Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-11-04

AY, NOVEMBER 4,
sramaaton Othou haste uithoat pas.ion somnly for him
ss decide this great conocersy Any other rule attribute
iaibily to human tag places them beyond question, and
|dsgrades Az men to umthnking passre obedience.
According to ST. Augustine unjust law does not appear
fathers Of the church. while adopting these words de
Glare openly that unjust laws not binding Sometime,
they are called abuses and not aws sometimes solences
and not laws And here again the conscience Of each person
the final arbiter But this lofty principle is confined
the church master of philosophy in early Europe,
hame of intellectual renown the eloquent Abeard in Latin
addressed to his has clearly expressed the univer
sal Injunction;
I" sJussa potestatis terrena discutienda
Ceestis tib mox perfcenda scias
Siquis divinis jubeat contrara jussis
M Te contra Dominum pactio nua trahat
The mandates of earthly power TO be dscussed those
NJ Heaven must at be performed agreement
onsrsin against God Such is the rule Of morals Such
BY he dps judges and sages, has bsea The proud deeta-
ion e the Engfsh a ,chence deriped In this
een patriots have fearlesy braved unjust commands
vii now, Sir the rule Is commended to az The good ci-
thinks Of the shirerinx sailty ofno
ian 1p snd dsverancs and q he fSads Be requ
Of this s filed with horror Here despoc mandate,
to aid and assist in the prompt and efficient of the
law Again let speak frankly. Not rashly would
myself against any provision of law This grave responsible
ty would not lightly But here the path Of duty is
stice by the comprehensive christian law OF brotherhood
By the Conston, a0ich IAare support, AN BOUND
THIS ACT. Neper, in any capacity can render
voiunsay aid in lie erecuton Pains and penalties H
aure; bia this great ,oroag ,ci9t mot do.'
have too often observed that all who undertake to
uphold slavery, that false Interpretation of the Con-
stitution by which its asserted rights are maintained
seem unconsconsly to fall into denial of the painest
principles Of morals and the grandes truths of freedom
but believe that you will not venture to call to
order for any thing said in yndcation of the supremacy
Of conscience An Illustration will bring home to your
convictions the absurdity Of any position different from
mine II. for instance, Congress should decree the en-
slavement and sale of the honorable Editors of the Ma
tiopa Intelligencer, ana judge should be found auda
cousy to declare the act constitutional do not doubt
that you would denounce the whole proceedings,
though sanctioned by Congress and Judge, trdn-
cdl spation which good citizens, at every personal
hazard must refuse to obey But there are many who
in their conscences, regard any Legislation of Congress-
though sanctioned by judges innumerabe under which
felowman is reduced to slavery, as yraaical usupa
on hardly less fragrant than that which have suppos
ed which good citizens at every personal hazard must
refuse to obey.
have the honor to be- gentlemen your faithful SER
want, CHARLES SUMNER.
p. S.sThat there may be mistake to the precise
passage from the speech at Worcester which desire
published, it is hereto appended as postscript.
TIn demanding of us the insertion of an abolition
speech, in addition to his letter, Mr.. SUMNER
rghtful or reasonable limit but we had rather err
on the side Of courtesy to an adversary than wear
the appearance of iliberality. We therefore give
place to what as dstastefu to ourselves it will
be to the regular readers Of paper and to what
under other circumstances, we would not have ad-
EXTRACTS FROM MR.. SUMMERS SPEECH
1t is sometimes gravely urged that the Supreme
af ptaA has
Of the fugitive set there only remains to in all places
whether In public station private citizens the duty Of
re
ac let that the Constitution Of the United States
understand 1t exacts such passive obedience And
in taking the oath support the Constitution, have
support understand it. and other under
stand it. lLoud appause when it had subsidized it fol
lowed by three rousng cheers Sumner In adopting this
rule which was first auhoritatiyey enuncated by Andrew
Jackson when President Of the United States in the face
Of the decisions Of the Supreme Court he asserted the
stituonaty Of the Bank, desire to be understood
acting hastily Let add that il it needed other authority
in its support it has that also of John Quincy Adams Grea
applause.]
ed that during the last year in the life of this venerable
statesman while he i'll, it my privilege to sit
times by his bedside On Of these occasions put The
question him directly whether in taking the oath to sup
port the Constitution, he assumed any obligation to return
fugitive slave to which the old eloquent promptly
earnestly replied that, according his Interpretation
the Constitution he assumed such Obligation appause
assign certain and he ther
added calculated profound impression
best thing uttered Andrew Jackson thai
for which, the time he much abused; namely that
in swearing support the Constitution he to support
he understood it, and not other understood it.
Immense cheering and excitement
Thus apy person this day be disposed to deal sharply
with this rule with myself account of the support which
conscicntiously give to it, let him remember that
his thruss will pierce not only myself the humblest of it
but also the great fame of Andrew jackson and
of John Quincy Adams patriots both of eminent life and
thory who though differing much public questions and
times rivals and foes yet concurred in this important
principle. (Applause.l
But reason here is in harmony with authority. From
the necessity the must support tia Cons
tuition either az lido understand do understand
TLaughter But the absurdity of dangling the latter
horn dilemma compe to take the former and there
end of the argument Great laughter and Cheers
Is there in Congress or out Of it, in the National
Government State Government who when this inevitable
alternative presented to him. will venture to say that he
support the Constitution he does not understand
iti Laughter and appause The superstition is prepos
ferrous let ask gentlemen who disposed to aban
don their understanding of the Constitution, to submit
their conscience tho standard Of other men, by whose
they wear2 Surely not by that of the Pre-
sident This is not alleged But by the understanding OF
the Supreme Court In other words to this Court consist
ing a Of nine persons s committed power of fast
ening such Interpretation they fit any part of the
it subtractng from positive
y varying its requirements actsay making and unmakng
the Constitution and all good citizens must bow to their
work equal authority with the original instrument rat
by of the whole people, Great applause
this then the oath support the Constitution of the
United States hardly less offensive than the famous ct
oath devised BY Archbishop Laud in which the sub
ect to certain specified things with an &c. added
| Such an oath have net taken. [Good, good
aFor myself let say that hold Judges, and especially
the Supreme Court of the country in much respec but
familiar with the history of judicial proceedings to
gard them with any supers ous Sensation
Judges but and in all have shown full share
of human fraty. Alas alas the worst crimes OF history
been perpetaed under their sanction The blood Of
martyrs and Of patriots crying from the ground summons
than INDIGNANT was judicial tribunal which