The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-30

plicable to free States to be formed out of the
Louisiana territory. Thus has this fundamen.
tai law been three times affirmed, at three sue
cessive epochs in our history, and as often viola
ted and disregarded.
The expression, "delivering up fngitives," is
a technical term in the law of nations, and is
often used in extradtion treaties. It is twice
used in the Constitution once in relation'to
fugiives from Justice, and once in relation to fu-
gitives from labor. In its technical meaning,
itimposes an obligation on the State in which
the fugitive is found, to take active measures
for lis delivery to his owner; or if fugitive
from justice, to the state having jurisdiction of
the crime for which he fed. Up to the time of
the Missouri compromise, nearly all the north.
ern States had passed laws to carry out in good
faith, the provision of the Constitution, and the
fugitive from labor was provided for in the same
statutes which provided for the delivery up of
fngiiives from justice. But as the scheme of
abolition advanced towards the ends to be &C
compshed, another policy was to be adopted
These statutes were repealed, and large ma
iority of the northern States have since passed
laws to prevent the redelivery offugitves from
service. This is the abolition policy, to which
the States Of the North are committed by the
acts OF their legislatures, in open violation 10
the Constitution.
Irepeat, that design is now avowed to re.
strict slavery TO its present limits, with the view
TO its final abolition in the States. TO show
that proofs are abundant upon this subject,
call the attention ofthe committee to a speech
lately delivered here, by member from Penn
sylvania, (Mr. Stephens.) He first quotes from
speech of Mr.. Meade, Of Virginia. I'll" said
! Mr.. Meade, eve intend to submit to the policy
ofcoufuiug The slaves within their present linn
its, we should commence forthwith the work of
gtadual emancipation. 1t is an easier task for
us than for our children" The member next
repeats remark from the speech OF MIR. Hill.
lard Of Alabama. "We must" said Mr Hill
lard, "make up our minds to resist the interdic-
ton Of the progress of slavery, or to submit TO
all organic change in our Institutions" In re-
My to these remarks of Mr.. Meade and MIR.
billiard, the member from Pennsylvania exult.
insly exclaims:
"Yes, sir; this admitted result is, to my
mind, one of the most agreeable consequences
OF the Legitimate restriction of slavery. Con.
fine this malady within its present limits, sur
round it by Gordon of freemen that it cannot
spread, and in less than twenty five years every
slaveholding State in this Union will have on
its statute books law for the gradual and final
extinction OF slavery. Then will have been
consummaed the fondest wishes OF every pat.
riots heart. Then will our fair country be glo.
rious indeed; and be to posterity a bright ex-
ample Of the true principles Of governmental
universal freedom.
"I am opposed to the extension of slavery
into territories now free, for still graver reasons,
because am opposed to despotsm throughout
the wotld. admit that this Government can
not preach crusade of liberty into Other States
and nations; much as she abhors tyrants and
tyranny, there she can only mourn over its ex-
istcnce. Eut when the question of govern
ment is within her own CONTROL and she per.
mits despotism to exist, and aids its diffusion,
she is res ponsible for it in the face of the civ
ilized world, and before the God Of Liberty"
In these sentiments, often repeated here, the
end aud aim of all this slavery restriction, this
,ice-soil and abolition agtation, may be clearly
seen. The member from. Pennsylvani, sends
forth tIc rallying c'y to the abolition lcgions of
the Moth, to press forward to the accomplish.
meut Of this great scheme of slavery rest ic.
ton, with view to its final abolition i'll the
States. "Surround them with Gordon of free
men," says he, $50 that slavery Cannot spread,
and in less than twenty-five years every slave.
holding State in this Union will have on its
statute books law for the gradual and final
extinction of slavery"
Sir, this avOwal of the ultimate .,,,esign of the
iree-soil scheme, does ..o1 disclose to me any
new phase, Ii the controversy between North
and Soath. have heretofore warned the pco-
pie represent, that it is the design of the ma
jority OF tie North, to accomplish the end an
nouuced by the member from Pennsylvania;
that is, to surround the slave States by cor.
don of free States-to eonfne them to their
present limits; and more still to circumscribe
these limits by driving in the outposts Of slave
ry i'll the border States, with the view to the
final abolition of slavery, and until the South,
hemmcd in on all sides, is reduced to the con-
dlion now exhibited by st. Domingo. This is
the abolition scheme, OF which nOn-extenson
is but the means to accomplish the end.
To obt ain the control OF every department of
the Government, to enable them to effect their
dcsiYns it was first necessary to provide for
the united action of a majority in both Houses
of Congress, and to elects President who would
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