The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-10-07
From the DetroitsFree Press, June lOI
A Hard Dose for Old
WhigS.

L he OlaCk republicans nave at last taken
open ground against the fugitiVe-slaye law, and
as party, demand either It's repeal or its nulli-
! flcation. This ground was taken IN the Chic
5 State convention last week, where among other
! things, "they demand the repeal of the fugitive
slave act of 1880, as 1t is Subverslve Of both he
rights Of the States and the Iiber. les of the peo-
pie, and contrary to the pIa nest duties of hui
mantty and Justice, and abhorent 10 the moral
sense ofthe civilized world.' The black-re-
/ publican party IS composed largely OF those who
/ formerly acted with the wbig party, and We
must aCknow ledge TO u curiosity TO know how
this new test of faith will be received bv such.
Will they acqu;esce in it, or will they rebel ?
As wings they acquiesced in this very law il
was endorsed IN their platform, and supported
by their orators and their press. Are these
( very men now to stultIty themselves and their
action Of former years by giving even tacit
/ acquieScenCe in this concession 10 the rampant
a5olltionlsm Of the party with which they are
now acting 1t is we'll known that the abolition
lists Of the Western Reserve demanded this ac-
ton from The State convention, and il dare not
be refused. Il was these very aooitionists who
in 1844 defeated Henry Clay, the great leader
Of the wings, and now the wings, OF to-day are
asked TO give over almost the last remnant of
their conservatism to please them. Will it be
done
The whole blaCk-rePubiican party Of Ohio
wings and all, are now made 10 demand the re-
peal Oithis law. Let US see what was the ac-
ton Of the whig party in former days. In
their national platform in 1882 was the follow
ing resolution:
"That the series of acts of the Thi-ty-frst
CongresS-THE ACT KNOWN AS THE FUGlTIvE
SLAVE LAW INCLCDED-are received and ac-
quieSced in by the whig party of the Unsted
States as settlement, in principle and sub
stance, OF the dangerous and exciting questions
which they embrace and, so far as they are
concerned, we will maiHfqia them, and insist
upon their enforcement until time and expert
enc shall demonstrate the necessity OF further
legislation TO guard against the evasion ofthe laws
on the one hand, and the abuse of their pow
arc an the other, not imp1iriHg their present
eWciency and we depTecatp ali further agita-
ton OF the questions thus settled as dangerous
to our peace, and will discountenance all efforts
TO continue or renew such agitation, aCieneUsr,
achereUcr or h01oeUsr tie attempt NAY be made
and will maintain this system as essential 10 the
nationality Of the whig party and the integrity
OF the Union"
The law was passed under a whig Admins
tratlon, signed by whig President, and adyoca-
ted: in Congress and out, by Henry Clay
and Daniel We5ster-bolh good whig authority
Ia their day. 1t was voted for by as many
wings as Democrats. among the former OF whom
were such men as John NJ. Berrien, John Bell
George f. Badger Willie p AIangum. John
A. Pearce, Humphrey Marshall, Edward STAN
ley, the late Back-RepubIjcan candidate for
governor in California, and by Wm. H. BisselI, !
now governor OF Illinois DAME Webster touch
ed the very pIth of,he thing in a speech which |
he made m the Senate IN the sa9isner Of 1860, |
when the bill was under discussion s.The
principle of the restitution OF runaway slaves
said he, ''ls not Objectionable, unless the Con-
sttutioa is Objectionable. If the Constitution
is right in that respect the principle Is right,
end the iaU Proriaing for carrying it into effect .
as right" And again at Buffalo the next year,
he Used the following language;
Il was ln Congress when the law was pro-
posed. was for proper law | had indeed
proposed different law. | was of opinion that
a summary trial by jury might be had, which
would satisfy the prejudJces of the people but
| LETT the Senate, and went to another station,
b@iore the law was paSsed.-The law of 1850 !
w@s passed. Now [ undertake as LAWYER.
and on my professional character TO say 10 vou,
and to all, that the law of 1890 is decidedly
more favorable to the fugitive than Gen. Wash
lngton's law of 1893, and tell you why: In
the first place, the present law places the power
IN much higher hands-of independent Judges
OF the supreme, circuit courts and district
courts. and commissioners who are appointed 10
office for their law learning. Every fugitive
is brought before tribunal OF high character,
Of eminent ability, of respectable station.
'Do you find among all those persons who
oppose this fugitive slave law any admission
whatever that any law ought to be passed 10
carry into effect the solemn stlpulalions OF the
Constitution! Tell me any such case Tell
me If any resolution was passed by the con-
ventlon at Syracuse tavoring the carrying out
OF the Constitution 2 Not one! The fact is,
gentlemen, they oppose the whoIe-uot man
of them admits that there ought to be any law
on the subject. They deny altogether that the
provisions of the Constitution ought to be carr- |
ed into effect. Well, what do they say. Look {
at the proceedings of the anti-slavery conven-
tons in Ohio, Massachusetts, and at Syracuse,
in the State of New York. What do they sayl
That, SO help them God, no colored man shall b
be sent back 10 his master in Virginia. Dent
they say that And FOR the fuifment OF that
they pledged their lives, fortunes, and their sa-
AIRED honor. Laughterl Their sacred honor a
Laughter they pledged their sacred honor
TO violate the laws of their country; they
pledged their sacred honor 10 commit treason t
against the laws OF their country God bless .
them and help them who pledged their sacred I
honor in such a cause % i
Such was the action and such were the sem
tlments OF the wing party, seven, eight and nine
wears ago. THIS action and these sentiments J
were universally received by all the wings of
those days. Since that time the whig party