New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-12


stint. His efforts to save this miserable negro from
punishment for crime committed while in state of
hopeless idiocy were in such hostility to the general
current Of feeling that his person was hardly safe from
violence amid the wild popular excitement. But not
for moment did he falter. Devotng himself 70 the
forsaken prisoner with an admirable Christian zeal he
shrpnk from sacrifice in his behalf He stood be-
tween the defenceess object of public rage and his
enemies with the courage Of martyr. Lavish of his
time his health his purse, his social interests in the
cause of most degraded remnant of humanity in his
horror of legal injustice, he heroically maintained his
ground, single handed and alone, unil the wretched
victim Of vindictive popular sentiment relieved
by death from the power of his pursuers The sequel
proved the wisdom Of his champion. Freeman was
found TO have suffered from cerebral disease to an ex-
tent that left no doubt of his having been a confirmed
mon0manac, at the time of committing the dreadful
deed
With his devotion to high ideal and his native hui
manitary sentiment, the course of Gov. Seward as
necessary consequence, has been marked by unfor-
nifty and consistency, to which few statesmen in any
country can present parallel He has never trimmed
his sails to favOrng breezes, but steered right on
ward on his destined track by the light Of unchang
ing principles. Always true to himself he has
been false to any other man. You find him to-day,
where he always stood His progress has not changed
his identity Neither the love of fame the thirst for
emolument the passion for Office has led him TO de-
viate hairs breadth from his convictions Nor have
his convictions ever been known to veer to different
points of the compass according the wind set in the
quarter favorable to his personal interests. The same
earuestness of purpose which impelled him TO under
take the defense of the forsaken negro Auburn has
been displayed in every step of his career before the
public
Especially is this visible in connection with one ofthe
most vital questions, on which the conduct of Gov
Seward has provoked the widest difference Of opinion
and the bitterest severity of comment On this sub
ject he first had occasion to express his convictions
during the discussion on the admission of Missouri into
the Union. He then took the ground, which he has
since maintained that freedom is national and slavery
sectiOna-tbat the purpose of the Federal Union is to
establish the blessings Of justice and humanity, aud not
to enlarge the area of bondage and oppression. With
this conviction he has abored against the extension of
slavery Dctestng the institution he has waged against
it determined but honorable warfare. While he has
avoided everything that tended 10 foment needless
element and refained from invading the legal or con-
stitutional rights Of saven ders, be has made fur
Their concession to their demands.
During his administration of the State Government,
he abOred to expurgate the statute book OF everything
which nterered with the principles of republican free
dom. Through his influence, the law was repealed,
which permitted a master travelling through the State
with his slaves to retain them for nine months He
also procured the passage of an act, providing for trial
by Jury in the fpersOns claimed fugitive slaves
At his instance, moreover, act passed prohibit.
ing State Officers to engage in the recovery of fugitive
slaves, and forbdding the of the public jals for
their detention His correspondence with the Cover
of Virginia and Georgia, in relation to the surren
der of alleged fugitives from justice, atests the firm
of his devotion the principles of freedom and
the wisdom with which he main aimed their claims.
His attachment to principle has even been made
Subject of re3roach This ia singnlarly exemp6el in
the history of the celebrated expressonThe Higher
Law-whch in the mouths of his opponents, has be-
come the watchword of hostility. His assertion of the
sancty of justice, of the existence of an Eternal Wis
DOM as entitled to rule the cOunsels of men has
subjected him to much superficial criticism, from
dignied authorities both in church and state. The
phrase used by Gov. Seward in his speech in the
United States Senate the admission of California
into the Union In this speech, he was far from main
tanning that there any opposition between the pro-
visions of the Constitution and the demands Of the
Higher Law-the uncreated Law of Nature aud of
God This has been enormously stated by his oppon-
ents On the contrary he expressly maintains that in
respect to the question az ISSUE the Constitution and
the Higher Law identical in their demands Speak
ing of the national demain he says that hold it by
no arbitrary power 1.-THE Constitution devotes it to
union to justice to Defense to welfare and 70 liberty
But there is Higher Law than the Constitution which
regulates authority the domain and devotas it
to the noble purposes The territory is part no
inconsderable part of the common heritage Of man
kind, bestowed upon them by the Creator of the Uni
verse. We are his stewards and must so discharge
their happiness" These are the precise words of Gov
Seward On what ground are they called in question
Do his adversaries deny that national domain is de-
voted to justice and freedom by the Constitution Do
they deny that authority ii is subject TO the
law of the Creator Do they deny that man is the
steward of the Sovereign Lordl Unless they will con-
sent take the ground of gross skepticism-of the
denial of all religious foundation for ethical distinctions
and in fact of virtual Atheism,-OD what do their OBJ
jectiOns rest Certainly they came with an Ill grace
from men who make the Oudest pretensions religion
and morality In the view of every fair aud enghten.
ed thinker the charges against Gov Seward in rea-
ton this phrase, evnce the most transparent absurd
ity. They proceed from bad logic and worse phoso-
ply When the dust of political excitement once clears
away no man repeat the accusation without shame
The aspersers of Higher Law only impeach their
claims to intellect conscience if indeed they do no,
hrnc both under snsnicnn II will nor form ner,na.