The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-11-05

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL AND THE
SLAVERY AGITATION

tie great TIE i~hNhluAuif Yht4 pfH Fhpi ~ Wv
concessions made by the South IN that BILL
When its opponents ask what we have got
by that measure, the friends Of the Compro-
mise exultngly exclaim. "behoId the stnn-
gent biil 70 reclaim Slaves escaping into he
free States. See bow prompt aud summary
il i in is action. We have now q process
By which the provision Of the Federal Con-
stitution ia relation TO fugitives from labor.
40 long = dead letter, will be rendered IDde.
pendent Of State action, and be put into e-
fcient operation. The commotion It has ex-
cited in the North, proves It's efficiency.
Well, let this be so, let il be set down as a
great gain for the South. that at last a con-
stltuiional obligation Of the Federal Govern
ment, made for the benefit of the South, has
been put in force; it is however a great mis-
take to imagine that we are indebted to the
Compromises tor that measure OF reilci and
Justice to the South.
We have never known any subject, on
which so much was said and so little correct
" understood, ms this compromise" bill.
We have not mingled sufficiently with the
people, 10 determine the literal correctness
OF Senator Soue's assertion, so warmly i'm.
pugned by some Of our contemporaries, that
not a dozen persons III this city. had ever
read Mr.. Clay's bill but we can safely say,
that in our intercourse, we have scarcely met
a half dozen persons, who had not a decided
opinion OH this subject, and yet who could
say that they fully understood, or had ever
read the details Of the bill. This error in re-
gard to the authorship Of the Fugitive Slave
bill forcIbly illustrates our remark. Even
Col. Webb of the Courier and Enquirer, falls
into this mistake, and considers Mr.. Clay as
its originator but his more observant neigh
Dor of the Tribune, corrects his error. Gree
ley, the fast friend of Mr.. Clay says "that
thai distinguished gentleman was opposed
to the Fugitive Slave bill as an independent
measure, and yet it passed as an independ-
ent measure" The inference is irresistible.
ifGreely is to be believed, that this great
remedial measure, the qatd pro quo for the
concessions made by the South, the Fugitive
Slave bill, was opposed by the distinguished
pacfiicator and author of the Compromise,
and Surgeon of the give bleeding wounds"
and owes its existence to the devotion to the
Union Of one Of the most vigorous opponents
OF the "Compromise," James M. Mason, of
Virginia He originated, framed, and press
ed through this bill, the credit of which, it is
attempted to arrogate for another. And yet
Mr. Mason and all who voted with him, are
denounced, even in the South, as disunion-
lists.
Thus was this Fugitive Slave bill passed.
1t does bare justice to the South-it is a
mere execution of an express and granted
power, and positive obligation of the Fed
oral Constitution. Ard yet, we find a pow
erfhl array againstit-an array which leaves
no doubt that a tremendous, we fear, an ir-
resistible effort, will be made to repeal it.
No one can read the journals of the North
without being satisfied tina. fanaticism nev-
er employed a more powerful cry than will
be that for the repeal of this law.
We find the following language on this
subject in a no less digniied and influential
Journal than the North American, of Phila.
delphia, one of the ablest wing papers in the
country:
"a reaction has occurred within q few
days, which threatens the most fearful ex-
element on this subject that has yet disturb
ed the country, and that reaction is based
upon a sentiment which approaches the fire.
side and touches the convictions of every
man in the free States. The Southern SEN
ator who concocted that bill, did more to
revive the "Freesoil" party, and to stir up
the elements of sectional commotion, than
all its leaders, and all the abolition agitators
combined, could have done in ten years to
come. These are the early fruits of tins
p~atched.up compromise. What the late
ones will prove, time alone can develop. n
" Odious, outrageous, and insulting
as are the provisions Of the law for the re-
capture of fugitive slaves, we have not at
tempted to toment excitement against it or
to tan the embers Of dissatisfaction. We
are for submitting to it awhile-aud because
lit is the law OF the land, and because it is
the first and the highest duty of the citizen
to be obedient to the law"
Here we find this leading wing journal
asserting its conviction, that the late peace
measure" called the Compromise, us, ICON,
cocted by n Southern Senator has produc.
ed the present fearfully increased agitation
on the slavery ~question-has, in truth. tc
adopt the old simile, opened still wider the
gaping wounds" it was intended to heal
And yet those who opposed this bill, so pro
life of evil and agitation, are denounced a.
Disunionists and agitators, even in this in
telligent city!
But the North American goes further i
~denounces, in bitter terms, the Fugitiv,
Slave bill, claims great forbeamnoe for yield
ing to the law, but hints its determination
to agitate for its repeal. In this, the Nortl
American is not alone among the most re
spectacle presses of the North. Repeal
then, will be the cry. Repeal will be the act
What then will be the attitude OF the South
Will it be treason then to abstain from sing
ing peans to the Union! 1t would be wei
to look ahead and select our position in
contingency so near and threatning. 1t i