The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-06
rhe Fneitire slave Lew.

The Albany Register, which strongly advocates
the administration Of Mr.. Fillmore, has the follow
ing udicious and satisfactory article upon the sub
ject which is now causing such intense excite
ment in some parts of the North
Nearly the whole cutlery that is so industr-
ously raised against the Fugitive Slave, law is
directed, not against this particular BILL but at the
provision Of the constitution which requires the
surrender of slaves who have escaped into other
States. The defects and hardships pertaining to
this bill, grossly exaggerated and misrepresented
as they have been, not the ground of complaint
with those who denounce the law. In their souls
they have resolved that the agreement to deliver
up fugitive slaves, contained in the constitutions
shall remain dead letter. We have not yet found
one person condemning the present law for sus-
pending the habeas corpus, the trial by jury, and
endangering the liberty OF free colored persons,
who, when pinned down to the naked inquiry has
not acknowledged that the return of admitted slaves
| into renewed bondage is the great objection. We
| have not found one who would say that, If upon
Jury to try whether the prisoner free man or
slave, he would give verdict consigning him to
slavery, whatever the evidence. Nor have we found
| one who could maintain, with straight face that
he entertained any serious apprehension that free
men would be carried into slavery under this law,
" The truth is, it has been very agreeable 10 the
feelings of the people at the North to have the con
stitutiona provision for the surrender of fugitive
| slaves dead letter. They have permitted the abo-
ltonists to make it so, first, by forcibe means
and, next, by procuring laws which practically
rendered the return of the fugitive impossible The
wilder class of fanatics raised mobs, and released
the slave from the hands of the officers. Then,
| by trying the question oil freedom before twelve
| men, some of whom were certain to consider the
right of man 10 his liberty higher law than any
| oath, safer and more seemly mode of setting
aside the constitution was found. Finally, by pro
hibiting all legal officers in the State from assisting
and refusing the use of all places of custody thi'
portion of the constitution ef1eciually nullied
TO the universal satisfaction of the North.
" But there is another side to the question. TIT
South has its rights under the constitution, and j
unwilling TO acquiesce in being deprived of then
in this informal manner more especially as the abo
litionisis, having converted the northern State
into safe place of refuge, next directed their al
tenion to running off the slaves, and thus subecte
; the southerners to an annual loss of many million
of dollars. 1t was impossible, therefore, that thi
| state of things, however agreeable to the Norther
| sentiment on the subject of slavery, should con
tinue The South demands compliance with tn
terms Of the Union; and the simple question is
whether or not it is TO be granted
| ''sWe are for meeting this question openly ant
squarely We do not believe in any section of thu
Union observing such paris of the constitution a
it tancies, and disregarding what it does not like
AT any rate, If the determination is to repudiat
! | any articles of the compact we are for doing i
manfully, and not sneakngly. When the real in
tention is to violate the constitution, we object u
do it under cover of false pretences. If the behest
of the constitution could have been complied with
under laws granting trial by jury TO fugitives il
the States to which they had escaped, nothing
more would have been asked. But every one
knows that this had become impractcable in tn
morbid state of public sentiment produced by abo
lition agitation. When those who now camor 70
this ordeal will agree to obey their oaths jurors
and their obligations citizens of the Union Their
will be little difficulty in obtaining it. Mr.. Ca1
proposed that a trial by Jury should be given tn
fugitive in the State from which he had escaped
but this proposition met with no more favor thai
the present law, for the reason that it resolved
that slaves should not be remanded to servitude.
1--WE have noinclination TO defend this particula
law. But it appears TO US that there is NOR
pressing duty upon us just now than to join in it
denunciation. The people of the North must b
taught TO regard their constitutional obligations.
they will make up their minds to obey those, the
will find no difficulty in obtaining laws whic
afford every guarantee TO free persons that may b
; desired. In this way only can the rights of fire.
persons be best secured, and the Union and consti
! tution preserved