Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-21
Is Massachusetts in the uniono

such Is the grave question propounded by
the Washington Union in recent number.
The Union is inclined to think that she is not
member Of the confederacv; that she has
by her act multiplying the Fugitive Slave Law
withdrawn from the political partnership and
that SUMNER and WILSON are not entitled 20
seats in the Senate.
The legislation of Massachusetts is certainly
of character which betrays the strongest
hostility to a provision of the Constitution. and
determination not to permit her citizens to
aid in its enforcement
1t is, perhaps, to be regretted that the Judi
ciary have decided that a State cannot by
legislation assist Congress in carrying ont the
the provision relating to fugitive slaves
This decision has given color to the idea that
it Is the exclusive business of the General Gov
eminent TO look after the execution of the
Fugitive Slave Law.
But Massachusetts, has gone far in advance
of this idea. She not only tells her citizens
that they are under no legal obligation to
help the master in search of his slave. but
she forblds them under pain of the penten-
tiary and Acknowledgement to aid him in any
manner. This is obstructing the execution
of the laws with vengeance.
What is the remedy for this state of thingsf
A more dangerous and delicate question can
never arise in the administration of our fed
erl government
The opinion of the Union is minated in
lis closing paragraph:
with what prOpriety can MesSrs Sumner
Wilson, and their Know-Nothing-A bolilion
colleagues present themselves in the respec-
tive halls Of Congress, and claim 10 occupy
seats there as Senators and Representatives
None but States which ratfy the Federal
Constitution have right to be represented in
that body. Originally, when Senators and
Representatives presented themselves, they
had to adduce the evidence of the ratification
of the constitution by their respective States
/ Is that condition less essential now than wheI
the Union was formed If MessrS. Sumner
and Wilson shall be called upon by Sehaton
\ from the other States for the evidence tina
/ AldNSit uhSttlS IdllntH the NbilSlllullDI, Cal
I they produce it Can the Senators and Rep
resentatives of Massachusetts, take the oatl
to support the Constitution of the United
/ States, when their principal solemnity repn.
dates an essential portion of that constitution
/ These are grave questions forced upon the at
tention of the country by Massachusetts
i We would not decide them precipiiately, and
hence we suggest them ut this early lay, thai
they may receive the investigation TO which
their magnitude entities them. With tho
impressions at present on our mind, we are
at loss to forsee the grounds on which Mass
achusetts can longer claim to send Represen
tatves to participate in the federal Legislation
of the Union. But with all her load of in
fanny resting upon her, we would not rashly
close the halls of Congress against her Repre-
sentatives but indulge the hope that she vii
retrace her downward steps, and take effect
ual measures at home to wipe out the dis
grace which Nothingism and Adolf
/ tionism have bronoht unon her name