affairs the mere dec at
the democratic party Of this stale il an integral part o le
democratic party the Union would not OF itself go lar TO-
wards showing that in fact where we claim to be-
Our claim would hardly be allowed without some spc.
obligation Of our faith What afterwards said in the
is satisfactory TO me. The unrestricted cnhlro over
slavery in staesnnt only in those already formed
but such may be formed out o our terrl'"rles-
is not sonabc by party any class oil men,
except perhaps extreme fanatcul ahoitionlss.
The clause in the resolution would apprehcnd Dc
deemed Objectionable than you are aware o. IL ap-
nears 10 Inply an objection only against the present u
uve law and against any which could BIZ enacted oy
Congress any State Legislature hui questions ne e'
Of Congress State Legislature I" make any iIw wat.
ever on i. subject Ii leaves the stakeholder IL the naked
Of his rights 10 reclaim fugitive
uuaded by anY legislation, Stale or national WINE ~ az
snowledyrs HE right il withhods the OF making
il vaabe Experience teaches that That clause oi lhc ION
stitulon like many Others requires Legislation 10 give u e
f. CT This became apparent in the early stages al the 20
vernnent AID The law of 1898 enacted give il effect
Even that law found Inefficient and The savchnaine
States Thought they had right 10 one more elective 10 lis
character 70 refuse them such law aud leave is part oi
The Constitution dead letter far as relates to lhelr RENE
A. is as they think Withholding from them what they are
Justly entitled under CONSTITUTIONS and violation OF
the federal compact They look upon IN this serious gh
md are dc rnned 10 have the aid OF The federal govern
in wing out this provision OF the Constitution OF
will Withdraw from cannot say they are wrong IN th!s
matter nj cl ,itn indeed think they are not
If the free should place themselves in this case
npon The position The resolution you sent me, aud act up
1" IT, the uniu wout be inevitably dissolved II we look
nns ooo ,srs o. oush %" h sEs W mY ss
ec,ive aw ,l will poiessed object; one that
will be practical its 0pcaliOn and make The remedy less
expensive than the value Of the right is designed 10 &c,
cure As democrat, and what is more, as stannch rs nj
OF the Union nun in favor OF such law, aud wiling I"
make subs ;gna article oil my political Iath d" not
/
like the exact law this is the extent OF our disagreement
We are separated by principle, and may act togche--
Agreeing in end differ 10 tho means OF reaching
IT, do not lnk our convention ough! 10 be silent on lis
subject ard ii il il not Spedirnt 10 endorse The existing
law ought least Ga far 10 declare that The slave
holding States nrc entitled The full benefit Of that clause
in the Constitution which provides for the surrender o IN
gve slaves and that proper laws ought TO be passed 10 give
il full and fair fleet without unnecessary burden rendering
the remedy expensive thnn the worth at the right
80 not say the present law IS in all respects, the best Thai
could be enacted The SUBJECT In of ts provision.
il might be Improved but it muat, THINK, IN candor, bt
confessed, that il has thus far worked fairly well The IN
Of objection 10 which you rtlc was rather The au
Of the commissioner than that Of the law Viii oil us dc
ects wiling acguesce In H. for the reason ulat ia
" carries our object without seriously endanscring Other
rights, and for the further special reason (Which
ia wephiY one win iiy that II Is part OF System n
compromise with which The north mad upon the whole
more reason be grated than the south By pocamine
dislike the fugitive slave law, and thereby continuing
the agitation incur the impntaion OF beng willing !"
take that part nf The baigain which like aud deny 10 tn.
other that which likes In this respect II ought |"
be looked al light somewhat different from thai IN which
y wnnId view ordinary enucments There also another
.idcraoE which would from manlicsng die
satisfaction Which the law unless moved l" y oy me pres
sure of evil consequences; il is the almost inevitable Ger
tanty that my object would he misunderstood and my CON
duet give offence in quarters where further irritation should
be avoided be, Without surrender OF rights or da
regarding principles. Ahoonsls oppose the fugitive slave
law upon ground that gives practical effect 10 the con
.u,iou They are in fact opposed 10 thai part OF the
constitutions aud in the present stale n ecng al Inc sou
reasonable 10 expect any clear discrimination OF ~
have rntc,N ored 10 show, IN manner confess NOT
vtry satisfactory myself what light the action OF The
invention will he viewed by the Democrats here and in
other states should what you suggest, aud nothing
more II more i. t" be saidand hoc think should be-
said even what you propose should be adopted what shall
that he?
Here we enter upon dbatabc ground. II the convention
should express general approval of and acqnesccnce in The
compromise measures h.s course will be Objectionable 10
some because will include approval OF the fugitive
slave law and il that excepted and nothing said The
subject the convention will thereby place iise In manifest
upl,sItion To that law 1t WILL in matter now grown into
vital importance, itself oil from all fellowship with
Southern Democrats; will exclude them from its patnrn
and place itself sectional ground II II under axes TO dis
tlngush its opposition ha, law from The abolition ground
H opposition place its objection TO on the peculiar
Of the sent act-eSrfcss Its concurrence III is 90
ecaud provisions equally effective to cary
ont taking that they not npracica0c OF hhrdeh
some order escape the charge OF inslnccriy hrprc
bend there would be much diversity u opinion IN the con-
yenou resolution there will be on the merits
of the present law have thought OF framing such rcs'
luton but experience difficulty in bringing out sufficient
" the srcn. points of Objection 10 The present act
In view Of these difficulties another course has been sng
nl,ti HIN lIIFG nj Ihp