Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-01-04

| years ago.
The power of this fanatical sentiment has
been recognized by politicians, and, unfortu-
nately for the country, made the basis of mart,
organizations, which, in the canvass oflast fail,
carried every non-slaveholding State in the
Union excepting New Jersey. The Constitu
tion Of the United States has been violated by
a total disregard for its provisions, which de-
clares that "no person held to service or la
Dor In one State, under the laws thereof es-
Gaping into another, shall in consequence of
any law or regulation therein, be DISCHARGED
from such service or labor; but shall be do
liyered up, on claim Of the party to whom such
service or labor shall be due The Fugitive
Slave Law designed as an instrument to be
used hy the general government to enforce
these constitutional provisions in the event of
neglect or refusal on the part of State author
tiles to obey their mandates, has been repu-
dated and nnllifed not only by lawless mobs.
but By State legislative enactments.
| VI one OF these statutes, now on the statute
book Of the State of Massachusetts,, Judge Gus
It's, who is, perhaps the ablest iurist who ever
sat upon the bench in that State, Judge Shaw.
who i also distinguished for his ability and
legal learning, and thirty-three Others. in an
appeal made by them 10 the people OF their
state, say A large and important part Of
our common country is excited and alarmed
We deceive ourselves II we suppose this ex
citement and alarm are not real, deep and gem
eral throughout fifteen States, which have
been united to us by the closest ties. which
ever did, or in the nature of human affairs ever
can cement different political communities,
| The foundations OF our government are shaken.
and unless the work of destruction shall he
stayed, we may soon see that great Union. our
honor and safety abroad and at home, broken
into weak, discordant and shattered fragments
I UttAN ~ a.s.ls ooh. Iaara II.
lection in unexampled peace and prosperity
shedding fraternal blood in civil war
AT such time it is great and solemn
duty of the people of every State to consider
well whether any part of the wrong which has
produced this condition of our affairs can lie
justly laid TO Its charge, and if any such should
be found every consideration of duty and in
terest demands that such wrong should be
promptly repaired.
"No specious fallacies, no blind resentments.
no loud determinations, no false pride should
be allowed to keep us in doing wrong which
can form even small part of the causes which
threaten a great people with ruin.
g. Our first duty is with ourselves II can he
performed only by just, candid and manly ex-
animation of our own conduct They then
say to them; "Fellow-citizens of Massachu-
sets, we are bound by these considerations
sOlemnly to declare that we believe the State
ofMassachusetts has violated our great nation
al compact by laws now on her statute boon
which are in conflict with the Constitution and
Laws OF the United Statesn
have quoted from this addesss the opinions
of its authors, to show by their own admission
that the South has just cause OF complaint
against the North, and also with the view of
impressng others with the importance of fol-
lowing the example of those by whom those
admissions are made, in their frank and manly
acknoN edgment of the wrongs, and the mani
feslations of a desire on their part to blot the
obnoxious and unconstitutional laws from their
statute books.
The same spirit which induced the enact
ment Of those laws has found affinity in some
of the characteristics of the German mind of
the great Northwest, disposed to push theories
and principles to extremes. The Puritan and
the Fationalistic infdel seem to have Joined
hearts nnd hands for the destruction of slave
ry as an institution and where they have i'm
bued the honest masses Of the northern poo-
pie with their views, the result is all the more
dangerous because, being ignorant Of the me-
gro, as race, it is almost impossible to sup
ply the knowledge except by an experience
which is altogether unattainable to them
What have adverted to, think the intel
ligence and candor OF the country will admit
to lie the true and deplorable causes of the
present difficulties which place obstacles in the
pathway of onr countrys progress. A change
of public sentiment on this distracting subject
is the sovereign remedy, and, in my humble
judgment, the only hopeful and permanent
one. Fanatcism must yield to the dictates of
reason and bow down before the altar OF our
country and an honest and sincere desire on
the part of all who value and love the Union TO
perform towards each State and every indiyid-
ual therein the full measure OF our political
and constitutional duties, must he speedilyre-
solved upon and carried out in goYd faith.
am happy to say that no statute in conflict
with the letter or spirit of the Federal Const-
ton or laws passed in pursuance thereof has
ever stained the statute book of the State of
Delaware whilst the purity and ability of her
judiciary has secured just constitutional CON
stmcton to every citizen of the Union who has
come into our courts.
The Northern States should, with a magma
nimity that will comport with such determ-
nation retire from their present untennble po-
sition, and without delay, repeal and blot for
ever from their statute books all laws which
are in conflict with the Constitution and Laws
of the nited States. tending to prevent or OBJ
struct the proper enforcement OF the Fugitive
Slave Law, and agree to settlement Of
the question of slavery in the territories
upon Il fair and constitutional basis. Then, it
is hoped, the people of the slaveholding States
would, with becoming frankness, while insist
ing upon their constitutional rights, meet their
Northern brethren in the spirit of compromise
and fraternHl brotherhood.
1t is my opinion that ere long the North will
see the error of the course which she has Of
late years pursued, and if so, then let us by all
means properly appreciate their motives and il
every way encourage the uprising of that pa
triotic sentiment in every quarter, and trust
that it may everywhere overcome the warning
elements OF false pride and fanatcal obstnacy
which would forbid the false abandonment of
n false position
Then will the dark clouds OF discomfort and
adversely which are casting sad and terrible
gloom over the country he dspelled. and the
light OF contentment and prospcrity dawn upon
us once more with all its eilulgent brightness
Then will the Union he restored To lis former
place in the public mind and in the hearts of
the now troubled and otherwise ruined mil
lions. Then the existence of extreme remedies
and resorts of doubtful legality and expedien
cy will no longer he mOoted by the rash and
nnfeeling rs mere pleasnrable excitement,
and by the grave and phianihrophc as only
timeess alternAtes For the restoration of such
peace and the preservation Of the Union is my
most ieryent prayer to the Ruler OF the lni-
verse, to whose will the destinies OF our conn
try, in this time OF peril, are subject
The President of the United States has set
apart Friday, the fourth instant, as a Day OF
Fasting and Prayer. 1t is very fit and be-
coming recommendation, and trust our peo-
! pie will respect and observe ii generally, and
not merely in cold and formal way. but in
spirit and truth, by sincerely and devoutly
praying that the Ruler of the destiuies OF ma
tons, as well as Of individuals, the Author of
all good and Dispenser of all our national and
other blessings may dispose the minds OF the
people of every section OF the country to a
righliu consideration of our difficulties and to
determine them to u faithful performance Of all
their constitutional and other duties towards
each State and Individual of the Union. TINT
the evils and terrible calamity which await us
may be ayerted in this the notwithstanding aud