Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-12
The Fugitiue SlQue Question.

The New York Commercial Advertiser, a paper
of sedate habits, and not given to excitement,
makes the following comment on Mr.. Claws
great speech:
"Mr CLAY's SpEEoH-We publish, TO-DAY. the re.
manning portion OF this fine Grafton Presumng that sit
generally if not universally read by those who read our
paper, we make farther remark upon It, except that
we find not difficult to coincide with the Western Sc
nator in most OF his positions; indeed may extend
the remark to all, saving only one. With Mr.. Claws
doctrine concerning the duty OF citizens living in the
free Staesto aid and assist shareholders recovering
their property we can by no means agree. With
effort may go tar to concede that there is
argument against assisting fugitive slave to escape but
We can recognize no authority which requires positive
action in behalf OF the human owners claim to his hui
man chattel. The Constitution of the United States
may enjoin such course but there is in euery mans
conscience more Imperative la,o than any Con-
ststution."
The last sentence which we print in italic. con-
tains certainly one of the most extraordinary de-
clarations we have ever known to be made from
a respectable source. We fear that it expresses
but too accurately sentiment which is making
rapid advances amongst the Northern people. If
such be the fact, 1t is abundantly manifest that
what is termed the "federal compact" is in reality
nent Northern Journal and one that affects to hold
itself above the common cap-trap of the day, de-
hberately declaring that solemn requisition of
the constitution is not binding upon the Northern
people, because forsooth their conscences have
within thema more imperative law than the con-
sttution. We do not design to discuss this ques-
ton between conscience and the constitution but
this we will say, that Northern men who pronounce
that there isl conflict between theriand that con.
is aotin e. I'll
in prating of the sacredness of the Union. If they
had the tender consciences by which they profess
to be governed, they would join Garrison and his
crew in advocating the abrogation of the consti.
tuition. They we'll know that the provision for
the recovery of fugitive slaves was one of the in
Gspensable conditions without which the slave
States would never have assented to the Union
And now they hypocritically pretend that their
coasctences absolve them from carrying that con-
dition into effect. The constitution, they hold, is
strong enough to bind the South in whatever ar
bitrary measure the Northern majority may choose
10 enact, but on the North it imposes no obligation
to respect its provisions. The doctrine is so iesul
teal, and in every aspect so enormous, that South
ern men cannot be expected to brook its announce
'noiI Will any uoSicc VI pdtitllCe SduS1V them
that it is calmly entertained by majority of the
Northern people, and they must cease to regard as
blessing that Union which they now revere
They would be cravens, unworthy of the respect
of mankind, if they could tamely consent to be
governed by acompact which is made nugatory in
its guarantees by the mental reservations of a ma
jority of the parties to it.
But we will hope that the serious nature of the
issue now presented to the country, will induce a
returning sense of justice in the Northern mind.
If the arguments of such men as Mr.. Clay, on
the fugitive slave question, if the solemn adjud-
cations OF the Supreme Court, shall prove ineffec-
tua to change the current of public sentiment in
the Northern States, there are vet considera-
lions which can be addressed, to principle even
more sensitive than Northern conscience. 1t is
well known that Northern manufactures, North
ern capital, and Northern cities are chiefly SIM
ported by Southern agricultural industry. The
Southern States can and will institute reprisals
Tor the abduction of the property of their citizens
If it he pertinaciously persisted in. And those
reprsais (Which may be of both negative and
positive character,) can be carried to such an ex
tent as 10 break downthe Northern interests which
the South now sustains Great Britain commit
led no wrong upon her American colonies COM