Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-11-30
STANDARDS.

"A higher law."-iSeward, on Constitution.
"Gliuering generalitie - Hammond. on
Declaration Of Independence and Constitution.
The recognition and support which the
Constitution makes for the institution Of
slavery has confused and demoralizcd our
statesmen for long time. When the
South challenged the North to live mp to
these Constitutional pledges, in favor Of
the domestic institution the North ap-
pealed from the Constitution to the law
which makes all men free and equal at
birth Senator Seward cn He'd this higher
law. based by our fathers ON self.evidont
truths. Gov. Hammond, in behalf Of the
South, said that there was no law higher
than the Constitution Of the United States,
which endorsed and provided for the insti-
tuition of slavery; that what the fathers
of the Republic had said about the equal
ly and freedom I al men by birth, either
in the Declaration of Independence, or in
the articles of Confederation, or the pream-
bic to the Constitution, were glitteriug
generalties and contrary to the experience
aud observations of mankind. Daniel
Webster born in the old "Granite State"
near the base of the White Mountains,
from whose summit Mt. Washington stands
calm and unmoved amid storms and tor
nndoes-as an exponant OF standard laws,
having caught the spirit OF John Adams,
John Hancock and Patrick Henry, poured
out his sentiments in strains of eloquence
which seemed to recall the veterans
who had fought for freedom in former
generations, and kindled anew the spirit of
liberty in the hearts of the people all over
the North, from Bunker Hill to the shores
of the Golden State. As the people unused,
the fire burned and they resolved that
the negro should be free in spite of the
South. So men, women and children, and
Quakers, were oil busy removing negroes
20 Canada on the underground railroad.
Every hour seemed giving easy birth to
VIM. Lloyd Garrisons. The South could
not endure both the vision and the sacri-
flee. So when Congress met, Mr.. Clay
said: "Mr. Webster, | understand that
your constituents are stealing niggers con-
trary to an express article in the Constitu.
ton" "Ahw says Mr.. Webster "please
point it out to me-" Says Clay "Here it
is. Please read No. 3, Sec. IL, Art. A." 1t
reads rs follows: "No person held to SER
vice or labor in one Stale, under the laws
thereof, escaping into another State, shall,
i'll consequence Of any law or regulation
therein, be discharged from such service or
labor; but shall be delivered up, on claim
of the party to whom such services or labor
may be due" Webster replied "True,
true; something must be done" Clay
Yes; our people wont stand it. Congress
must pass n Fugitive Slave Law" Web
ster-"I do not zee the need of that. The
Constitution is clear and strong enough
Clay-"Yes, hut the AbSlitionists have
made such an onslaught, we need some
thing to check them. Will Won vote for
law binding your people to aid in catching
and returning, and forbiding them to feed
or harbor a fugitive slave on the penalty
of fines and imprisonment" ?" Webster
"My oath to abide by the Constitution
would compel me to sign something like
that" Clay-"Vcry well we'll have the
law"
When Congress passed that nbominable
Fugitive Slave Law, Daniel Webster, in
his place in the Senate, said AYE" Only
n monosyIlable. But that little word killed
the great statesman. He was bamboozIed
and caught by the neshes OF slavery inter-
woven in the Constitution of the United
States. He went home to Marshfield and
died. The South hated him bitterly for
his Bunker Hill and Fanuel Hall speeches.
The North kicked him because lie was
true, MS he thought, to his oath and the
Constitution. Whereas the people ought
to have praised the great Daniel for trying
to do his duty by endeavoring to stick TO
his oath, contrary TO his convictions so oft
repeated and eloqdently expressed, and,
with one determined move and one united
voice, kicked Art 4, See. 1, No. 3, and all
others referring to slavery, out OF the Con-
slitution, once and for ever. That action
would have saved Chief Justice fancy the
disreputable saying, in his official utter
ances, that the Constitution was for white
men, and the eOlored have no rights which
the whites are bound to respect. That
simple, brave and Just action, so pleasing
in the sight OF heaven and earth, of remov-
ing at once and for ever the stain OF
slav verv from the Constitution, as u standard
law, would have saved us from the polit-
ical disgraces that have followed so hard
on the heels of rebellion and rescued, later
officials in high places from giving out
utterances which bleach the faces and fll
the hearts of good men with dismay. Let
the Constitution be speedily corrected and
revised, before other good men stumble and
fall over it. Aye, aye; let slavery die,
and its offal be washed away.
Pro PATRIA.