Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-12-25

arise from disaffected States. Acting on this
principle, and not inquiring into the right or
lust ice of alleged grievances, the majority of
the co mmiltee have adopted several PROPOSE
tions from which we are obliged 10 dissent.
1t is understood that the design of these vari-
Gus propositions is to restore harmony and
concord between the two sections of the
country. win they 90 it2 We say no. for
the reason that they do nor, in our Judgment.
touch any real ground of complaint. Their
adoption will not appease the south. while it
will only incense the north. The successful
party in the last election did not elect their
candidates to have their principles sacrificed.
The first of these measures, from which we
are compelled to dissent, is embraced in the
following resolution
atves, That the several Statesbe respectfully request.
cd to their statutes to be revised with view
ascertain if any of them in conflict with or tend
to embarass hinder the execution OF the laws of the
United States made in pursuance Of the second section
of the fourth article of the Constitution the United
States for the delivery up OF persons held to labor
the laws of any State and escaping therefrom and
the Senate and House of Representatives earnestly
quest that all enactments having such tendency be
forthwith repealed required by just of con-
stitutiona obligations and by due regard for the
peace the republic and the President of the United
ates is requested to communicate these resolutions
to the governors of the severu states, with request
that they will lay the same before the legislatures
thereof respectively.
The presumption is, that each and every
State knows what IS due TO herself and her
own citizens as well as what is due to her sis
ter States, and that they will make their leg
islation conform to what is right, Just aud
proper. without any entside interference.
If any of the States have passed unconsti-
tutional laws, the Constitution has provided
a tribunal by which that fact is to be deter
lot fr;k % L. ~
of the United States If any demonstrations
al laws have been passed, when that fact shall
be determined in the proper way, they will
no doubt be promptly repealed. or amended
so as to conform to the Constitution. The
courts of the north are always open, and his
tory records no instance where the constitu-
tionalitv of any law in northern State was
sought to be tested, that it was prevented by
an armed mob. Had it been otherwise, there
would be some excuse for the present inter-
ference of Congress and here we deem it
not impertinent to inquire OF gentlemen, and
particularly of northern gentlemen, who are
now so anxious to conTey their advice to SOW
ereign States, how it is that they have so long
DELAYED an expression of opinion, and with
held their advice in regard TO well known un-
constitutional laws, long in existence, which
deprive the citizens of some of the non thern
States of the confederacy of the lights and
immunities of the citizens of the several
States" This last class of laws are practi-
cally oppressive ; the former have never in
single instance been the means of depriving
a southern man of a single right. The reso-
luton goes further than to request the repeal
OF all unconstitutional laws. but also asks
them to repeal all such as delay" the opera
ton of the fugitive slave laws. States are
Justly sensitive in regard TO their reserved
rights, and look with just Concern upon all
attempts to usurp them on the part of the
general government. Concede the point that
Congress has the right TO advise or indicate
the character of their legislation. or pronounce
even indirectly, upon the constitutionalfv of
their laws, will only lead to additional usur-
patiOns We prefer to meet all such attempts
oe the part of the central government at the
threshold While we wouln not recommend
to any State TO pass or maintain uacCnstitu-
tional laws upon any subject we are willing
to leave all such questions to the sense of JUS
tice of each State to determine and when
the present excitement shall have passed away
and the public mind, especially at the south,
shall become more calm and reasonable, if any
northern State, being appealed to in the spir-
It of kindness and Cancellation TO revise any
laws that NAV be deemed unconstitutional
and which bear uni Justly upon any of her sis
ter States, we have no doubt such appeal
would be effective.
Some of these personal liberty laws were
passed nearly twenty years ago, and before
the passage of the present fugitive slave law.
Their object and design was the prevention
of the crime Of kidnapping Their eonstitu-
tioualitv in few of the States has been dis
d.. ted by men of equal legal ability. The
clamor now against them is a mele excuse for
long meditated treason. The rights of no
man have ever been prcudiced by them
If such laws are wrong now. they We're so
when they were enacted. They have been
amply discussed and considered heretofore by
the States in which they have been passed.
both before and since their enactment. If
wrong or unconstitutional they never should
have been enacted, or. having been enacted,
should be repealed. This proposition is too
plain to require us to communicate it to
State. While the country was at peace, and
the public mind in condition to fairly and
Justly consider such laws, the States that have
passed them have considered them right, just
and proper. Shall they now be required, while
a portion of the country is in arms, and
threatening dissolution and civil war, to re-
view their legislation Is this the time when
they can fairly review it Would their re-
peal pacify the indictments 7 Would it not
rather be Justly regarded as an acknwledg-
ment of a disposition to do injustice hereto
fore which nothing but an open rel elton
could induce them to rectify 1t will be in
vain Tor the States to say that they repeal
these laws because they are wrong. and not
because they are threatened with evil conse
quences should they fail to do so. While up
on this subject we desire to notice another
and kindred proposition of the committee
which is embodied in the following resolu-
ton:
"RRsoLvEp. That each State be requested to revise
its statutes and If necessary to amend the
to secure without legislation by Congress- to citizens
of other States travelling therein the protection
as citizens of such State enjoy and also to protect
the citizens of other States travelling sojourning
punishment without trial in due form OF law, for i'm
puted crimes"
1t Will readily be seen that the objection
which we have before interposed TO the reso-
luton in regard to personal liberty bills will
amply to this resolution. We will do no
southern State the injustice TO suppose that
they have not now laws to protect rec 'gnised
citizens of the north who travel or soiourn
among them. The outrages that have been
perpetrated on northern men do not result
from the want of proper laws on their statute
books, but from the public sentiment of those
States.
But not to dwell longer ON this subject. we
pass to consider the proposed amendment to
the Constitution. The substance of it is EN-
BODIED in the following resolution adopted by
the committee
"REsoLvED, That it is expedient to propose an
amendment TO the Constitution of the United States,
providing that amendment having ori its object any
Interference within the States with the relation be-
tween their citizens and those described in the section
dnffIt GrSfa fatl