North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-09
Can THE Law BE ENFORCED,

The New York Evening Post, one of the organs
of the Freesoiers and bitterly opposed to the ugI
tive Slave Law, holds the following language on the
subject of executing that law by the AID OF the mill
tary force Of the General Government. Inc rost'
it will be seen, laughs at the military power o. Ine
country in such case, and taxes the grouhu Oo'diS
that the Fugitive Slave Law is too strongly opposed
NV Northern public sentiment, ever 10 De enforced
7'ha extract is interesting, as showing the calcua-
ons Of our enemies in connection with this laws and
,h; dissemination to evade it by all means, whether
fouI or fair. The Post says:
at, one or two journals we perceive the remark in
nocently made that the fugitive slave law is now GER
tin to be obeyed because the President, according
~ TELEGRAPH report from Washington, has expressed
dissemination to support the United States Marshals
bv the military force of the United States, in case
they meet with forcible resistance in executing the
law.
No doubt the part of the President is, whenever
the execution of any law of the land is wthstood
violence, and it be enforced by no other mgiHou
to call out the troops of the United States every
body understands that, and takes it for ganleu d'
when circumstances shall occur, which plainly cas-.
this duty on the President, he VIII Periorni it'
will occIr however to anv man who reflects on the
subject, that a can hardly arse uI'uei Ge ~
tive slave law, in which the military couo elecudiiS
interpose. 81 .o,ta ,ssis
,od td st IN, If the reach of his pursuer This is
not for the interference OF platoon oil soldiers
Suppose the Marshal commands posse 70 ASSIST nun
l.; capturing-the runaway, and the people refuse 10
rn out and the slave slips beyond his reach Ihere
is no cause here for ordering out the troops suppose
Tho slave il actuay rescued from the persons attempt
;pr IN seize him. as one was the other day rescued
bv the butchers in Williamsburg, and suppose That
in Ten minutes he is placed beyond the reach OF pur-
sut-it would be an Idle affair to bring over comPa-
nv If men in uniform this account from Governor
Island Suppose there is riot In n orthamPtoh, In
Massachusetts to liberate slave whom the Marshai
had nut in handouts, and the negro set tree Inc next
day a man in epauleites, accompanied by score OF
two others with muSkets on their shouiders' coheS
ND from the neighborhood OF Boston TO helP 10 exc
cute the laws. He comes twenty-tour hours 100 lde'
These examples show how little can ne zone oy
the miItay when law is enacted in direct opposition
to the public opinion of the country where II Is 10 DC
nut in execution threat to order out the military
under such circumstances, should not we tnnk' nave
been thrown out since it will only reflect how little
power the Government has to coerce the people INTO
practical cooperation with the civil authorities, With
out which the law is but shadow and mockery
We do not look, therefore, TO see the military ever
called ont TO aid in the execution of the fugitive slave
law and vet we expect to see the dIthcuy OF us eA-
ecution so great that few will ever be sent back under
it, We do not counsel, have never couIrseiied re-
sstance to the law; have the contrary advised
AGAINST it, but we cannot shut eyes 10 the FACT
that law so detested has chance Of being oheyed
The general adherence of the law is not likely to be
mtgated by threat to shoot men down who are aid
ING in the escape of a fugitive. 10 us II appears
veTy likely that the principal effect of such measure
will be to make the proceedings of those vino may
attempt d rescue, far more summary and expeditions