Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-15

State by ms owner, loses at oIcc Il char
acter of property, and becomes, to all in
tents lree-a principle, when il indeed
near half century, and is doubtless now
for the first time, excited 20 activity by
the miSchievouS influence of abolition
doctrines. Accordingly, citizen oil
Louisiana has had his slave wrested
iron, him in that State, in the name and
under the sanction Of Law. aud altogether
without compensation. Thus we sec a
doctrine asserted, by which, the proper
~ Of our citizens may hy coniiscated
without remuneration, whilst the Fed
eral Constitution, and tina; of our own
State, provides, that private property
shall not be taken but for public uses,
nor then, without fall equivalent. The
proposition asserted by the Supreme
Court Of MasSa chusei;S, il not in viola
ton of the provisions Of the Federal
! Constitution, at least runs directly coun-
ter to the spirit Of these compromises,
and that entire reciprocity in the protec-
ton each member Of the Confedcracv
was 10 afford to the rights OF the citi-
breath Of the noslrils to that instrument;
aud the observance o. whirh, inviolate
is the sole bond OF its preservation aud
none can doubt, that had the precise
question now Involved, arisen in the
Conyention Of HISS, IA refusal to protect
in this particular right, citizens Of the
South, Passing through, or temporarily
sojouining in the nonsiave-h oldiug States
would have put an instant eud to all
hope Of elIecting Union. Should the
decision adverted 10, be sustained, aud
no provision be made by Massachusetts
10 protect our citizens in the rights il
iavadcs, il is equivalent 10 prohibi.
ton Of all social intercourse between the
families Of the Southern portion Of the
Union aud tina; St2te-(an intercourse
which every where demands fall Ieci-
procity Tor its preservation,) and cannot
but engencer dissatisfaction and com
plant, and ultimately produce alienation
of feeling and hostility between those
whom interest and the remembrance of
common sutierings and common t!i-
nmphs." ought to unite in bonds OF the
closest intimacy.
Nor are these obstacles 10 harmoni.
GUS intercourse between de South and
the North, the only consequences that
have already flowed from this pes;ilent
fanaticlsm. lis yotaries infest the pur-
lieus even of ,hc tribunals of justice, aud
IN the very cases, especially guarded by
the Constitution itself, instead Of promol.
ing the faithful maintenance of its pro-
visions. las The duty is OF every good
citizen. )exhaust ingenuity, and are pro-
digai of money, in seeking to defeat
their execution; and, ilIing in this, not
untrequently resort TO force, 10 wrest
with strong hand, from the owner, pro-
perty adjudged 10 him by the laws
While, on our North western frontier,
frequent instances occur, of citizens OF
! other States abusing the privilege that
! entities them to come over the border, by
actually instigatiug slaves TO leave their
owners, and assisting them TO escape !;
thereby rendering the tenure OF that
property insecure, and materially lessen
ing its value.
But extending their views beyond
those proceedings, more directly affect
ing individuals, these agiiators, through
treacherous and insidious measure,
seemingly confined 10 the District OF
Columbia, are in truth dwelling dead
~ attack against the prosperity and
peace-nay, the political Y isteDce itself,
of the Southern States; an attack of
which, il may be enough to say, that lift
cannot be parted, it must be repelled
! The unhai!owed attempt TO array the
sanctions Of the pure and gsntlereligion,
I that teaches peace on earth, and good
vii! toward men," in fierce hostility a.
! gaiDst communities that have at least
done them no wrong, IS to be added tc
this dark catalogue OF the doings Of
these modern philanthropy And we
/ already hear in the distance, denounced
! against the Slave holder, the thunder oil
I that only description of excommunica.
/ ton tolerated by the spirit of the age: q
refusal OF religious fellowship on earth
and the impious mutteriUgs, in mad as
sumption, of the attributes OF the Elos
High, OF the anticipated judgments o
the Almighty.
Such are the evils already experien-
ced from the spread of Abolition doc
triqeS, and which have felt it my duty
to bring to your notice, because some 0
them have been developed only since
| your last meeting, and the rest decided
/ Iy aggravated. Themselves Of a magni
tude well deserving the attention of tn,
Legislature, they yet dwiudle into insig
njiicance in comparison with those dire
! full calamitiPs With which this Dorteu