Gov. Banks On Personal Liberty Bills

We quote frotn the lato valedictory mesaag of Gov. Banks to the Massachusetts Legislature. Gov. Banks evidont]y disagrees with Gors. Wisnkr and Blair: "I do not hesitate to say, tliat as a Goverument, in every sense, Massachusotts has been faithful to hor constitutional duties. It is beoause she has been thus faitliful, that I desire to see her legislation in harmony with her acts. It ia because I do not like to see hor Kepresentatives ia Congreas, and her sona everywherc, put upon the defensive whoa they have just cause to be proud of her acts; it is because in tho face of her just claims to high honor, I do not love to hear unjust reproaches cast upon her farae, that I say, as I Co. in the presance of God, and with a heart filled with the responsibilities that must rest upon every American citizen in these distompored times, I cannot but regard the maintenance of a statuie, whethtr constitucional or not, which is so unnecessary to the public service, and so det"-imsntal to the public pear.e, as an inexcusable public wrong. I hope by oommou consent it may be removed from the statute-book, and such guarantees as constitutional ftxedom dsmands be sought in new legislation. "it is said, I know with some reaion. that no ohange would satisfy man eagaged in trea3on aud rebellion. We ought to remember, however, that South Carolina presenta this class of laws in her counterfeited Declaration of Independenc, as the fust groiit wrong her people have suffered, and that romoval will obviete her first cause of coniplaint, which is made the basis of every other substantive grievance. ''It ig said, also, that the time is not propitious, that it does not becoine Massachusetts te act under threats. Every Htate maintaius its own dignity by doing what is right. A State that, under threats of coerción does what is wrong, does not greatbj suffer in comparison with another, that under similar plea refuset to do what is right; that is a differenee in process, but the differenee in resulta is not worth eest, Besides, this is not au aecepted American doctrine. "When Prance rofussd to pay an indemnity secured to us by troaty, under the pretenGe that she had been threatened with war by a President of the United States, her excuse waa not received as a sufficient explanation. The President threatened hor again, Congress supported bis declaratious by a war appropriation, and Eugland, as arbitrator, compelled France to fulfill her treaty stipulations. In fact, the comity of Statos furnishes no good reason for not doing what is right; and rulers are permitted less than othergto swerve under the influence of bribes or menaces from the direct and exact line of right. "The topic preaents considerations of policy also. The difficulty in government, as in life, is to assertain what is right. It is easier to follow the line of right, than it is to divine it, as wisdom is a higher quality th;n courago; and the world is rail of proofs that an obstinate adherenceto that which is impracticable, indefensibie, and immaterial, often compela the truest and boldest men to surrender that which is just in itself and vital to their causo Our experience in this regard will not differ from that of other men. "There are men suddanly lifted from indigence to nffluence, who never forget poverty in the presonce of plenty, 80 men long accustomed to rough governmeut áo not readily comprehend the policy of rulera, aud reluctantly surrender the imperfect maohinery of opposition for thü greater powers and higher honors of administration. Thcre inay be equal adrantages in the right of opposition or ad ministration, according to the preferences or constitutious of meu, but it will be diffioult for tbs same person or party to monopolize both. If we claim the right to admiuister law, let us abandon the maGhinory mtended to obstruct it. " Conciliation and coerción are twain powers. They grow out of and ioto each other, and neither is perfect by itself alone. 'Who demands equity must do equity' is a maxim fis old as the civil law, not merely booause it ia justice, but beoause it is power also. And yot, I believe that so little diffarenoe of opinión - Dot as to men, perhape, or parties, aa to which misrepresentation and exoitement may mislead us, but as to what ig right, upon the individual and honeat judgment of the AmerioaB people - has nevor before existed."