Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-05-30

changed The fanaticism of to-day has reversed its
avowal, though it retains its measures. Itnow pro-
Jesses great attachment to the Union profssses to
adhere to the Union, and urges its measures cal
cuiated to preserve tie Onion. Talk with rabid
abolitionst, and he will tell you that he means to
stay in the Union-to stand by the Union-to keep
within the limits of the constitution That the sue
cess of his programme will make the Union stronger
lake as an illustration the very report that recon-
mended the infamous treasons of the bill we have
named. In it will be found these declarations =
Massachusetts, stands second to no State in this
Union in loyalty to the provisions of the Constit
ton of the United States !" Massachusetts disdains
all intention of obstructing evading any constitu
honal law of Congress )" and so on. Does this look
like multiplying this constitution !? Abotonists will
ask Is this denying its obligations? Is this
indication of any design to dissolve the Union Such
is the way in which fanaticism now proceeds.
What this loyalty means in practice, is interpret
ed in this very report explaining and enforcing this
stringent act This report is wild, struggling, in
coherent and inconcusive document, but it is clear
enough to purposes. Now it avowedy deals with
the fugitive slave law the law which Governor Gard
ner has just said to the legislature the highest ju
dicial tribunals, national and State, and the large
majority of the jurists and statesmen of the Repub
c have pronounced constitutional; and which is in
tended to enforce obligation which nobody doubts
is in the Constitution. The report avows the pur.
pose, this legislature have declared it uncon-
stitutional and unchrstian to prevent the execution
Of this law of Congress in the limits of this State.
The loyalty of these aboltionsts to the constitution
consists in open opposition to law pronounced con.
stitutional by everybody whose legal opinion is worth
sixpence.
The details of the bill show alike the enormity of
the hypocrisy and the extent of the treason Its
twenty-three sections go minutely into the preven-
tive process. Attorneys who serve as counsel for
claimants of fugtives from service or lubor"-the
words of the constitutionare prohibited from
ing in the State courts any police officer, muni
nj the milf vhn chal1
aid in returning 'any person, for the that he
is claimed or adjudged" "a fugitive from service or
tobor," is to punished by one years imprisonment
in the State prison. and not less than one thousand
dollars fine; the volunteer militia shall not act Tin
any manner" in the rendition of fusitives " from
serrics or labor ;" State jails be used to
cute persons claimed for "serrice labor;;" so it
goes through the act. 1t is not enough to say
that it is evelcd at the lao Of 1850 1t is levelled
at the CONSTITUTION. 1t is substantially denial Of
an obligation of the constitution it is rank treason
to the supreme law of the land! Those who have
voted for such infamous bill this have violated
the solemn oaths they took at the commencement of
their legislative duties to support the constitution of
the United States"