The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-12-24

niIeu ieaueT Wlillam II. oeWarusJ OI
fG party had. in the most studied and
celebrated speech he evermade, quoted the
provision Of the Federal Constitution re-
qulring the surrender Of fugitive slaves,
with these remarks: This is from the
Constitution Of the United States in 1887,
aud the parties were the Republican States
Of this Union. The law Of nations disavo,Os
such comlpacis; the law of nature written
on the hearts ard consciences OF freemen
repudiates them. Armed power could not
eRforce them, because there is no public
conscience to sustain them" This was MT
the singular and unshared opinion Of the
distinguished Republican leader. All the
radical organs applauded il to the echo.
The seed was sown 10 q congeniaI soil. Il
prndured plentiful crop Of Legislative acts
deiying the Constitution.
Almost every State having Republican
Legislature passed what was known in abo-
liton parlance as "personal liberty bill"
that is, an act having for its sole purpose
the clrcumsention aad nullification of that
part Of the Federal compact which requires
the surrender Of fugitises from labor.
These acts were defended by their cham
pions on State rights grounds. Mr.. Sum
msr complained in the Senate that more
than one Sovereign State has been sun.
moaed to Judgment" He referred in the
same speech To the solemn judgment"
that notifying the Fugitive Slave act
" cf the Supreme Court of Wisconsin,
sovereign State Of this Union" Il will be
seen how completely he had adopted the
peculiar dialect Of the Southern Secession.
lists. But he went further than to use
their jargon he embraced their principles.
" For myself" he said. I" | look with no
pleasure on any possibility of conflict be-
tween. State aud national jurisdictions but
trust that il the Interests of freedom so
require. the States will not hesitate" By
which he meant that il was the duty of the
States 10 stand by their so-called personal
liberty bills, and resist the surrender of
fugitive slaves by force, even at the peril Of
great civil war. He cooly denied that
the Federal Government had anything to
DO with enforcing that clause of the Con-
stitotion, saying that il desolyed on the
States. and at the same time he declared
tina, as a member Of a State Legislature he
would oppose any regulation for that pur-
pose. We copy The following colloquy be.
tween Mr. Sumner (in 1855 aud South
ern Senator.
Mr.. Summer.-rhe Senator asks me q
question, and answer frankly. that no
temptation. no inducement, would draw
me in any way to sanction the return Of
any man TO slavery. But then | leave to
others 10 speak for themselves. In this
respect. speak for myself.
Mr.. Builer.-I do not rise now at all 10
question the right Of the gentleman from
Massachusetts TO hold his seat, under the
ALLEGATION Of the Constitution Of the United
States. with the opinions which he has ex.
pressed; but, il understand him. he means
that, whether this law, or that law, or any
other law prevails, he disregards the obi.
CATIONS Of the Constitution Of the United
States.
Mr. Sumner.-N0t a, all. That never
said. | recognize the obligations Of the
Constitution.
MIR. Butler.-But, sir. | will ask that
gentleman one question: u u deyolved up.
on him as a representative Of Massachu-
setts, all Federal laws being put out OF the
way. would be recommend any law for the
delivery ola fugitive slave under the Con-
slituiiun Of the United states:
MIR. Snmner.-Ne,er.
Mr. Butler.--l knew that. Now sir, !
have got exactly what is the truth, and
what | intend shall 20 forth 10 the Southern
States.
When the two most distinguished leaders
Of the Republican party thus openly repu-
dated one of the stipuIatcns Of the Fede.
raj compact. when nearly all the State
Legislatures passed laws in open contra.
sention Of il, when the Republican judges
Of State Supreme Court had undertaken
to nullify il in the face Of decisions Of the