The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1860-12-12


lecution OF the Fugitive Slave Law. II
ought 10 be remembered. however. that for
these acts neithef npngress nor any Presi-
dent can be justly held responsible; having
been passed in violation Of the Federal Con-
stituiion. they are therefore null and void.
All the Courts, both state and National. be.
fore whom the question has arisen. have,
from the beginning. declared The Fugitive
Slave Law to be constitutional. The siugle
exception is that Of State Court in Wis
consln, and this has not only been reversed
BY the proper appellate tribunal. but has met
with such universal reprobalion that there
can be no danger from il as precedent
The validity sf this law has been established
over and over again by the Supreme Court
Of the United States with perfect unanimiiy.
II 10 founded upon an express provision o.:
the Constitution. requiring that fugitive
slaves VINO escape from service in one stste
to another shall be delivered up 70 their
masters. Without this provision. il 10 =
well known historical fact that the Cons,i-
tuition itself could never have been adopte
BY the Convention. In Que form or anoih-
or under the acts Of 1923 or 1850, both be-
ing substantially the same, the Fugliiv.
Slave Law has been the Law Cf the land
from the days Of Washington until the pres
ent moment. Here, then, . clear case Il
presenie ed in which il will be the duty Of
the next President, ss Il has been my own,
10 act with vgor in executing this supreme
law against the conflicting ensctmenis Of
state Legislatures. Shonld he fail in the
performance Of this high duty, he will then
have manifested a disregard Of the ConsiI
ton anr laws 10 the great injury Of the peo-
pie OF nearly one-hslf OF the states OF the
Union. But are we TO presume in advance
that he will thus violate his duiyt This
would bs at war with every principle Of jus
tice--of Christian chari,y. Let US wait for
the overt act.
The Fugitive Slave Law has been car
ried into execution in every contested case
since the commencement OF the present ad.
miuistration. though often, il 10 70 be regret.
ed, with great 10th and Inconvenience and
With considerable expense to the Government
Let us trust that the State Legislatures will
repeal their unconstitutional and oonoxions
enactmcnts; unless this shall be done with
out unnecessary delay il Is impossible for
any human power 70 save the Union. The
southern states, standing on the basis Of the
Constitution, have right 70 demand this
act Of Justice from the states Of the North.
Should it be refused them. the Constitution,
to which oil the states are parties, viii have
been wilfully violated by one portion o.
them. in provision essential 10 the domes-
tic security and happiness Of the remainder.
In thst event the injured states, after hav-
ing first used ali peaceful and Constitutional
means 10 obtain redress would be justified
10 revolutionary resistance to the govern
meut OF the Union.
have purposely confined my remarks to
Revolutionary resistance. because il has been
claimed within the last few years, that any
State. whence y il shall be her sovereign
will and pleasure may secede from the
Union In accordance with the Constitution,
and without any violation Of the constiiu.
tionsi rights Of the other members Of the
confederscy; that as each became parties to
the Union by the vote Of its own people o.
sembled in convention, 90 any one OF them
may retire from the Union in similar man
ner, by the vote OF such convention. In
order 10 justify secession ss constitutional
remedy, il must be on the principle that the
Federal Government 10 a voluntary associ-
alton Of States, TO be dissolved at pleasure
BY one Of the contracting parties. II this
be 80, the confederacy is rope Of sand.
and to be penetrated and dissolved by the
first adverse wave Of public opinion in any
Of the States. In this manner our thirty
three States may resolve themselves into
g many petty jarring and hostile republics,
each one retiring from the Union without
whenever any sudden excite
ment might mpel them to such course;
BY this process Union might be entirely
broken into fragments In : few weeks,
which cost our forefathers many years Of
toll, privation and blood 70 establish. Such
nrinc;nIe A. wholly inconsistent with the