The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-05-08

ara direct, an open, 8 pa pable infringement
of the rights of northern psa; and yet our
Democratic Administration, whilst it clamorS
so loudly and persistently about tho rights Of
American citizens in Mexico or some other
feeble Republic, whose territory it covets, has
not n word 10 utter in vindicatlon' OF the con-
stitutional prerogatves Of the citizen on his
own SOIL
Every attempt which has been made to
test tho constitutionality Of these laws has
been resisted by force. The Constitution
prescrbes an arbiter, n tribunal, where tho
citizen may assert his rights as against tho
legislation of another State; and the Legisla-
turo of Massachusetts sent two OF her most
worthy citizens to Charleston, to test in the
courts the validity of the:o laws. But these
mon only set at defiance the pllinest provis.
ions of the Federal compact, but they refused
them the privilege of bringing suit, even in
South Carolina court. The men who went
there from Massachusetts, on a peaceful,
legitimate errand, were compelled, through
fear of personal violence, TO abandon their
mission and leave the State; and the men
who constitute the life, the essence; the per-
fection of modern Democracy, boldly ayow
u the fact that this clause of the Constitution is
n dead letter, and that decisions of courts are
! nothing TO them. 70
AS an evidence of this fact, call attention
to the language whelra7 Democratic Senator
from South Carolina used during this session,
when commenting upon this incident in the
history of his State. lie said:
'The stats found II necessary for 'clfprotection
to PASS these police rte uatons to prevent those
hn. hns ruS
ing tire hostility by the transmission at their ennis
safies through the pretPnded rights Of citizens under
the Constitution. IheStete eltit due to herself to
herown safety, TO consider, atli so was authorized
Is cunsr that this was but another mode to bring
thatqes,ion beJe tire Supreme Court 'ohers zoe d,d
not kHsr hor /. ESna b. dsaiasi nor did "e care we
knew the right to pass. such laws was inherent IN
= the Sovereignty of the Stat9 and did not intend
20 submit IL 10 any trBaaak. e"r-.f.H-r
The State of Virginia has enacted a law
(which places the coasting vessel which seeks
the refuge Of her harbors under the surveil-
\ lance of her police, and compels the vessel
itself to pay the expense aud endure the delay
of AN examination. And when this law is
4 complained of as unfair, unjust, aud unconsti
ID tutioal, Senator Mason replies:
'I ian police law of the State; md whether the
State has right to pass it or not is matter which
the Ssqts uiH des1miss for itseI and by ITSELF
: Nor is tho provision which | have quoted
. the ouly portion of our Constitution which this
slave Democracy trampes under foot. We
have sacred guarantees in that instrument in
/. behalfof free speech, free thought, and a free
pross, and ye, to-day Democratic postmasters
rifle mails and violate the sanctty of private
= correspondence. To-day a system Of espon
age prevails which would disgrace the despo-
.ism and darkness Of the middle ages. The
Newspaper which refuses to recount the bless.
nes and sing the praises of slavery is commit
ted to the flames. The press that refuses 20
Willy the memory of tie fathers is taken By a
r ruthless mob ard engu,fed beneath the wa
; ,ters.i The PERSONAL safety Of the traveller de-
, rends not on bis deeds, but upon his opinions.
, And these ontrages are daily committed un-
!. dor the rule of the Democracy, because that
party has taken under its guardian care an
= institution which can onlg exist and prosper
: at the sacrifice and expense of the constitu
tional rights of tue citizen. Where slavery
is thcro can -bc no free speech, no free thought,
no free press, 10 regard for constitutions, no
y Difference to courts.
, And, Mr. Chairman, as further indication
: of utter disregard for constitutional right, lock
:. vt the infamous enactment which the Democ-
racy have placed upon the statute book, in The
I shape of II fugitive slave law. That law not
only makes charity crime and hospitality a
, felony, but it strikes down the very safeguards
of personal liberty. 1t creates judicial officers
in express defiance of tho Constitution. 1t
! offers them bribeS to decide against tho poor
and the forsaken. It Is q usurpallon of legis-
lation never conceded to the Federal Govern
/ ment, because the surrender Of fugtives from
service was an obligation imposed upon the
States. 1t denies the writ of hoJeds corpus
and the right of trial by jury-boons which
: were wrung from the hands of despotism by
the blood of thousands and tho suierings Of
centuries. As citizen of Michigan, glory
! in the fact that my State has, by counter leg
isation, vindcated tho sovereignty Of the
State, and protected the personal liberty of
/, the citizen. Whilst the Democracy degrades
itself to the bidding of the slave power, the
] Republican party rises to due appreciation
of its mission, as the conservator Of right and
the defender of constitutional guarantees.
And, to pass along hastily to tho next
{ proposition, | shall convict this counterfeit
Democracy Of dis.oyalty 70 the Union of these
t States by evidence which no man vii, attempt
to inpeach, for it comes from their own lips.
: While the Republican party clings with un-
swerving fidelity to the Union and the Con-
/ stitution, the Democracy is as dsloyal to the
one as it is faithless to the other. This Hall
. yet echoes with the menaces of dsunion which
the accepted leaders of the Democracy thun-
dercd iu the ears Of their colleagues and con-
stituents. The word has gone forth that this
= Government cannot be Government Of a
, majority, expressing its will under the forms
, and requirements Of the Constitution. We
are told that when this Government is admin
isteIed in accordance with the policy Of its
/ founders, TO establish justice" promote @ the
general welfare, and secure the blessings OF
f HJerty,' that then the parricidal arm OF dis
union Democracy will rend it in twain. You
1 and |, Mr. Chairman heard the gentleman
from Georgia, Mr.. CRAwFonpl declare:
" Now, in regard TO the election of Black Repub-
lican President, have this To say, and speak the
n sentiment of every Democrat this floor ifom the
State of Georgian will never submit to the inaugu.
, , ration of a Black Republican President. Applause
from the Democatc benches and misses from the Re-
r. pubcansl repeat 1t, strand have authority TO
say so-that no DemOcratc Representative from
Georgia this floor Ill ever submit the inuugura-
r. hl.aI IL Ill....