The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-05


jals for he confinement Of absconding slaves though
they often mpusoa TIE master going pursui, Of them
They have passed laws which pat every master attempt
de1s in imninsn, danger Of being tried as felon and
sentenced to imprisonment IN their penitenaries,
The chief executive authorities OF some OF these States
have ia direct disobedence 10 the the United
States constitution refused 10 deliver up fugives from
iustice upon legal and proper demand because the OIL
fence With which they STOOD charged was that OF negro
stealing Slaves charged sn
made ior their delivery ugtyes from Justice
fused on the ground that laws, constituting certain
felony w .a a POI constant
the master In pursuit Of his slave openly m,
suited and outraged, treated with more contumely and
contempt than j he were himself ifc" lus''se
Every device which parliamentary law would allow
the halls OF Congress- and countless expedens ~ Tue
free States have been esorled to Tor the purpose OF r-
tang insulting and injuring the South tits no longer
"a matter OF surprise that excitement ane exasperanon
both exist to alarming extent amongst us IN con-
But the spirit in which the law for the reclamation OF
fugitive slaves has been in the Tree States 10 emit
neny calculated TO imbitter still more the feeling q en-
nifty between the free and slave States This act IS the
only OF Congress- for many years, directly Or re-
motey bearing upon the subject OF slavery, which has
even Appropriated towards justice TO the South. and u
p pro- lama q s an invading os Public meetings have
been called to denounce 1.-THE newspaper press has as
sailed it with unusual biitemesshe preachers OF the
stion to has in many places obliteraied party lines
and men Of every rank and condition Of life. OF every
degree of intelligence and influence, have banded them
selves together with the avowed determination OF resist
ing the law whilst upon the statute book, and OF ult-
matey efecting IFS repeal
Virgina--and think all the saveholding Statescan
and ought calmly but explicitly TO declare that the re-
peal Of The fugitive slave law any essential mo6ca,
ton of it, is virtual repeal OF the Union The faithful
execution fihis law is 10 my Judgment the only means
now left BY which the Union be preserved with honor
ito ourselves and peace the country Such declara-
ton the part the South will give strength and great
moral weight TO the conservative patriots at The North
now struggling for the constitution and the supremacy oil
the laws, who are in truth fighting the battle OF the
Union in the bosom Of the on-slaveholding States
There important trusts committed TO the
hands OF any men, Their triumph s the victory OF order
over anarchy-of peace boodshed and fire. Their
defeat the kne Of the Union Tor il the fanatics OF the
North into The halls OF Congress with power to con-
they will throw aside every appearance OF restraint and
abolish slavery in the States. With the alternative pre-
scented OF submission TO this action or dssolu ION
Of the Union there would not be one voice raised IN ia
vor ohat Union for which there now 80 many thou.
sands who would shed their blood. ts3' ts
Surely, after the sacrifices the South has made IL
asking little when she demands OF Congress to be faith
full the pledges it has given, and Of the non slave
holding States TO abide by the constitution OF the coun.
try and the laws made decaratory Of its obligations
IT. however, consideration Of prudence or patriot
ism restrain the majority from the slaveboldng
States in their headong career OF usurpaion and wrong
and should they repeal or essentially modify the fugve-
required your hands In either event. would earn
estly recommend that convention of the people be call
ed at once TO take into consideration the mode and meas
of redress well the means OF providing Tor
future security and peace t519 f
Virginia, in this event. will have nothing TO reproach
herself with however much she may have 70 regret;
She has advocated the principles of free and constitutional
government with unwavering hrmness. Neither the
menaees nor the arms OF Great Britain could extngnish
the love Of liberty in her blossoms asd when the federal
government usurped authority which threatened our
Independence she stood the champion OF popular suprem
acy and saved the constitution Let not the advocates OF
u bs n ,sa ans 81 5ey
and equality. These she will maintain, although she
stood alone amongst the nations OF the earth The time
she may select and the manner she may adopt VIII De
lutte firm because the deliberate Virginia feels
especial interest the Union OF these States upon
the brightest pages of its history her is written in
letters that can never fade We know greatness and
feel that no eulogst is needed to proclaim It's glory
From the frozen submits Of Norway % the crowded
docking TO our shores and from Old Point Comfort to
the Bay OF San Francisco they welcomed to the fra
ternty OF countless population, happy, prosperous and
tree Ii is hallowed in its associaons for Washington
stood godfather for il the baptsmal ont OF the nation
whilst the siserhood OF States around still clad IN
the hablmens OF mourning Tor their children who had
died sacrifice for the blessed boom ALL that 10 emo
bling the bosom OF men, all that is pure and elevated
in the character OF patriot all that is cherished and
dear TO the affections OF the citizen plead Tor the preset
walton OF that constitution and that Union which the
sacegous hands OF fanatical aboltonism aitempt-
ing to level with the dust Should these attempts sue
coed in destroying the equilibrium established, the
fabric itself must fall PROSTATE to the earth II will
longer be the sgs OF defence but the spear for
destruction.
Nothing. however venerable from it's antiquity, or
halowed by the sacred remembrance Of the past,
commend itself 10 the support Of any people when. in
stead OF benefits, 1t brings along with II injustice OPP
preston, and wrong aia ~
That Union which Washington invoked his country.
men TO preserve, there true patriot who would not
die 10 defend. The Union which fsnatcism would es-
tabsh in lis stead there Is true that should not
die 10 overthrow. JOHN b. FLOYD.