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Show 306 LTD'ERTY AND SLAVERY. from the most degmding oppression on earth into a crime, but alJ mankind except you esteem that hospitality a virtue." Not content with thus denouncing the "Constitution and laws," he has elsewhere exhorted the people to an open resistance to their execution. "It is," says he, in a speech at a mass-1neeting in Ohio, "written in the Constitution of the U nitcd States," and "in violation to divine law, • that we shalJ surrender the fugitive slave who takes refuge at our fireside from his relentless pursuer." IIe then and there exhorts the people to resist the execution of this clea•·, this unequivocal, this aclmowledged, mandate of the Constitution! "Extend," says he, a "c.ordial welcome to the fugitive who lays his weary limbs at yow· d001', and DEFEND HIM AS YOU WOULD YOUR HOUSEHOLD GODS." We shall not trust ourselves to characterize such conduct. In the calm, judicial language of the Chancellor of his own State such proceeding of Mr. Seward will find its most fitting rebuke. "Independent, however," says Chancellor Walworth, "of any legislation on this subj ect either by the individual States o1· by Congress, • On thie point, see page 108. TilE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. 307 if the person whose services are claimed IS m fact a fugitive from servitude under the laws of another state, the constitutional p1'ovision is imperative that he shall be delivered up to his master upon claim made." Thus far, Mr. Seward concurs with the chancellor in opinion; but the latter continues-" and any state officer or private citizen, who owes allegiance to the United States, and has taken the usual oath to support the Constitution thereof, cannot, WITUOUT INCURRING TilE MORAL GUILT 0~' PERJURY, do any act to deprive tho master of his right of recaption, when there is no real doubt that the person whose services are claimed is in fact the slave of the claimant."* Yet, regardless of the question whether the fugitive is a slave or not, the life and labors of Mr. Seward are, in a great measure, dedicated to a subversion of the constitutional clause and right under consideration. IIe counsels open resistance! Yea, he exhorts the people to protect and defend fugitive sla,-es as such, and though they had confessed themselves to have fled from servitude! But we doubt not that" the law of nature, written on the hearts and consciences *XIV. Wendell, Jack v. Mn.rtio, p. 628. |