The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-07
THE CASE STATED.

The partisans of Slavery are endcavorng to
make devotion TO- the Slave Power q criterion
of Democracy, and Of position in the Demo-
cratic party. These gentlemen concentrate
their worship upon the Fugitive Slave Bill.
According to them, the grand aim and purpose
of Democratic organization is to uphold and
enforce this bill. We say bill, because we do
not believe it to be law for it is not in the
power of man to show, in the Constitution any
grant of power to Congress to enact it, while
there arc several positive provisions of that in
strument with which it is impossible to recon-
Gle it. And we do not need the Supreme Court
Of the United States to tell us that an act of
Congress not authorized by the Constitution is
not law.
Those who are willing to recant all former
professions of opposition to this act, and who
have by their action demonstrated the insin-
certify Of these professions, are declared by
these new oracles of Democracy to be alone
worthy of the confidence Of Democratic Adj
ministration while those who arc unwilling to
bow down and worship this modern idol are
doomed to the fiery furnace of political pro-
scriptiOn
There are some indications that this rule of
action may be adopted by the new Administra-
ton. When Mr.. THOMSON CAMPBELL was q
candidate for election As Representative in
Congress from the sixth Congressional district
of Illinois, the following nterrogatories, among
others, were addressed to him:
81. Will you, if elected, vote for and cordially
support bill prohibiting Slavery in the Terri
tories of the United States
80. Will you vote for and support bill abol-
shing Slavery in the District of Columbia!
"a. Will you vote for and advocate the repeal
of the Fugitive Slave Law passed at the recent
session of Cengresss
as. Will you advocate and vote for the cleo
ton Of Speaker of the House Of Representa-
tiycs who shall be willing to organize the COM
mittees Of that House 80 as to give the free
States their just influence in the business of
legislation 2"
To these questions Mr.. THOMSON CAMPBELL
returned the following pusgarocal answers:
ITO the first and second interrogatories
answer unequivocally in the affirmative.
ITO the fourth and fifth interrogatores
answer unhestatingly in the Affirmative
Mr. Thomson CAMPBELL was elected upon
the strength of these pledges. He came to
Congress and voted for LINN Boyp for Speaker,
who was not expected to organize and did not
organize the committees in the manner which
MIR. THOMSON CAMPBELL had pledged himself
to require. During the whole Of the long ses-
sion that followed, Mr.. THOMSON CAMPBELL
uttered no word against Slavery in the Terri
tories, or Slavery in the District of Columbia,
or the Fugitive Slave Bill He returned to his
constituents, was candidate for reelection,
and was defeated Notwithstanding his disre-
gard of his pledgcs-notwithstanding his de-
feat by the people--pcrhaps, indeed because of
both, he was made Land Commissioner in Cali
fornia with salary of $4,000 per annum.
The same interrogatories were addressed to
Mr.. r. s. Molony, candidate for Congress in
the fourth district of Illinois The same an.
swers in substance, though oven more emphatic
in language, were given he also was elected
he also disrcgarded his pledges; ho was not re-
nominated, though he served but single term
and he has been made Register Of the Lane
Office at Chicago.
Now let us see how this same Fugitive Sav
Bill, which is made the crucial test for North
ern men, is regarded by Southern men,
JEFFERSON DAVIS is pretty we'll known +
tho people of the United States lie is nov
Secretary Of War, Those who have familiar
lied themselves with the proceedings Of Con