Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-07-20
EFFECTS OF The SYSTEM.

Er GC y vi i Ill SYSTEM.
We have often heard the remark
That the system adopted in Pennsyl-
Vania OF harborinS and concealips run.
away slavea from the southern states,
would at no distant period be produc-
i've OF the most deieterious sonse.
queuces, and that the auth ors al the
system would regret having afforded
an asylum to many of he most abau-
doned' without making proper dis
examination in endeavorinS 10 protect
the Few who are deserving. The eff.
fects OF the system are now beeum-
ing apparent a. will be seen BY the
following remarks oftae editors of the
Philadelphia Union, whose opinion
Is doubtless entitled to much copsid
GRAFTON, as we presume it would not
have been so boldly expressed if The
fact could not be readily sub,.au,iated:
Fed. Gaz.
SdbScOnding StateS.--F Far many years
past The city of Phiiade,phia ha. been
place ct refuge for tlie runaway ne.
sroes from the neishboring southern
states. The blacks have increased IA
monSst US, so as To have become Sc.
r,ous nuisance. They will not work,
but abandon themselves to all the lab,
us OF idleness aud vice. We are afraid
that The abolition Society, is auswera-
bio Tor larSe share ofihe evils which
have been eutailed upon us by this,
verse than Egyptian plague.
Great eompiaints are made by our
Southern friends, Of OR conduct in
harboring these individuals. W. know
that there ia too much justice in ,hi>-
We have heard Of a nesrv beius con
cea'ed, for week, in the dwyliing IS
one OF oar citizens, who wcutI Hsvc
been utterly disUayed il he had heen
accused of hiding Il stolen horse Yer
both acts are equally condemned by
the law. Whatever our feeling may be:
we aust submit 10 10 The law. Much
as we may cOmgissernte The nrgro or
aehor the master, We cunn0t change
what is written in the statutes.
We have seen, occasionally. in the
papers, Instances of magistrates refu-
s'nS to give any AID III SAC arTest of
Tins description of fuSi'nes.A Their
intcrpositinn is not nrc, s,nry 30 The
arrest. By The act of11a3, every ow
ner OF runaway slave Is empowered
{" seize or arrest bims Il il ,he duty
Of master, then t. take him before a
| magistrate and establish his right 10
he services Of the fugitive, by atlida
val or other evidence taken hefore u
Judge n6 magistrate of the state from
which the slave abseonded. This be-
ms Prodnced. it is the duly Of ,he ma.
| SIstrate 10 execute II certificate of the
fact. and that certificate is sufficient
| authority fur the emovEl OF The fagi-
! tive.
There is d penalty Of $500 on any
person who shall, Knowingly or vii
hnS'y, obHtruct al owner ia recovering
this species Of property.
We have given this statement of the
legal provisions which exist oD the
subject Of funawaJs, partly with a
! viaw to stimulate the masters Of those
who have emisrated higher; BUT chief
Iy to destroy the security 10 which ma
| ny Ok the slaves iudnlge themselves,
that this Is place where thty cannot
be touched They are aS Fable TO arr
rest and detention as stray cattle, and
as long as they continue in their hab
its Of tnsOasnee' by day, and vice by
night, 1t must be The wish of every
! good citizen to see tffen removed.
We may think on The abstract cues
ton Of slavery what we please; it il
established by the act Of coufeders too
and after it had long been praclised
the FighI was solemnIy recognized BY
II majority Of the nation when NissUu.
ri Was admitted into the Union. Tina
1t is az eternal blot upon US. as a re
publican people which shouid make
Us blush, whenever the declaration Of
independence is named AIMING u.s.
But so TIE law is and we must submit.