The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-10-16

A. +. WOOD,
Proprietor of Dubuque Tribune.
who Fugitive Slave Bill ana the Tariff
The Washington Republic urges, that it is as
much the duty Of Congress to protect northern
manufactures, by protective tariffs, as it is to
protect the shareholders in the possession of their
slaves. This argument may be sufficiently CO.
gent to convince those who deny the right of
the Shareholders to the proprietorship of slaves,
but with those who admit of the legality of this
species of property, will it not require something
stronger to convince them that it is as much the
duty Of Congress to create special property for
special class, as it is to protect another class
in the enjoyment of property recognised by the
fundamental institutions Of society, and which
existed as property before the Constitution itself
The existence Of slavery does not depend upon
law Of Congress-, nor does it require law of
Congress to perpetuate it's existence. Hence,
it in no manner depends upon Congress for its
being or continuance. Can the same be said of
protective tariffs? Can northern manufacturers
become thefpossessors of the wealth of the coun-
try and the,controlers of labor, without law OF
Congress- If they. can, why do they ask for lie.
gislation to hid them in the accomplishments oil
their designs'
Again, the Constitution itselfunder which the
Congress acts, declares that "No person held to
service or labor in one State, under the laus
ihercef escaping into another, shall, in conse-
!. quence Of any law or regulation therein, be dis
charged from such service or labor, but shall be
delivered up on claim Of the party to whom sucl,
service or labor may be DUE"
tion in relation to fugitive slaves; do we find
anything analogous to this in favor of protection
to, or encouragement of, e special branch of1na
nufacturing, by imposing indirecttaxes upon the
consumer? No such thing; there is not single
word on the subject
Now, the late law Of Congress, which defines
more explicitly the manner of proceeding in or
der to capture fugitive slave, is really more Of
an inpediment to the owner of the slave than it
is an aid or protection to him in the recovery of
his property. The statutory law is more impe-
dimentary than otherwise, and subjects the mas
s tSI W lACOHVciieuCcS ana ildEQSHIpS not COnLCm-
plated by the constitution.
The language Of the constitution is, that the
slave SHALL be delivered up on claim of the par
ty to whom his service is due, the language of
the statute defines the preliminary steps which
are necessary to be taken by the demandant be-
fore lie Gun take possession of his slave; hence,
1t may be affirmed, with truth, that the late flu.
gitiye slave law is impedlmentory and restrict
i've, rather than faclitatory and protective
Hence again, the slave owner gains less by the
law than he would under the naked constitution
Is this the protection which is so loudly call
ed for and pertinaciously urged by the cotton
lords of New England, and the iron masters of
Pennsylvania Do they ask an interposing law,
which makes the right Of labor its FIRST care, as
the fugitive slave law makes the right of the
slave to freedom the first issues Or, do they not
rather ask that labor, and the necessities ofman-
kind, be made subservient to their inordinate
desires for the acquisition of influence g. wealth?
Their Demands are tantamount to asking the Lee
gisiature to fix the price of nails and boots, ging
hams and satinetts. Now, if this price was ask
ed Tor the benefit of labor, although there would
still be an objection on the ground of principle,
there would be an argument in its favor; but
when il is asked TO make wealth more wealthy,
and TO invest an already overgrown power, with
= more potential influence, no argument can be |
brought to sustain the demand, but that which |
corruption always resorts to when right and jus-
ticc are sought to be overthrown. Need any one
be told what induced Daniel Webster to bee me
the advocate Of the cotton lord interest Of New
England, and the obsequous servant of the Bank
ofthe United States? Money.-Money! A lit.
lie Of this. well applied, turns the current of a
statesman's thought, and makes his mind rebel
against his senses.
We shall pursue this theme no further for the
present. We conclude by asserting that it is not
in the legitimate power Of Congress to impose
taxes, either direct or indirect, except in the
manner provided by the constitution, and that
duties upon imports species Of indirect tax
stion, which, if laid at all, ought not to exceed
the expenditures Of the government, economic.
h ally administered
Tine Committee OF REVISION. The Com
missioners for the revision Of the Laws Of Iowa
have been in session in this city for the last two
weeks, or more. and will probably continue until
near the commencement Of the session Of the
Legislature.
Their report, a. we understand, is in the pro.
cess Of being transcribed, and will be in readi.
3 ness for the action ofthe Lawmakers at Iowa
Z City.
WI. presume there will be q necessity, or al
lsast i proprety, in the Commissioners remain
4 ing the Capital during the session Of the LIE.
gislature, ~ such portion Of it. as they might be
snGsged upon their report.
CosiNo. The Hutchinson Family are said