Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-18
TynwS0THING ENACTMENT.

Tnsaad of ipterrir the general character o hnow-
So,h;i.r in tI. North from the exceptional conduct
or s;nye man, as lie know-No,hng press here pro-
roso to do in their hulaton Of Garducr, it would be
much more just and reasonable to argue from the III
rorable policy of rso party. But if VIC choose tC
consider only particular instances, We will discover
enough of rabid abnlitonism, in the acts Of the Mas
sachusetts Legislature, to indemnify the antisHvcry
sentiment of Northern KNOWN Nottingham for the re-
fusnl OF the Governor to remove Judge Lorins.
The Boston Post supplies the following synopsis Of
bill which passet. its third reading in the Massa
chusclts Legislature without division. We submit
it to any impartial man to say, if this enactment does
not determine the chm actor Of Northorn Know No
thngism beyond dispute. Here is n law, dcv'Sea
with all the cunning of professional Ingenuity =
which tho avuwed object and the certain effect Is |"
prevent the re-capturo of fugitive slaves And this
10 the work of Legislature in which hnow-N"ti-
ingism riots in undispufed power. People OF Nr-
gna, read aud eArn the object of the party wh'ch
now strivea to usurp ascendancy in this State;
From the Boston Past
TREASON IN SSACllCSETIS-IliE ZEN
SOSAL LIBERTY BILL.
The bill entitled Gan net to protect the r'Sn'' an
liberties of the people OF the commonwealth 10
ing through the various sages ana VIII so'i oo
the Governor for his signature. II IL 'ue
code Of notification ever adopted u! S"'' g.
ture Its inevitable effect will DC 10 array Iuc ''
government arainst the general governments 10 Pio,
! Vent the execution of one Of the laws OF Inc '"'
States within the limits oi tins stare rl a,.r.
| 4 few wears ago. the aboItonlsls pun l'E'n ~ "o."
,nen,y in which they boldly proclaimed teif
nation IN do what thoy could tn produce d'-ni"'"
of the Union There was thiS merit III lllls 'n""'' %
c;s,n. il WAS frank, plain, easy to bc unorr'!o"u'
the people could nol be deceived oy II. ,,,c
of note that i'll tbs prosecution OF iher pntl"'e 80.
abulitionsls proposed substantially ''o 'N
| surrs that are proposed to-day. rlo ,L,
| This OMEN avowa Of n purpose 10 'IsSo''o '''
Union however, was met with so Indignant -;
from publlc opinion, that IN making Il '''o ,';;, il
| lists made no converts; aud docnine"ls '"'o
roas.d 10 appcur The plan lately has been cha"Scu
| Tho fnnaticsln of to-day has reversed is "N"N",
though il retains It's measures. ltnow process" i'
attachment TO the Union; pr3t's'ts 10 "Ine'i ~ ~ M
Union: and urges lis measures as va" o., I,;n;, nm,
| corr, N, I'nios Talk with rnbid ap"ui",.s a'''
Lo ,v;l ,c rou that he means TO stay IN lie c".""
IN stnnd by the Uuon--to keep witin 'he 'l''i'' W
tha constitution. Thu; the success ol MS proStahh'
will make the Union stronger! ,,,,, .o,o,,
Tsa -. au illustration the very report iLAl RECON-
'i,I ,he infamous treason of the bill We hnyt
nnrneJ In il will be found these declarations -
- Massachusetts stands second To no State IN th'
Union in loyalty 10 the PROVISIONS "i the CONSTITUTE,
of the United States;' "MassnchuSetts di'lhln" III
|
law of Congress :" and on. Does this look IKE
nullifying this constitution Abulitionists will ask Il
this dcnyng its obligations Is this an indication q
any design TO dissolve the Onion! Such Is the way
| in which fanatci-m now proceeds
What this loyalty means in practice, IS interpreted
in this very report explaining aud enforcing thu
stringent act This report is Il Wild, strhgSiihS IN
coherent and inconcusivc document but II Is c!et
enough ~ to purposes. Now II avuwed!y dch!s VIII
the fugitive slave law the law which G"vcrno
| n, ius,s l,r..l LAT
judicial tribunals national and State, and the iarS
majority OF tho uris.s and statesmen OF the kcPuo
| lie" have pronounced constitutional; ana when Il
| intended 10 enforce obligation which nobody
| doubts is in the Constitution. The report arOws IN
purpose. as this Legislature have declared It unc"h
s,itutiunal and unchrisiian, 70 Prevent the tHccn
ton of this law Ci Congress in the limits OF Tho State
The loyalty of these aboOniss to the constitution
consists III open opposition to law pronounced con
sutonal by everybody whose legal opinion la w"rtl
L sirpence.
The details of the bills show alike IT," enor.nity o
the hvpecri-y and the extent "t the treason. IL
twenty y-rnc s"rtious go infinitely into the preventive
process. Attorneys who serve as counsel tor claim
ants oi iugltves ..trom scrpice o. haJOr'-he word
of tho co!sti,uton-nre prohibited from serving II
the State courts; any police officer, State or municl
pal, or members Of the volunteer militia who sha!
aid in returning ANY peroon, tor tho reason lhal ~
i. claimed or Gdiuh.ed" "a fugitive from scrr'fe ~
i,bor," i. to b. punished by one years mprs"IIncn
in the State pri.nn, and not lass than one hou'nnI
dollars iii e: the volunteer militia shall not act 'Ir
any manner in the rendition Of Fu. ,tivcs from ser
rtcc or 'nbor :" State ails be used 20 secure
persons claimed Tor "Ierrrc" hp6oT: 70 II goes 81
through tho act. Ii il not enough To say that II II
lovcllcd at the lar Of 1850 is levellcd at the coS
srlrurIoS. Ii is substantially denial of an oblIga
ton of tho constitution Ii il rank treason to the su
pre,ne ID Of tho land Those who hnvc voted FOL
such m lfuuous bill as this have violated the solemn
onihsSht took ut the commencement OF their lGssla
two dnh to support the constitution of tho United