The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-18

the country. They regard the adoption Of the
Fugitive slave bill az the strongest evidence az
forded in the adjustment of the intention of our
Northern brethren 10 abide in good faith by the
compromises and guarantees Of the Constitution
on the subject of slavery, They have witnessed
the patriotic efforts of portion OF our Northern
friends with the highest satisfaction, proofs Of
their determination To sustain the provisions Of the
bill. They point to the speech of Judge Douglas,
the charge OF Judge Grer. the resolutions of the
great meeting of New York, and other demonstra-
TONS Of public sentiment IN the Nor h, with the
greatest satisfaction. Th;se events have nerved
the and stimulated the hearts Of the Southern
men who are struggling for the preservation of
the Union. But, amid this struggle between pa
triotism and fanatlcsm, they are looking with in
cteasing anxiety to the action of the Executive.
They are now waiting TO STE whether Mr.. Fill
more will permit the opportunity to pass uninl-
proved, of indicating the power and majesty of
the law. .' ...- .0'. ..-.
We are assured upon authority to which we at
tach the greatest weight, that the Union hangs
upon the fate of the Fugitive slave law. Its re-
peal, or its material modification, the failure to
carry out It's provisions in all good faith, will
cause every Southern arm now raised in the cause
Of the Union TO fall neryeless, and every tongue
that now defends it will be palsed into silence.
We state these facts for the purpose OF awakening
our countrymen of the North and we assure them
with all the earnestness of the deepest teton,
that, unless they arouse themselves and come to
the rescue, there is great and imminent danger of
the dissolution of the Union.
We state these facts and we urge these specula-
tons upon all the responsibility which, as patriot
apd as a man, we owe to our countrymen. The
Union will be saved if the firm and moderate men
Of the North will il SO otherwise, Gas Mr.. Bayard
said in bis celebrated speech OF 1909, ''we shall
be led to the brink Of tremendous preGipice am
other false step. and shall be iostin the abyss.
| We ha n hesitation that when the
convention Of Georgia assemble, they are bound by
the most solemn duties to declare these facts, d
TO proclaim thai unless the Compromise lie car
ried out in good faith and all aggressions cease
hereafter, the South must look 10 its own exertlons
for the preservation Of it's rights and its honor,
We regret that the conduct Which The President
has deemed it advisable To pursue in the late Bos-
ton affair has been of such character as to give
countenance TO this opinion We trust the Presi-
dent intends to fulfil his duty without SHRINKING
or wagering; but, If he does, the time has come
for some other manifegat on of this determination,
besides that of mere tcords. Every day increases
the flames of dscord, and, IT, he delays much lon
ger, il ie doubtful how far they can be extngushed
or controlled.
The editor of the Union don't know which
way to turn. Sometimes he lays the blame on
the President, sometimes on the claimants some
times on the Marshal, sometimes on Abolitionists.
He begs, threatens and deplores. He explains,
qualities and eytenuatcs. In vain--in vain-in
vain. The law is not executed, and never will
be- There has been in fact but one fugitive ar-
rested and restored under it, and that was by
surprise There never will be hundred-therc
will never be one. tenth recovered under it as by
the previous law, and if that is restored, there will
Al. o tl,,ft 1,n.,,
has BEEN For the sentiment Of Abolition has
increased, and is increasing, until it is controlling
in the North 1t is combined with sectional
ambition, avarice and power, and holds the purse,
the patronage, and the horors Of the Union, in
its grasp.
The Fugitive slave law is the law of the land,
it has received a majority vote in Congress, and
it has the direct sanction of the Constitution
1t may not be repealed, it may not be modified
by Congress, but it acts OH one section, and that
section is bitterly opposed, not to this law sim
ply but to the object of the law, the restitution
of Fugitive slaves. And this is the section that
can defy laws, or repeal laws, as it pleases.
The Southern States are all committed to this
law by the resolutions OF their people, of then
Legislatures, of their cnnventions-by the vote:
of their senators and members. Will any OF
them back out--shuffe out-or creep out? We
see the most formd be preplra ions made OF
pledges, ofresolyes,-anda also ofexcuses, equvo'
cations, pretences and evasions.
We make no new issues. We go for the
pledges already made-36 3O-and all. We
agree to no compostion-to no confession OF
moral and political bankruptcy We will give
up no note for hundred dollars and take an
other in payment for ten, with the same drawers
and the same security. The honor, dignity, SOW,
eregnty and faith of States cannot be com
pounded. When these fail, it is not because
| there are not enough assets-it is because there
are no assets.