Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-08

y appearing counsel attorney nthe courts
/ that Commonwealth These two provisions sha
not apply to removal from judicial office; but if an
Judge shall perform either of the acts, it shall be
breach of cool behavior and for loss of pull
lie confidence, and sufficient ground for impeach
ment removal, by address.
1t is also declared that every sheriff. deputy sheriff
jaor coroner, constable other officer of the Satt
or the police of any city town. any distric
court city or town officer, any officer othe
member o. the volunteer militia of the Common
wealth. who shall assist, mprison, detain restrain
or aid therein, any person for the reason that he
claimed or adjudged to be fugitive from service o.
labor, shall be fined not less than thousand and
not more than two thousand dollars, and be impris
oned in the State prison not less than one
than two years; and the volunteer militia pro-
hlbted from acting in any manner in the seizure
detenSion rendition of fugitive slave, under the
like line and imprisonment.
This act makes provision for the appointment
commissioners in every county in the State, to pro-
tect, defend and secure to any alleged fugitive slave
fair and impartial trial by jury and the benefit on
its provisions. The fees and expenses of the
mssioners, witnesses and officers, in such defence
&C., to be paid by the State. No Jail prison Of
that State of any county therein, shall be used
mprison any person accused convicted of any Of,
fence created by either of the laws of Congress,
passed inf 1898 1850 respecting fugitives from
justice and persons escaping from the service o. their
masters, who may be convicted of obsructng or
resisting any process warrant order issued under
either of those laws for rescuing any person de-
tanned under said laws for the Imprisonment of
any person arrested on process or execution LOT
damages or penalties accruing claimed in conse-
quence of any aid rendered to any escaping fugitive
slave.
Thus, it will be seen that the whole purpose Of
this act is to render null and void acts of Congress
passed to execute clause of the Constitution
sential to the security of slave property in the
Southern States and without which no slavehold-
ing State would for moment have ratified the Con-
Stitution.
The constitution provides expressly, 81 that
person held to service labor in State, under
the laws thereof escaping into another shall, con-
sequence of any law regulation therein, be dis
charged from such service labor, but shall be de-
ivered up on claim of the party to whom such SER
vice or labor may be due"
The act of Massachusetts,, in every paragraph, is
intended by its trainers avowedly to liberatc, and
expressly provides for dscharging every slave from
such service or labor, and to prevent his being de-
livered up under any circumstances to his owner.
The act of Congress of 1898 and the amendatory
act Of 1850, providing for the rendition of fugitive
slaves, enacted soley and expressly to execute
this clause of the constitution and in accordance
with its spirit and letter.
The second clause of the sixth article of the
stituton also declare that the constitution and the
laws of the United States, which shall be made in
pursuance thereof shall be the supreme law of the
land and the judges in every State shall be bound
thereby anything in the constitution or laws ofany
State to the contrary Notwithstanding"
1t requires argument to prove that the act of
Massachusetts is precisely sucn law regulation
the constitution intended to provide against. If
any State thus violate and at naught the fun
damental law i'll particular, it may in all, and no
security safeguard is left for the preservation of
rights or liberties. If this government is worth
preserving it must be maintained in its purity, and
rights solennly guaranteed must be respected. 1t
becomes subject of deep import and Of vital consc-
quence The people that would tarnely submit to
deprivation Of their rights unworthy of the appel
latIon of freemen
Virginia contributed with her hearts blood to es-
tabliSh this Union She cheriSheS its halowed OBJ
jects, and would sacrifice much to maintain it, But
there is point when submission to injustice and
gross wrong is degradation and intamy.
In the hope of preserving the legacy of fathers
and holding up these independent States to the adj
miration of the world examples of the glorious
results of liberty restrained by wholesome laws
Virginia has yielded much borne much in patience
permitted repeated and improper interference with
her domestic relations, endangerng her peace wit
messed the violation of solemn obligations and com
pacts and finally, unwarrantabe assaults upon the
constitution.
We have warned our Northern brethren of the
evil tendency of their acts, only in the direct
assault upon rights, but by the inevitable effect
or such to destroy friendly relationship
We have reminded them of former happy in
tercourse and unqualified brotherly affection. We
have demonstrated, protested, appealed to them
They, too, have been deaf to the voice Of justice
and consanguinity." 1t becomes u.s. then to en-
quire Solemnly, what course we shall pursue. Ma
ny suggestions have occupied the public mind
By some 1t has been suggested to adopt system
of retaliation by taking possession Of their vessels
and other property when within our jurisdiction, and
by acting towards their owners, when attempting to
assert their rights, precisely they act towards
master attempting to his slave, passing laws
similar to theirs and harassing and annoying them
with criminal prosecutions, penalties and toreltures
BY others it has been thought best to discriminate
against the States which exhibit hostility to in
situations, by imposing rigid commercial restrictions,
laying upon their goods, and obstructng their
intercourse by every means sanctioned by the Con-
stitution. Some would appeal to our sister States
who suffer similar ills with US, and recommend the
call of Southern Convention to consult toy ther
for safety and the security of property, and
if need be- resume those sovereign powers now del
gated to the general government-while others would
once rush into the alternative of dissolving the
Union, and refuse to submit to constitutional pro-
visions, which violated with impunty, under
the sanction of State authority.
Such propositions, gravely mooted by legislative
bodies, by executive functonaries, and by the peo-
pie in their PRIMARY assemblies solemn warn
ings of imminent danger. History teaches to what
they lead When begin to talk of pledgiug
their lives their fortunes and their sacred honor to
preserve their rights, need not be told that the
spirit of the fathers of the revolution is terminated.
The subject is for deep reflection and wise
counsel Threats and menaces are useless. leave
it to the calm consideration and digned action of
the General Assembly, confidently believing that
rash step will be taken, but that when action is
decided on, it will be such as will vindicate
rights, rebound to the honor of the commonwealth
and to the glory of the Union"
WALKERS MANLY ExERcIsEs.-We are indebted
A. ~ Ga