Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-02-09

make their law-books serve like musical
instruments; they can make them perform
various tunes at various times. shall,
therefore, take the liberty of reading an
extract from the case already so much
referred to--that of Prigg vs. the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania l read from
the decision of Chief Justice Story, at
page 622;
GAS to the authority so conferred upon
State magistrates, while difference of
opinion has existed, and may still exist on
the point, in the different States, whether
State magistrates are bound TO act under
it, none is entertained by this court, that
State magistrates may, if they choose,
exercise that authority unless prohibited
by State legislation"
In the very face of this decision, we
have enacted law prohibiting our magis.
trates from taking jurisdiction of the case
of a fugitive slave. Is this carrying out
our constitutional obligations? Our con-
stitutional duty has been declared by the
highest authority. If this House should
pass an enactment declaring q law con-
sttutional or unconstitutional, that would
not decide the point. But is not the
meaning of the Constitution plain on its
face! The Constitution says that fugi-
tive slaves "shall be delivered up" Does
not that give the owner right to re-
capture his slave! Is language to have
any meaning! But the law of Pennsyl-
vania says the State Judge shall not act ;
the State officers shall not act; they shall
not deliver up to the master a runaway
slave. Here is our enactment in direct
contradiction of the words of the Constitu-
ton. Under the laws of Pennsylvania
the master cannot exercise his constitution.
al right he dare not do it.
On the law question before US, we have
had offered to us some English authori-
ties. l do not care much about them
very little indeed Such authorities are
sometimes like spent thunderbolts things
that may be laughed at In other cases
such authority may be very good law
When the repeal Of these sections has
been recommended by our late Governor
when it has been recommended in the
Inaugural Of our present Governor-when
We have had hundreds of petitions de-
manding this repeal-when We have, too
not single petition presented demanding
that these enactments shall remain-why
should we hesitate to the propriety of re-
moving from our statute books these OBJ
jectionablc provisions! What can prompt
their retention but spirit of hostility tc
the South.
The gentleman from Schuylkill, CIR
Bartholomew, has declared that Penn
sylvania is not in favor of re-capturin;
slaves. I cannot agree with that gentle
man. Is it to be said that Pcnnsylvani,
is not in favor of fulfilling her sworn obli-
cations to the Constitution l-Pennsyl ylvani;
not in favor of discharging her duty =
L cannot agree with the gentleman sucl
an idea is a total misconception.
l regret that the gentleman hurls th,
whole blame of our present difficulties up
on us few unfortunate Democrats | can
not agree with the gentleman. Does 1t
not remember to have heard through tn,
newspapers of the day-ncwspaper of hi
own country does he not remember t,
have heard before the election that ''sla
very and polygamy are twin relics of bar
barism y Where did that sentiment EN-
anaie Did not the Chicago Convention
nominate the very man who had declared
that this Union, as it has existed from tn
time of our fathers, cannot staud-that i
must be al free States or all slave States
/. Who was it that made motion that tn
word National should be stricken from
your platform! Does not the ge ntlema,
remember that incident of the Chicago con
yention.
Mr.. PATTERSON. Will the gentle
man from Luzerne allow inc to ask him
/ question!
Mr.. BYRNE. Yes, sir,
i Mr.. PATTERSON. I should like t
ask the gentlemen whether Mr.. Lincoll
, did say that this Union cannot be main
J tained
Mr., BYRNE. Yes, cir; he said so i
} Illinoise in 1858.
Mr.. PATTERSON. Can the gentle
man produce the authority?
, Mr.. BYRNE. l think / can; | hay
not it here at present; but l think l can
l presume the fact is patent to every gen
tieman who has read the newspapers, an,
l am astonished that my friend shoul
ask me such question. 1 did not suppos
| there was politician in the land who wa
Il II