Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08
REASON vvsus FANATIcIsM.

Boston having, in public sermon, taken strong
ground against the recognition execution Of sheI
fugitive slave law in Massachusetts,, the Boston
Courier, in calm and sensible article, argues the
point with the reverend gentleman. We extract
from the Courier's remarks the annexed passages:
- DR.. - seems to feel that there is some kind
Of dissertation of soil in permitting fugitive
slave be upon and removed from it, speaks
Of soil being ramped by those whose attempts to
reclaim their fugitive conducted in man
ner to wound our sensibies and provoke passions
and he says that we must proceed to soip
from being SO trampled.
Undoubtedly our soil is consecrated to freedom But
is it consecrated to freedom for all meHs What conse-
it freedom at all? Is it not consecrated by
the aw And is it consecrated just fur the
law has impressed that character upon it, and further
We presume that this will be admitted By ALL The soil
Of Massachusetts, is not consecrated to freedom by the
general sentiment feelings Of its inhabitants; It IS
consecrated to freedom by the ar which they have or
daned for its and just far those laws
determine the condition of those who are on It, But
when looking for the laws which determine the
condition Of persons upon our SOIL it is obviously just
to look to the Constitution Of the United States
as it is to look to the Constitution Of the State. The
Federal Constitution is just much the law Of Massa
chusets as its Constitutions it was enacted by the
authority, ESQ far are concerned and not an
individual hold any important office under the latter
without swearing to support the former Moreover the
Constitution of the United States, far as it speaks
upon this matter Of the condition of persons found
SOIL well upon all other matters embraced in it, is
paramount to all laws It is impossible for the State to
make law which shall consecrate its soil to the freedom
Of who are made by the Constitution of the United
States incapable of acquiring freedom by coming within
our jurisdiction. In the manner would be impos-
sble fer make law consecratiRg the soil of the
State to the freedom of whom the General Govern
has stipulated by treaty to deliver up to foreign
nation.
"The proposition is not true therefore, that our soil
consecrated to the freedom Of all There
tain who excepted from this advantage by the
operation of the fundamental and law Of the
country which determines the character Of soil 70
them; and while this remains. so there be de-
secraton Of our soil by removing those persons from it.
g. But Dr.. -- also to feel that by permitting
the execution of this clause of the Constitution lend
some sanction to slavery. He speaks of "a deeper
question to arise when the Southern master shall
the free States the ground which to assert the
immaculate character of slavery and Of becoming
ready participants in upholdng system which abhor
and he preseptst to the alternative Of dissolution
"We must inquire therefore, and must do it calmly
and solemny, whether it is true that soil is used
the ground which to the immaculate character
Of slavery is in danger of being used and whe
ther by continuing to obey the Constitution do in
fact become participants in upholding the system.
That slavery exists in the Southern States DR.. does
deny He says expressly that cannot ignore its
existence He will probably not deny that it exists
there by law system of laws, which have
control and for which we have responsibility One
Of the persons to those laws here and the
master comes to reclaim him. Does he ask to admit
the immaculate character Of the institution? Does he
require any thing of except the admission Of the fact
that by the law Of his State he is entitled to the
services Of the person whom he seeks?
!" But it is always help to tire examination Of a
position like this to to Of similar character
and therefore turn to to- which DR.. rs posi-
ton ought be applicable if it is applicable to this
case. treaty exists wita foreign Power by which il
is provided that fugtiyes charged with certain crimes
shall be given up The foreign Government calls upon
give up its charged with the commits
Of Of those crimes in the territory Of that Gov
ernment The law which makes his act crime, which
defines the evidence and the mode of trial and axes
the punishment is the law Of that country not Of this
Are we called upon, when required to surrender
person. admit any thing whatever respecting the
justice rcasonabencss Righteousness of that law
Is its immaculate character assorted soil 1t
is plain that nothing is asserted and nothing admitted
but the facts that the law exists and that the individual
in question is the person who is amenable to it."
SANDWICH IsLANDs-South Carolina, to employ
an expressive vulgarism, !" smells rat in the
proposition to annex the Sandwich Islands to the
United States-sad to have been received by the
Government by the last steamer from California.
1t has been stated that treaty for the purpose had
been formed by our Commissioner at the Court Of
this Potentate, but the Nescs says
"We know not where the authority could have been
derived for entering such negotiation. European
nations will not believe that it is voluntary act of the
King Of the Sandwich Islands and his Legislature but
that there has been nesse ofplcmacy in bringing
about the result What theme such transaction will
reopen for structures by the English and French
against the graspng spirit of the Atlantic model
repubicp We confess do like this initiation of
the colonial system among us; for call it Territory
State, may, these islands would in all the
tals Of one, constitute colony"
THE NEW ENGLAND CLERaY.-The committee appointed
by the meeting of clergymen in Boston during anniver-
sary week to confer with clergymen of oil denominations
regard to the expediency Of calling Convention Of
the New England clergy to consult to their duty the
present crisis Of freedom in country have decided
that it is inexpedient to hold such convention.
4 A public meeting held at Baltimore on Thursday
evening which arrangements made for collecting
funds for the relief of the sufferers by the late terrible
railroad disaster. Many of them were mechanics and