Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-04-05
NO. IL


s's hage gssa asaaiass 81 !, rsspec II
~ fho = the general interest OF The States t6af =,
Il fnouia nave them But if we reiect ii VIA, sern
= fy have We that shall obtain diem son,
sgalns, the local interests and psiudes II Is,
IN The fears If the eloquent Ames were pronnxls..
fn9 nc new constitution, with al rs compromise,
= +na equivalents was adopted By all The Staies
me pnotection OF that constitution and OF lh
Z ~, nane ana power Of the Unidn the navigating
8 tna commercial States (now become great manu-,
9 taeIuriag communities also BY The help Of fres
= naISet IN The south, have prospered il manner
$ kah Iapldily and % an extent unparalleled IN
Sac, n.s0,y @ sas human race The New England
poas'ea seriy OF their soil, and the unsenal cha.
acef q lheir climate have In view OF the extent 81
: ,nsn popnlaIlon become the mos. prosperous and
{ hsa.hl communities id the world. Whilst We 81
me South as was foreseen BY The saeacitv ~ e ar
!. lsaenlng men Of that period, have Witnessed our
Solinefce and navigation transferred from our own
borth~,ss sl,sn me eonmereiai enpnrums Of the
nsnI yearly poured oq il partial and reckless bro
tusion 70 add 10 the akyaniages which nav aralv
Possess % their overslowhg capital aud numerous
cultnraf ,o;i 1 The profits OF our agri
soli and slave labor daily passing from our
: feNes y simulate and reward the enterprise ana
al Hus.Iy sol mat section fine Union YET we haye
peseIlor one moment repued at their prosperity.
EhseL ,hssia ~ any Illegal or improper means Is
EFneca tner rapid and onwa ard advancement SRnpis
nv cause OF Just complaint on our mari ia find mar
lne very power which they now enjoy-that power
Mnlch res9ils from those concessions made ~ ID 81
y-s now habitiially perverted ,o fhe ;n;,'Ty M
gestf9ction OF that interest which they men - a.
1emniy coyenanted 10 guaranty
y was not in human nature that our northern i
Yiehieh Of that generation when the objects az iii,
compromise were fresh before their eves sbonli IL
orgeiul q the abyss from which they had been res
dueu by the great national compact Of I1ss ana
IL g;va n g eas aI he price they had agreed
Least Of all was il to be expected Thai ,hev would
| anpeue me execution Of the clause by which they
lau recognized the right Of the Stakeholder 10 sez
~ IusinVe slave within their borders, and bound
ieselVss 70 surrender him to the owner when The
| violation Of such solemn compact on their mar,
YOU'D inlet on themselves perpetual and inc,rra
I0h wi rnr U was to be expected that the en-
1sn'eneu ana sagacoas people Of the north would
Is =, glance, that the violation of lhat compact
would create and continually recruit on their soii
class OF panpers like the Parias of Hirdostan-of
9u.casls from society-of men whp are neither
s,ases nor citlzens-a wen oH the body politician
anomaly on their institutions and pesilent curse
~ them and their poSterity $500 - =
y cannot De doubted that prudential considera-
loas IKE these, combined with Others Of higher
~ nooel class protected the people Of the So1lh
Ipr nearly thirty years in the enjoyment Of the con-
sftutionai rights GUARANTEED to them and their pos
sfflty by the clause under consideration For Ii il
historically known that ihe act or Congress passed
IL ~ ,ne Iz.n OF Februaryl l93 so far il related 10
ine recapure and removal OF fugitive slaves wasnof
callea lor bY anv elRResic~ puurr sentiment at
the period referred to- which is valuable not merely
for its facts but for the high source from which they
enanate:
i For many years the clause Immediately under
consideration had a self-suficing efficacy, having
all the incidents and advantages conceded 10 tof an
e$tradition treaty. The common practice of tho
times was an honest and imposing commentary on
the intention and object of the provision. A slave
escaping into Notwithstanding State could be pur-
sped, and in general could be as easily unprecedented
there as in the State from which he had made his
escape. Iwasnot I'm common for judges 10 remand
I'd slave State. TO be tried person OF color upon
an issue involving his freedom; and State Courts
and Judicial and Ministerial officers Of nonslaye-
holding States were in the constant habit of using.
as matter of recognized obligation, their power and
agency in bringing about the delivery of fugitive
slave to his pursuing master. The right Of the
owner to apprehend, where the slave could be iden
tilted as fugitive, was not disputed much less I'M
peded bv State laws the violence OF irresponsible
faobs. The paramount authority of the constitution
and its active energy were acknowledged by con-
mon consent II executed its provisions by the active
cooperation of State authority, inthe fulfmento Of
what they then recognized constitutional duty.
The duty to deliver up, seemed TO be regarded as
equal to the right Of the owner to demand bis es-
Gaping servant The term deliver up had mean
Ing so pregnant and obvious, that il carried with
1T all the obligations by common consent, growing
buiof its use; as il impaired conceded right 50 i
was regarded containing perfect obt dion
The dctateof good faith found in the nonslavehold-
ing States has no dispositionto evade or deny its
obligations. The trainers Of the constitution were
then the living and honest expoanders Of Us mean,
interest was tthen strong enough for hostile and
Unconstitutional legislation.
II thus appears, that for many years after tho
adoption Of the constitution, the guaranty of the