Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-04-14
The Fugitive Slave law Mr.. Fillmore and Pre-
eideut Pierce

Mark the language in winch Fillmore defines
his relations to the Fugitive Slave Bill: it embra.
.ea ..proyisioas Go which he had objections" be
.rerrefted the nacessity for passing IL ut all,
"a doubt came upon his mind whether it was not
unconstitutional as denying the right of habeas
corpus to the fugitive slave he referred the ques
t;on ato the Attorney General. who gave bi.
opiuSon that tho law vas not violation OF the
constitution and ihereupan.' I'm the sense OF
wherefore, implying logical sequence.) said
Mr.. Fillmore. II gave my signature to the oli'
7. tbere one word in these sentences that implies
approval Of the Fugitive Slave law
True. that in the examination which Mr. Fill
more gave the bill .fp the midst Of hurry and con
fusion and difficulties" doubt "eame up in his
mind. whether the provision of the constitution
which guarantees the right of Hobias Corpus to
all might not have been disregarded. Under the
circumstances he very properly sought the opn'
ion Of the law officer Of the government, and tho
doubt being removed. he signed the bill The
doubt let it be noted. was not as TO the obligation
TO restore Fugitiyes (which was all the South de-
nanded) but as to particular provision Of tho
Law.
True, Mr.. Fillmore regretted the necessity
for enac,ing such law. So did nine-hundred and
ninety nine out Of every thousand OF the people
of the North, but 1.-The constitution required the
giving up of fugitive slaves and,h tells us. "he
had sworn TO maintain it, aud would do so to bis
latest hour
The Enquirer attempts to convince the people
OF the South that Mr.. Fillmore.by these deelarn-
ttions, and other acts. proved himself unworthy
their confidence. But in the same article IL Gu
log,zes President Pierce, and says that the South
Twill be ever grateful TO him.
Now let compare the language used by Mr.
Fillmore with regard to the Fugitive Slave law.
with that employed by Mr.. Pierce, and determine
what the Enquirer's condemnation of the former
and eulogy Of the latter are worth. We quote
from the reports of the Concord tN. H. Demo.
crat and the Manchester tN. H. Democrat in
1881 ofa speech Of Franklin Pierce at New Bos-
ton IN. II ! on the Cd Of January Of that year:
From he Concord az NJ Deaocrail
He commenced speaking upon tho fugitive
slave law. lie said that it differed in no impor.
tant particular from the law Of 1893. A clergy
man who was present said, that as the invitation
had been gwen he would make an inquiry: DO
you regard the features Of the fugitive slave law
as consistent with common law !"
Gen. Pierce immediately replied " IL must
answer the question. say no. do not have
been asked IL liked this fugitive slave law.
answered no. ] loathed il. have a most revolt
ing feeling at the giving up of slave; the law
is opposed TO humanity"
Hero Mr.. Foss inquired, "Ifitwa not opposed
10 right well ms humanity I" Gen. Pierce
piled Yes, il is opposed to moral right I"
The above is the substance of Gen. Pierce's
remaris, sa"n the fugitive slave law. The quo
tation marks INCLUDE the very language used by
the General, ~ taken down at the time it was
uttered
(Frov H. Aaseas ster IN NJ Deraooraf)
He referred I" the Constitution If the country
and in "A pious train of thought recognised tho
higher law, and "that power above all constitu.
TONS His position here was SO unequivooal
that the Rev Mr.. Foss. formerly clergyman of
this town, could but assent to IT sufficiently
'fanatcal" TO satisfy the most ultra aboliiionist.
The speaker now took up the subject of slave
ry. He said il was the greatest trouble of the
country. and was so regarded washington -
As for himself he "neyer n human being IN
bondage without, feeling his heart revolt at it.
Slavery is contrary to the Constitution in some
respects---n moral blot upon the character Of tho
nation. But it can't be helped" lie referred
to the great peril in which tho Union had been
placed.
The General again took up the compromise
measures, saying that the North got the kernel
and the South the she'll. He repeated what Mr.
Aver had stated before "that the present fugi
made tcas in no particular different from the iaic
ofI793, under which we had lived nearly sixty
years.
l8ere Mr.. Foss said that, without interruptng
the speaker, he wished to make an injury: .'lf
in no particular different why was it necessary
to pass the present law"
General =. replied that the old law could no,
be executed because its execution depended on
the State courts. lie also said said something
{,yilv nhn tba las N,
l793 us based partly ON the common law.
lie WAS then asked: IVA, either the law ot
80 or the present law founded in any degree up
on the common law.
Gen. Tierce,-..I cant go into a di-quisitt'u
upon the common law"
The inquiry was then made: "Do you regard
the features Of the fugitive slave law as oonss
tent with common law I"
Gen, Pierce -Wcll,f must answer. No. | dc
not. have been asked il liked this fugitive
slave law. answered no, hive the most revolt
feeling at the giving upofa slave; the fugitive
slave law is opposed 10 humanity. Here some
one inquired if it is net opposed TO right! Yes
it is opposed to moral right
IT. after the uttcrauce nf these sentiments, the
Enquirer thought, and still thinks, Mr.. Pierce
worthy the confidence Of the Southern people.
and is willing to support HIM for another term.
we ask what influence its suspicious of Mr. Fill.
more will command
The Kansas Test.
As an additional evidence of he insecurity o.
the test which the Democratic party propose EN-
ploying in their national conventiom,to prove tn
eoundness Of their nominee the slavery qnes
tion, to.wit: approval Of the Kansas bill, ma
be mentioned that the leader of the treasonabl
.,ov.c,a,t oo,;us a. tho ah she'd povp rnme Mt q