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Show 882 LIBERTY AND SLAVERY. Supreme Courts of the Union and of New York, and without any such law to back him, the master should seck to reclaim his property, would ho be welcomed, or hooted and resisted, by the defenders of the fugitive from his service? Let these things be considered, and it will be evident, we think, that the repeal of the law in question would only invite further aggressions, and from this prostrate outpost the real enemies of the peace of the country would march, if possible, over every other defence of the Constitution. lienee, although we most ardently desire harmony and concorcl for the States of the Union, we shall never seck it by a surrender of the Constitution or the decisions of the Supreme Court. If it cannot be found under these, it cannot be found at all. Mr. Chase assures us, indeed, that just so long as the rule laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Prigg prevails, we must" encounter di:flicultics, and serious difficulties."* If it must be so, then so be it. If the question be whether the decisions of the Supreme Court, or the dictation of demagogues, * Appendix to Congressional Globe, vol. x:di., pnrt ll., p. 1687. TITE FUO ITIVE SLAVE LAW. 383 shall rule our ucstinics, then is our stand taken and our pm11ose immovably fLxed. W c have a right to peace under the decisions of that august tribunal. It is neither right nor proper-it is contrary to every principle of natuml justice-that either party to this g1·eat controversy should decide for itself. lienee, if the abolitionists will not submit to the decisions of the Supreme Court, we shall most assuredly refuse submission to their arrogant dictation. We can, from our inmost hearts, respect the feelings of those of our Northern brethren who may choose to remain passive in this matter, and leave us-by such aiu as the law may aflord-to reclaim our own fugitives from labor. For such we have only words of kindness and feelings of fraternal love. But as for those-and especially for those in high places-who counsel resistance to the laws and to the Constitution of the Republic, we hold them guilty of a high misdemeanor, and we shall ever treat them as disturbers of the public peace, nay, as enemies of the independence, the perpetuity, the greatness, and the glory of the Union under which, by the blessing of .A.lmig)1ty God, we have hitherto so wonderfully prospered.UlJ TIT E EN D. |