The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-19
APPEAL TO THE CITIZENS OF MAsSA-
CHlTSETTS.

APPEAL TO THE CITIZENS OF MAssA-
CHUSETTS.
The undersigned moved by imperative sense OF
duty address their fellow citizens OF the state Of Aass
chrstts, concerning the porentous condition Of our
We are private citizens Of different political parties,
neither holding nor desiring any public employment,
all and being mpeed by motive the love of our
country and sense of responsibility TO God for the
preservation and transmission OF the priceless blessings
Of civil liberty and public order which His Providence
has bestowed upon US Many OF ~ have heretofore held
public employmeds-and say, not in spirit II boast
ing the occasion calls 10 say IT, that
the people have We have not been uniahlu 70 Their
trusts.
Tor our honest AMI profound conyicons-for the
truth rpht--or tho sIke OF your duties and
wellarc--we ask you 70 lear
Ia, sc and important part of common country 3
excited and alarmed ". deceive ourselves II sup
pose lhis excitement aud alarm not real deep and
general throughout fifteen states which have been united
u BY the closest ties whirh did in the
Of human affairs ever con Connect different possl COM
munities
The foundations q our government arc shahen--,
may soon STE that great lnon our honor and
safety abroad and home, broken into weak, dis
oordaut ard shattered fragments, AM That pcopa, who
have dwelt under It's protection IA inpid and
| prosperity, shedding fratrrnnl blood IL evil war.
AZ such time !, i great and 20 nm duty q 10
Of the wrong, which has proauc Ills condition Of
aias can Justly he laid = y ch,ggc aud any such
should be found consideration If duty aud interest
demands that such wrong should b. promptly repaired
EXAMINATIONS flsc pride should he allowed keep
in any wrong which form even small put 81 the
causes which threaten : great people with ruin
our nfst duty j. with ourselves II Eau be performed
only " just candid and manly examination IF our
coniuct.
when We shan have done altogether right ourselves W
firmly demand all ihst ~ dne nom others, and
calmly abide whatever cons aences may cnsGe from IN
sisting "a that demand.
Fellow citizens of Massachusetts, are forced BY
these consider ations s,emhy % declare that We believe
tie state .! Massachusetts, hps violated our great
onal compact ly lvs raN on hor statute book which
IN corfic, with the constitution and Laws q tho
United states.
The i, icral government ike tn government ii esh
State extends he q lory cf each state and over
an rcrsors within 10 limits el ~ these goyernmenis
X saycleiA II supreme within ts constitutional
sphere action and entitled 70 the implicit obedience
Of the people to ts laws md 70 - iudis'al ani
executive officers appointed T. arpy and enforce
thcm. II i PLAIN that " one 81 these go
votln'nts may command rs ofcer. ana ns
eii zcns 10 AN act. the other cannot command
ih,m 70 abstain from dong u, or relrifo them -
do m,thng wheh prevent or ohs'rnets ~ execution
II l. In inevitable cossqr.ica that whom either persons
property have been taken Into the cuso " 81 the law
81 tesc governments an IL executive olees ara
required by a. laws 70 pToervc that custody th'n tno
cher govs " require s o'cess and czsns
any TO interfere herewith such Interference
woula a PLAIN departure ON ~ constitutional pow
anu laws commanding y are law commanding Civil
wni
The United states require to hc delivered up be IN
The stody of Marshal - the 'nted states, who
retain that custody, The laws u Massachusetts
| rsquiic every Judge IL supreme Court, it,
| s,rrlor, Probate or Police Court (snd any Justice
Ct tie Peace in contingenciesl 70 issue writ
G. scy to brr Tho fugitive before tribunal,
bci him 10 the control of such tribunal ani 10 reu
Fh his custody It's order. And having thus taken
tie II gtve iron the custody the law the United
SH',s the state tribunal rs 10 proceed 10 trial OF III,
matters ISSUE with and principles Of US OVID,
when Is believed have been applied h. any cte'
case which wholly Inconsistent with the laws Of hs
