The Camden Journal

Massachusetts Legislature.

The recent action of the Legislature of Massachusetts presents something very nearly approaching to a Legislative puzzle. They have passed resolutions declaring the unalterable purpose of the people of that State to resist the extension of slavery to the new territories. They have affirmed, also, that the fugitive slave is entitled to the trial by jury. In one branch these resolutions passed unanimously—in the other branch by a large majority.

At a subsequent session of the same body, resolutions of instruction to Mr. Webster to vote for the exclusion of slavery from any Territorial government about to be formed, and against the intended bill for the re-capture of fugitive slaves, have been rejected by the House of Representatives.

This is rather perplexing in the history of Massachusetts legislation. It leads to much "guessing" in the premises. Do these Massachusetts legislators intend their first resolutions as a mere brundum fulmen, or, as a tub to the whale?—something in the nature of an apparent concession to popular prejudice—a compromise with the rampant spirit of fanaticism, in appearing to yield to that spirit by abstractions, whilst they refuse to tie up the hands of their Senator by something tangible and practical in the form of instructions? If this is the proper interpretation or solution of this legislative riddle, it confirms the propriety of Mr. Webster's language, in his late Boston speech, when he invokes the people of his State to conquer their prejudices.

The Legislature of Massachusetts have, however, placed themselves in rather a singular attitude before the world, being willing to affirm, through a set of abstract propositions, what they refuse to put into a shape which would render them of any effect, except as a mere record of opinion.