Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-07-28
A Hard Dose for Old Whigs.

.
, in the Ohio State convention last week
where, among other things, "they demand
the repeal of the fugitive slave act of $50
as it is subversive Of both the rights OF
the States and the liberties of the people,
and as contrary to the plainest duties OF
humanity and justice, and abhorrent to the
moral sense Ct the civilized world" The
black republican party is composed large
ly of those who formerly acted with the
whig party, and we must acknowledge to
a curiosity to know how this new test Of
faitk will be received by SUCH Will they
acquiesce in it, or Will they rebel? As
wings they acquiesced in this very law it
was endorsed in their last platforms, and
supported by their orators and their press.
Are these very men now 10 stultify them
selves and their action of former years by
giving even tacit acquiescence in this
concession to the rampant abolitionism OF
the party with which they arc now acting ?
1t is well known that the abolitionists of
the Western Reserve demanded this action
from the State convention, and it dare not
be refused. 1t was these very abolition
lists whom 1914 defeated HENRY CLAY.
the great leader Of the wings. aud now the
wings of day are asked to give over al
most the last remnant of their conserva-
tism to please them. Will it be done?
The whole black republican paaty OF
Ohio, wings and all, are now made TO de-
mand the repeal of this law. Let us see
what was the action of the whig party in
former days. 1t their national platform
in 1852 was the following resolutions:
That the series of acts of the Thirty
first Congress-the act known as the fugi-
tive slave law included-are received and
acquiesced In by the whig party Of the
United States as settlement; in principle
and substance, of the dangerous and ex-
citing question which they embrace; and,
so far as they are concerned, we will main
tain them, and insist upon their enforce
ment, until time and experience shall dem
onstrate the necessity Of further Legislation
TO guard against the evasion of the laws on
the one hand, and the abuse Of their pow
ers on the other, not npairing their pros
ent efficiency; and We deprecae all futher
agitation of the questions thus settled as
dangerous to our peace, and will dlscon-
ntenance all efforts TO continue or renew
such agitation. whenever. wherever. or
however the attempt may be made; and we
will maintain this system rs essential to the
nationality of tie whig party and the in
tegrity Of the Union
The law was passed under . whis ad-
ministraion. signed BY whig President,
and advocated in Congress and out, by
Henry CLAf and DANIEL WEBSTER both
good whig authority in their day. 1t was
voted for BIZ as many wings as democrats.
among the former of whom were such msn
as JoHN NJ. BERLIEy. JouS BELL, GEoCE f.
BADGER, WILLIE =. MANGUM, JoHN a
PEARcE, HUMPHREy MARSHALL. EDWARD
STANLEY the late black republican candid
ate for Governor in California, and by
William H. Bissell, now Governor of Iii
nois. Daniel Webster touched the very
pith of the thing in a speech which he
made III the Senate in the summer of go,
when the bill was under discussion: 1.-The
principles of the restitution of runaway
slaves said he. "is not Objectionable, nm
less the constitution is Objectionable II
the constitution is right in tha: respect
the principle is right. and the law provid.
ing for carrying 1t into effect is right.
And again at Buffalo the next year he used
the following language:
81 was in Congress when the law was
proposed--I was for proper law--I had
indeed proposed different law was OF
opinion that summary trial by jury might
be had, which would satisfy the preiudices
of the people; but left the Senate, and
went to another station before the law was
passed. The law of 1850 was passed
Now l undertake as a lawycr ard on my
professional character, to say to you. and
to all. that tue law of 1850 is decidedly
more favorarle to the fugitive than General
Washington's law of 1898; and tell you
why: In the first place. the present law
places the power i'll much higher hands
Of independent judges ofthe Supreme Cir
cult Courts. and Commissioners who are
appointed to office for heir law learning
Every fugitive is brought before a tribunal
Of higher character, of eminent ability, Of
; respectable station.
, "Do you find among all those person;
5 who oppose this fugitive slave law any ad
: mission whatever that any law ought t.
/ be passed to carry into effect the solemn
e stipulaions of the constitution! Tell me
any such easel Tell me if any resolution
: was passed by the convention al Syracuse
e tavor'ng the carrying out of the consttu
n lion &? Not one! The fact is, gentleman
!. they oppose the whole--they oppose the
i whole-not man of them admits tha
: there ought to be any law on the subject
y They deny altogether that the provision:
d Of the constitution ought to be carried in
e to effect Well, what do they say? Lool
!; at tho proceedings Of he antislavery con
: ventions in Ohio, Massachusetts, and a
i Syracuse in the State of New .Yorl -
/ What do they say? That. so help then
= God, no colored man shall be sent back t,
t his master in Virgiuia. Don't they sa,
J.. that? And for the fulfllment of that, they
: pledge their lives. their fortunes and thei
= sacred honor. Laughter. Their sacred
e honorl Laughter They pledge thei
G sacred honor to violate the laws of their
Y country: they pledoed their sacred homo,