The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-12-22

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resting such fugitive slave.
In this posture Of the controversy, Virginia
having exhausted the argument with New YORK,
and hopeless of the remedies which should be
found in the constitutional obligation and duties
OF co-State, appeals to her sister States OF the
south for counsel and cooperation. Standing
on 'he out-posts of Southern Institutions, thai
faithful! sentinel announces the presence OF dan
ger; warns that common foe is advancing, and
calls those who have similar polity, to their
defence. Her claim-her Ri ghts to lead IN de-
fence or maintenance of the right 'fa conieder-
ate State. or ofSouthern policy, has been nobly
iiyindcated BY the incidents other past history.
An ancient domestic institution, cherished IN
the hearts of the people of the South, the eradI-
cation of which would demolish our whole sys-
tenn of policy, domestic, social and political, has
been assailed by methods most likely to be sue
cessful. Is tia contest in which any Southern
State without utter abandonment of honor and
ofright. policy and duty, can assume pos
tion of neutrality! Let other States do as they
may, South Carolina has taken her stand in tn S
great contest Her gauge of honor has been
given to her countrymen, and she snot OF those
who know how to- leave it unredeemed.
When the Federal Constitution was adopted
by the States, slavery existed with but few eX-
ceptions, in them all The right of property in
slaves, and the duty of all the confederate States
to respect that right in the citizens of each State,
are admitted and enforced by that Constitution.
Congress, in discharge of its duty, his enacted
laws providing safeguards, and inculcating du-
ties in regard to this species of property. South
Carolina, as Virginia, has not seen fit to change
her policy, and abolish this species of property;
and she will permit no State or authority to i'm
pair its value or security: and like Virginia, she
here avows her unalterable purpose to protect
and defend it from all invasion and attack, come
from what source they may.
That the refusal of the Executive of New
York to comply with the demand of Virginia, is;
in the language of the Commonwealth, "a palpa-
BILE and dangerous visitation of the Constitution
and Laws Of the United States," is a proposition
whc hadmits no debate. The pretenson ofN. Y,
that that State or any department other Govern
meut, may look into the statute book of another
State, and pronounce upon the policy or the
morality of its legislation, when called to the
performance of a Constitutional duty, plainly
enjoined is no less arrogant than it is volative of
her Federal obligations and plighted faith. The
statute, whose provisions have been recited, is
no less plainly and directly in contradiction of
the Constitution and Laws of the United States,
than is the refusal ofthe Executive department.
1t is distinct and unequivocal recognition of
the right of the master to hold property in his
slaves, and the correlatve duty of States, into
which he has fled, but mere mockery of both
The impedments and hindrance which it i'm
poses on the right to recapture slave within the
Jurisdiction of New York, amount to a virtual
denial of the rights of the master, and withhold
ing his remedy. The laws of the United States
define proceeding ministerial, summary, and.
which alone consists with the rights
of the master. The statate of New York, pre-
scribes magisteral inquiry, and diatory, doubt
full, and veXations litigation, the hazards ofwhch
are denial of the remedy to the master, and i'm
punlty and protection to his slave. And the
right of the master to seize and arrest his slave,
as we'll as the duty of the magistrate to issue
The certificate for removal, which are prescrib-
ed by the laws of the United States, are made
high misdemeanors by the statute of New York.
If in the final determination of the Executive
If New York, and the delay which attended his
in his correspondence with the !
Executive of Virginia, disregard of the obliga-
ions of the Constitution, and a spirit inimcal
o the slave property of the latter, be not appar
,nt, they are manifest in every feature of the
obnoxious Statute, which has been reviewed.
Interest, duty and honor, imperiously demand
hat South Carolina announce to the authorities
If New York, that so soon as that State shall
Freak its solemn faith to Virginia so soon shall
,e cancelled our constitutional obligations as to !
Ter. When State shall have been disappoint-
ID of those rights and remedies, for which stipu-
alton was made when the compact of Union was
adopted, then will the painful but imperative
luty of protecting her rights, in he own way, J
nave been imposed upon her. This State hav-
ng common purpose, and common interest
With Virginia, to uphold the Federal Constitu-
ion, by exactng compliance with its obliga-
ions, is prepared to make common cause with
hat commonwealth, in the maintenance of her
rights.
As the chief danger to our slave property
arises directly from the commercial intercourse,
which is permitted the citizens of States like
New York, having no similar interest, our enact
ments should be specifically directed against the
means that have been resorted to, and are most
likely to be embraced by those who assa it
The peculiar character of that property, its i'm
mense value, and the facility Of fabducting it, by
those who trade to our ports, are considerations
which should determine us to course off
decisive and ef1ectual legislation. These views
have suggested to your Committee the eXpedi-
ency of Imposing such restrictions and obliga-
tions upon those who would benefit by our COM
merce, as will enforce the simple duty of not mo-
Testing us in the enjoyment of our property
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