Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-08-29

compromise measures, ne QtQ nOb Q6teES
mine to support them until they were pre-
sented for the Executive sanction, and
that he then yielded to the necessities of
his position with the utmost reluctance
and sacrifice of feeling and Judgment
The Wing platform repudiated the exer-
else Of the Executive veto, and he had no
alternative but to let the will of Con-
gress be alone. The fate of the Union
hung on the success of the fugitive slave
bill and he was constrained to submit to
its passage, Surely there is no merit in
ungracious and relutant concession to
the demands Of imperative duty.
But, it is late thing .hat the people of
the South are taught to consider the sup
port of the Compromise measures OF $50,
as test Of devotion to its rights and in
stitutions. These measures excepting
the Fugitive Slave Bill. were regarded
with universal disapprobation at the
South, and they were acquiesced in here
They were extorted from the patriotism
of the South, by an apprehension that the
confederacy would fall with their defeat
What were those measures of compro~
mise? 1st. There was the bill for the
suppression Of the slave trade in the Dis
trict of Columbia. by penalties which inn
piled the power of Congress absolutely to
abolish slavery in the District. This was
a principle and an object for which Fill
more had long contend. and no doubt he
eagerly grasped the fruit Of his tolls in the
service Of Abolitionism. Cd. There was
the bill for the admission Of California,
with Free Soil Constitution, excluding
the South from any participation in its
splendid riches. and asserting the princi>
pies Of alien and squatter sovereignty in
their most offensive latitude. This, toe, was
an abject of Fillmore's long pursuit which
he realized at last with sincere satisfaction.
Sd. The bill for the organization of ter
ritorial governments in New Mexico and
Utah, while it involved the principle OF
Congressional non-interventiou, (estab'
lished at last by the repeal of the Missouri
restriction.) yet wrested an immense re.
gion from the dominion of Texas, and
consigned it to the rapacious grasp of Free
Soilism. This again was in tulfllment Of
Fillmore's early pledge to aid in abolish
ing slavery in the territories, and was
doubtless approved without eompunction
or reservation. 4th. The Fugitive Slave
Law was. in the language Of Mr.. Bu-
chanan. "the only advantage which the
South derived from the Compromise of
1885," and the Fugitive Slave Law was
the only measure Of the Compromise
which Mr.. Fillmore hesitated to sanction.
That he did so hesitate has been proven
by his own admissions. He entertained
doubts fits constitutionality. It violated
the prejudices against slavery which he
had drunk in with his mothers milk,
and cherished from his youth up" He
wanted to secure the right of trial by jury
for the fugitive slave. But the occasion
was urgent, the necessity imperious. and
he was constrained to sign the bill. but be
first satisfied his conscience by Sinking
the responsibility to the shoulders Of his
Attorney General. Such are the meas
ures for which Fillmore is commended tc
the confidence Of the South
Whatever scruple Of conscience Fill
moro might have had against the enact
ment of the fugitive slave law, It's execu>
ton was his clear and imperative duty
And il in discharge Of this duty he had
displayed the least zeal or energy, he
might have compensated the South for
the reluctance with which he yielded to-
its 6rst demand. Unfortunately for him-
self and for the interests Of the South. the
languor with which he enforced. was
quite equal to the disgust with which he
signed the bill for the recapture of fugi-
tive slaves.
Everybody will rccollect the case Of
the Crafts. It was the frst attempt 10
execute the law, and it was Of the utmost
consequence that the efficacy Of the mea.
sure should be 50 signally established
as~to bear down all opposition and pre-
vent any future attempt at resistance. A
gentleman from Georgia sent an agent in
search Of two slaves. Crafts and wife vi ho
were living in Boston. They were found
without difficulty. and might have been
captured and secured il any effort had
been made TO enforce the Ian. Fillmore
was President. The Marshall refused tn
do his duty. The slaves paraded the
streets, de6ed the Authorities, and at last.
in open day. embarked on a. steamer for
Europe. They took up their sojourn in
London, were caressed by the abolition
aristocracy OF England: and allowed to
insult Southern ladies with impunity. =
Great was the rejoicing OF the Abolition
lists over this result, and they had right
TO celebrate their victory. II was sig
nal triumph. From that day the fugitive
slave law became dead letter for all
practical purposes. The scu were en-
ragged and Inundated by their defeat
Then they discovered that they had sac.
riiced honor as well as substantial inter-
est to be directed against the guilty sha-
dow. 1t was Millsrd Fillmore who suf
fered an abolition mob to defy aud tram
ple upon the law for the recapture of fu.
giLive slaves. With an adequate demon
stration of force, the law might have been
executed. the majesty of government vim