Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-11
Fugitive slaves.


sti'ution less" Now, the Bible is good book. one
which we should oil read. erdeavur To understand
aud follow ii- precepts. and when desire
on the subject of Theology shall make il the
of our counsel. But when di -cus< the rights of
American citizens, poi ticaI rights and privileges,
shall go the laws Of Moses. hut to tue Con-
siItuiion hirh the ark of our political safety
Nor do We believe that there is any thing in the Con.
situon which as Inconsistent with the dac-r5n of
the Bible, The divine innnctions of tie christian
religion. If we did. we should never again Law our
hands upon the = Holy evangelist of Almighty God"
and swear TO support an instrument which believ-
ed in any particular violated the express word of God
and we would advise all who entertain such seni-
mcnts henceforrh and forevermore. refuse public
Offices, und never TO support the Constitution
unless they do it.
w. III. Seward is the only man, in either branch of
Congress who ever uttered such sentiment. The
Buffalo Convention did dare To ke it part of
their creed. The idea however is not original with
Seward. 1t was uttered many years ago by William
Lloyd Garrison when he said. The Constitution of
the United States league with Hell" and from
that day be and his followers have refused and
deny all allegiance TO the Government, or binding
obligations of the laws.
like Garrison; but for a native born American citizen,
it is monsIrous
The most alarming feature in the article, TO which
we alluded. is the astounding news. that there are
eighty thousand Democrats in Indiana who hold such
sentiments. In this we hope the editor is mistaken
We presume that "the wish is father the thought,
and there are not eighty thousand Democrats in Ind-
who do not believe in The binding obligations of
the Constitution 1t is a historical fact which the
debates in the convention will prove that much diff
Guilty on this very subject and after much de-
bate and many propositions, tie following provision
was adopted as a compromise measured
"No person held to service or labor in one State.
under the laws thereof ping into another SHALL
! Consequence of any law or regulation therein, be
discha ged from service labor but shall be deliver
ed up the claim Of the party TO whom such
| labor may be ue."-Section ID, 4th Article Com
Stitufton u. s.
! The Supreme Court the highest judicial tribunal of
the country, in the of Prigg the
wealth Of Pennsy lyanla 18th Peterss reports says:
THE clause in the Constitution relating 10 fugtIves
from labor manfesIy contempla:es the existence of
positive unqualified right, The part of the of
the slave, which no State law regulation can
In any way qualify, regulate, control restrain.
The owner of fugitive slave has the right to
take him in a State to which he has escaped fed
that he has in the State from which he escaped
and it is well known, that this right to seizure
capture is universally acknowledged in all the slave
holding States"
Judge Mclean, who is known to entertain strong
anti-slavery feeling in the of Ray Donnell
tried at the May term of the United States Circuit
for the District of Indiana holds the following
language:-
1.-The power to establish slavery in my Judgment,
does belong Federal Government 1t is not
found in the enumerated Federal powers. nor can it
be implied from the necessary exercise of any of
them but a right belonging the States respec-
tivelY ii is recognized. The clause in the Constliu-
ton, which has been read and the of Congress in
regard to fugitives from labor intended to
| cover the service OF slaves as well as apprentices.
From the history of the times know the recogni-
ton of this power in the States, and in this FORM
essential to the adoption of the Constitution, and on
this principle of compromise. the compact of the
Union was formed. The Constitution has made us
one people-a nation-a great nation-a nation that
stands proudly among the nations of the earth, and if
we maintain it's principles IN the same spirit which
led to its formation, country will! be advanced
height of prosperity. far beyond that which we
now enjoy our present position is above that which
. fathers occupied when the constitution was form
ed. IL the Guarantees Of this fundamental law be
- dlsregarded oil hopes for the future, regards
the prosperity the greatness and glory of
: try, must perish"
Thus spoke Judge Mclean in bis official character
as Judge, from the BENCH in his charge to jury
He did not like Seward would have done, or the Ed
, itor cf the Goshen Democrat would have advised tel
them that they should disregard The law and the Con
\ stitution. and look into the Bible for higher law
= Such fanaIicism would uproot the very foundation
society," and destroy oil security of person and proper
ty. The man having two coats must surrender Oh,
to him that has none We hold that the South has ~
just of complaint. if slavery should be excluded
\ from every inch of territory where does not nov
exist. But when the people of The free States shall
by the decisions of their Courts Disregard the
Congress and the binding provisions of the Constitu
ton; when they shall pass laws to obstruc the
Of fugitive slaves, then will the South have just caus
of complaint and the safety of this glorious Union
Il, endangered. Let it be understood that Indan
of is the cy of refugee for fugitive slaves and
- will be filled with this idle and vicious population
~ population of which now have great redundanc
nj and population which Legislature should raihe
: discourage than otherwise. different race whic
no never be placed upan equality with the whit
= man an equality which the Editor of the Goshe
20 Democrat. with all his high wrought notions
IN "freedom," will not acknowledge. If he does W
q then give him up abolItiOnsm a lost and falls
IA Democrat. We do not know the Editor, out we eel
~ ainly entertain the kndes feelings towards him-w
no know and appreciate the services of his worthy brotl
Nd err Dr. E. w. H. Ellis who for the last twelve year
e.h IA. e