Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-14
EDITED BY
WA. M. 0VERTON, CHI. MAURICE SMITH,
AND BEVERLEY TUCKER.
JUNE IA, 1855.
WHAT Is THE REMEDY FOX THE
WRONGS INFLICTED ON THE COUN-
TRY BY MAssACHUsETTs.


TRY BY MASSACH USETTs.
Surely no State ever drew down upon itself so
general and SO hearty condemnation as has
Massachusetts,. In every section of the Union
the press has denounced the course of her Legis-
lature. The chief cause Of offence is the passage
of the so-called personal liberty bill, which is
nothing but abolition notification. With the
domestic legislation of Massachusetts we have
nothing to do. While in common with all right
minded men we feel supreme contempt for
some of the measures of domestic legislation
adopted by the Legislature recently adjourned,
and feel mortified that any State of the conteder-
acy should so incontnently debase and debauch
itself, 1t is not for US, but for the people of that
State, TO correct the errors committed by an abb
surd and fanatlcal legislative body.
But with this so-culled personal liberty bill, !"
we, and all the people of all the States, have
right to deal, inasmuch as it assails rights of
property that existed anterior to the formation of
the Federal Constitution, and rights of property
expressly guaranteed by that instrument. So far
as slavery is concerned, Massachusetts has placed
herself in attitude of direct and distinct hos.
tiiity TO the Constitution. In eject, she repeats
the portion of that instrument which secures and
protects slave property, and nullifes the fugitive
slave law, authorized by that charter.
The question has grayely and fifty been raised
whether Massachusetts is now, after this delibe-
rate and flagitious act of reputation and nullf-
cation, member of this Confederacy' Whether
she is entitled to send to Washington representa-
tives in Congress- Whether she has not for
maly and deliberately retracted her assent to the
Federal compact, which, as one of the original
thirteen States, she gave on the 9th of February,
1888? We do not design to address ourselves at
this time to solution of these grave questions.
They are of vast Importance, and require calm
reflection and close investigation But the wish
almost gives vitality to the hope, that State so
debauched and debased, so insensible to those OBJ
legations that all civilized men acknowledge. so
regardless of compacts and constitutions, and so
given up to every form of ism, error, and fanati-
cism, will retire from tho sisterhood of States,
which in these latter days she has done nothing
but disgrace.
In several of the Southern States her conduct
has SO irritated the people that angry and posi-
tive measures of retaliation are talked about.
We have thus far failed to copy any of the ar
tlcles from the southern journals in which retail
iatory measures are recommended, because we
did not desire to infiame feeling already suffi-
GENTLY exasperated. The following brief but
significant remarks are extracted from the New
Orleans Bulletin, a Wing journal, which is by no
means distinguished by fre-eating proclivities.
But live Goa the terrapin back will force it
to move:
The question that presents itself to every re-
heting mind is, What is TO be the upshot of this
designating movement? Will the South pas
svely and quietly submit to this desperate as
sault upon the Constitution the great bulwark of
our liberties, without even making a show of re
sstance! The State of Massachusetts is vuner-
able in one point; however case-hardened she
may be against all appeal to reason, magma
nimity, or patriotism, there is the exposed part,
like the heel of Achilles, where she is assailable
We must attack her here. As she is now gov
erned, 1t is the only sensitive spot in which she
can be made to feel. We have large and pro-
htable trade with Boston, profitable to her, but
which can be easily diverted to some other point
without any prejudice to us.
II Massachusetts persists in this system of gross
and absurd injustice, depriving us of rights guar
anted to us by the Constitution, let us retaliate
upon her and make her feel that we can give
hard knocks as well take them. Non-inter-
course and reprisals may be established without
committing any breach of the peace, or destroy
ing amicabie relations; it is quiet and easy wa
OF obtaining satisfaction and redress and our word
for IT, let but the pocket-nerve of our Yankee
TRENDS be rudely touched, and il will vbrate with
such rapidity and force that conviction will i'm.
mediately follow remorse, and repentance wait
upon both The odous bill will be repealed on
the first opportunity.