United states, and open defiance u their author
~ md ~ IL the execution a these laws could
be lcft the ordinary ins'rumentatc-, deemed SUN
CO. for The potec'on o 'hc lives persons ana propy
Inevitable and perious contest SPECIAL Commissioners
required TO be appointed IN each county ~ the som
msrwealih. and the treasury n the Commonwealth ~
subjected their unlimited control for the purpose q
pyokng The conflict and pressing onward TO lie nnai
eC the laws ALREADY referred to- there are other
rrovis'ns which maucstly designed 70 surround tho
perfo ~ our constitutional duty Of surrenderng
frqityes rem with erch obstacles muet pre-
~ performance, even though by so doing our own
"a bile peace should he LETT at the mercy OF hwiess
We hold to be plain that has not the constitu
tIo al rover subject and ignominious pur
hrncn persons who, by mistake Of facts, or misapyre
hcDskn of law, ana without any corrupt or wicked In
| tent mako claim under the laws and before tho
! anihorncs Of the Tinted states. n such q
/ power existed, every law ~ the United states
NJ b. rendered imperative by state legislation. For
wi Mould Dc mand any right under law o. the Unitet
states the penalty 81 innocent failure 70 prove his
bmd subject him TO lnc oG thousand dollars and
imYaiso msnt Ia the s:ate prison for Ave years Yet
| sLch " 81 the Laws nov on our statute book
1ie volunteer militia prohibited from acting IN
any manner IN the rendition o. pIsn sdiudged -
Dc & gi'ive from service. The vonnseef militia -
ctrs AMI towns can rely 70 quell organised and
eanrcfo. rio's livery one 4 its members y mem
nee a. The espsnse and Under me authority % ths
W., ,is law Scc,es Tia, ,Ss arms q the TINTED ssssss
In the HAMS ~ citizens the United States, VII,
" sn, 70 icers d The law o. the United ssAies
em rwls violence N ir ,reeis q city, whose peace
| The Commonwealth l. bound g. preserve
below ctizens. consistent with tho duty
to common country 20 our state and TO ourselves,
tLat such laws should be parlni',ed longer 20 exi.,y
Ew.W Ia - agNA fNIH IA. same xh Uye
scit j. an oIqnrtune momont 70 abrcgae them =
sni'-we stnt thee 1aws IRE wrong ou, VII you re-
/ pcHi hem a hr.er We answer We vo.ld do
itthGH under threat W. would reI-al them Under
ovc 81 rg under our own aenoe q the -scrciness
I imroftarce IL sos al order and domestic peace;
unosr feeling % responsibility - tho me-.
cbnafeu. and unaer any threat. We vhul not bs
pr,yshtfd ftm rfp them hy any conduct q others IL
/ 81 fAht he Who refuses 10 10 aright thing merely
\ hccal-e H. s threatened with evil consequences,
\ acis Ia sutJ@tlrn 10 the threat he u cnntrl-
4 led ~ 4. ~ faise pride may enable Tim 20
disregard tie threat, bu, b. hicks courage "a d~pss
! the wttrg estimate - his conduct, which con
dot he knows would spring only from hs love of duty.
" every rifht minded mlst edmi, tha, b. ought 10
applicable o. the CONDUCT q great nnd poovcus satr
On what ground u be maintained that hundreds %
| tho.fauds q mroccnt eitizons are y ~ san.
/ Fc.ca to sunerhe, because The false pride ..
lhcir rulers reitre % - right, Mankind
have been sntctcd iotg enough and e,egcr.ly
enough by ceinmotons and sff.s and wafs bringing
ftn srch ca, See W hal bocd that The nature q onr
goNcI would protect - from sWeilng we great
A. m al ~ man lsery produced ~ the evil passions &C
ruics We bad hoped tut lnasinuoh ~ the ms-see of
lie u ope can have interest but 10 do right, they
woul have TIE decort nent - perceive and the man
mes il 10 w. and voui ~ TOO calm too wise, too
nmo,s INTENTIONAL. 70 rcfsevcfe IN any wrong, and
| hope 10 slHL
| HI vha l. meant BY the eyhoration not ~ rcpeai
| hosc laws under thfeat Who threatens " n they
l Louh not b. repealed
whatever may have been true In Tho past. what.
ever auis ~ speech and action may have been
mlited the side the other nriny be-
lsNc that the from whom the cohs.qucncce
10 cur country and ourpevss likely 10 proceed,
have wish thai these laws should be repealed and
disposition 70 any threats reference 20 theu1.
On lie contrary, they desire 10 have them stand -
oxa of