Year: 1861

That Crisis IN the government IS ap-
preaching, if not already upon us, is hard
to be denied. The excitement prevalent
there by prominent men acting in unison
it would seem with the masses, indicate a
determination to force the Union of States
to the last extremity. Viewing the stand
taken by the secessionists as an earnest of
what they mean to do, and looking to the
benefits and giories of tie present Repub-
lie as well as the evils necessarily to follow
dissolution of the Union, the question
comes home to the heart and conscience of
every patriot What is our duty, to pre-
serve our honor, continue our progress, and,
in short, maintain a just fealty to our coun-
try and to the rights Of man? 1t is mo-
montous question, rising in Importance
till it overtowers sthe solemn Inquiry our
fathers put to their inmost hearts when
| about to meet the crisis in which WAS gen.
Grated the nation whose dcstinies are now
left US to decide.


We have looked this gravest of all qnes-
tions full in the face, and are ready for
one to declare what we deem our duty to
do, and our willingness to DO it. Now, as
ever, we insist that the Constitution, laws
of the land, and decisions of the Supreme
Court, ought to be obeyed in their letter
and spirit While there is a provision in
| the Constitution for the recovery of run
away slaves, and we do not ask that the
provision be ever stricken out, we shall
not oppose any constitutional law which
is designed to give efficiency to the proyis-
ion. fugitive slave law for the recovery
of runaways or abducted negroes, we cam
not in honor and good faith oppose. Such
we are in favor of executing, any statute
of an individual state to the contrary not
withstandng. Any state law designed to
render the fugitive slave law nugatory
should be repealed by the powers that
made it, or be declared null and void, on a
proper presentation, by the Supreme Court
of the United States. AS good citizen
we submit to such decision and espouse
the cause of the general against n state
government in all such cases. Of course,
then, we bow in submission to the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott
case not that we entertain a more exalted
opinion of Chief Justice fancy than of
Chief Justice Marshall, or Chief Justice
Story, for we are far from it; but because


it is the law of the land by the terms of
the Constitution which no good citizen
should for n moment cease to respect. 1t is
better 10 yield obedience TO a judicial law
which violates our ideas of right and re-
verses the Judgment of the trainers of the
Constitution, than factiously resist. But
while we submit to the Dred Scott decision
and recognize it as law, we do not promise
to maintain it forever in the face of anoth-
er decision hereafter which shall restore
the construction put upon the Constitution
by those who made it.


In the matter of concession we are in fa-
vor of paying for runaways who are with
held from their owners by the northern
people. We can agree to establish the
principle that the Territories shall be free
to govern themselves as they choose, make
their institutions in their own way, and
come into the Union on the same footing
with the other states already in. We can
l., MT
al amendment or as a compromise grant
ed by the victorious party about to assume
the reHs of government. But we would
not GO farther. Where q personal liberty
act is designed only TO protect free negroes,
citizens of state, and known to be so,
we would not repeal it. This is a case where
state rights should be maintained. But, of
course, let the act be tested by the highest
tribunal and let it stand or fall on its mer-
it's as determined by the proper authority.
As South Carolina asks surrender of for
tifcations within her boundaries,a question
arises as to the proper course for the gov
ernment of the United States TO pursue.
w
termination to hold all Notifications and
the navy at all hazards, We trust that he
will pcrtenaciously insist in the event OF
secession, upon the Union holding the Ter
ritories it has purchased at the cost of
blood and treasure, and upon the first in
reference with the post office regulations
in the revolutionary states, cut off postal
facilities to the place where the offence is
committed, and leave the lnsurrsctionists
to their own folly so long as they do not
interfere with the loyal states, but we
trust that the first aggressive movement
will be promptly punished; and that too,
severely. Our opinions of concession are
now frankly told.


SECESSION AGAIN.-The last Pony brought
| a budget replete to plethora with secession