Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-30
From the New Orleans Picayune.
Modification and its Remedy

Reckless AZ has been the Sewardite majority In
the New York Legislature, at the late session,
odious for its violations Of all decency in carrying
out as Ear as II could, its schemes Of demagogu-
ism, Ii has not been strong enough IN daring to
enact the bill OF Mr.. Phelps Of 0nondaga county,
entitled An act for the further preservation Of
the constitutional rights and liberties Of the people
Of this State But we observe that the Seward
organ INDUCES the hope that il might be got
through somehow or other before the close Of the
sesson.
This bill gives the right Of ha5eas corpus to any
person In that State arrested the ground that be
owes service or labor under the laws Of another
State; Furnishes by crime Of not less<han ~, 900
and by Imprisonment In the States prison not less
than Eve years, any one removing Offering TO re-
move person 30 claimed makes the use Of any
New York Jail for the confinement Of any such
p,rson heavily penal offence; provides that any
officer Of the State, In any capacity, who shall be
Ia any manner concerned In arresting or keeping
any such person, shall forfeit his Office, and from
that time forth be forever ineligible to Office; pro-
hibin the militia Of the State from acting In any
In the seizure, keeping or rendition of such
person, under heavy penalty Of fine and imprison-
ment and 30 on. sA
1t seems that they could not quite succeed in
this at one attempt, but at last accounts there
was motion pending for the reconsideration Of
the vote by which II was rejected.
Now, II this act be not in direct contravention Of
the fourth article OF the Constitution OF the United
States we have no idea Of the meaning of Ian
gusge II denies the full faith and credit which
that instrument provides shall be given in each
State TO the public acts, records and Judicial pro-
ceedings Of other States IL denies 10 the citizens
Of other States the privileges and immunities the
constitution gives them in the several States II
expressly and in terms abrogates the provision Of
that instrument that person held 70 service OF
labor In one State, under the law thereof escs-
ping into another shall by no law or regulation
therein be discharged from such service or labor
bat shall be delivered up on claim OF the party 10
whom such service or labor is due and thus II
virtually nulli6es the constitution, and sets up
law Of New York in opposition TO the law Of the
I and
This il Sewardm In the concrete. II may yet
be passed into law and If 1t be, and case under
II should arise in New York, we shall have attain
cd the result to which Sewardism inevitably tends,
q virtual dissolution Of the Union, by the nullifca
ton Of the constitution which makes that Union
The new American party, which, in its progress,
is putting down or absorbing all other parties,
win regulate all ths let il reach what point soever
of enormity II may. That party Is pledged 10 the
preservation Of the sacred compromises Of the
Consultation and TO the involabilty of the Union,
and we are inclined 10 believe that viii carry out
its pledges in good faith and the utmost efficiency
II desires and designs 10 see the Federal Consti.
tuition faithfully administered In strict accordance
with the views OF its founders, all usurpations
checked, all encroachments on the rights Of the
States rebuked and all forced constructions dis
svovedy" II feels the responsibility II has assumed
knowing full vel the opposition IL has TO en-
counter from the congIomerste Of all fragments
and fractions Of party" and from none more than