Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-01-25
RrPua1oE rHE coMMIrTEE OF IaIRN-INRE:

sentatives has come 10 hanu, III Is from
the pen Of Mr.. Corwin. After enumer-
ating the matters in the Presidents mes
sage referred to them, it notices first the
RIGHTEOUSNESS of the press, and on this
point recommends the states to pass such
laws as will prevent the evil assuming a
formidable aspect, maintaining notwiih-
standing, the freedom Of the press.
The personal liberty bills enacted BY
some of the'free states are next consId-
cred. The Committee remark
"With whatever intent or design such
laws may have been enacted, in any state,
they cannot be regarded as having had
any effect in preventing or obstruetins
the recapture Of fugitiyes from labor.
The laws Of the United States for the
recovery Of fugitive slaves are executed
exclusively by United States Courts and
Commissioners appoin,cd by them. As
a necessary consequence, !, follows that
any state law which offers any obstacle
t. the fell aad perfect execution Of The
laws Of tho United States, would be void
aud OF no effect whatever, ead would be
so declared by the United States Courts
and Commissioners. Such laws, if any
there be, are Therefore incompetent to
do nny mischief whatever to any one
concerned in the recapturs Of fugitive
slave. and at most c. be considered on
" as an exhibition Of opposition 70 a law
which sorae of the states regarded as
containing provisions dangerous to the
rights of free persons residing within
their limits While, therefore tie com
mttce have not been able 10 perceive
th.. the state laws complained Of can re-
ally affect the rights OF interests Of South
ern people or States, yc, from an anxious
desire to coaciliotg he feelings ~ wei
a. protect tie interests OF cur iel,a~ cit
izens Of the Suu.h, the eonmi.tvo have
respectfully requested ali non sIaveh5'd-
ing states carefully to revise their leeis-
latve acts, snl repeal All lave which
COME in eonf,ct wi.h ths constitution o!
tho United States, or with th. AVS en-
acted by Congress for the recstpura Of
fugi,iyes from labor, and have submitted
resolution to that effect for adoption
by the House
The Committee deem 1t necessary 70
revise the &C; Of 1850 for the reclsma-
tion of fugitiyes from labor, They re
mark in connection
at should be horne in mind, that the
objections urged by the Northern people
are not to a law for tho recovery Of fu-
gi,ives who really owe labor bat they are
founded in the belief that the presnt law
may and does permit the seizure Of per-
sons who are free, and subjects them to
servituIe contrary to both law and right
The Committee believe it 20 be UNJUST to
the free states, to assert that any cousid-
cradle number Of persons in those States
are opposed to the reclamation Of per
sons who, by The laws Of any State, o"e
labor or service 10 another. l. any such
class exists, il is that known as Aboh-
tionists. This class asserts lis opposition
to the constitution because it does author
ize the pursuit and recaptute Of fugitive
slaves. Ia whatever light the persons
composing this class may be regarded
it is certain their numbers, compared
with the entire voting population Of the
free states, that no danger can result to
the constitutional rights Of any portion
of the Union from their peculiar opin-
ions. or their modes of commencing them
to the general public. It is certainly
true that this class does not act with
any of the political parties Of day, and
that its Chief leaders and most talented
orators are most strenuously opposed to
the Republican party in the late Fresi-
dental contest and denounced it and lis
doctrines IL bitter and unsparing terms.
The great mistake which Ia now urging
on the public mind to the widest excess
es, consists in confoundiug the class Of
men known by the name Of Abolitionists
with the great mass of the Republican
rarty North and West. Similar to this
and growing mainly out Of it, is belief
which seems to have obtained very gen
orally in the South that the people Of the
nonslaveholding states, having succeeded
in electing a President, entertain Sc
cret design to accumulate political power
in both branches of Congress, until,
through Congressional action, it will
abolish slavery in the states where it may
then exist"
The principle of the Republican parry
upon the John Brown raid, as enunciat-
ed in the Chicago platform, are given,
with the following remarks:
I N.Ea