The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-15

LRsnTu ID r. Dssr .sos TArLos, w AsAsrSoss, PxAxs
LooxB, w. RAMSAY, and O. srxisAAN
01-Rsceipts from eth Of the above will be good
nLwuu4s GouLps, Richmond Virginia, agent
for Virginia. travelling agents A. b. PuLLKR and JAMES
THoHAs
Assault. oa the Constitution. Fugitive slaves,
The following provision in the constitution of the
United States. relating fugitive slaves is of the
panes and unequvocal in the whole of that match
less instrument;
''No person held TO service labor in State under
the laws thereof escaping into another, shall IN cone
quence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor, but shall BE- delivered Oh d
Of the party whom such service labor may be due
Two leading objects here kept in view, and mani
testify provided for in the stringent and pointed
TERMS 10 wit: L. That no State should enact law or esao
lish regulation whereby fugitive slaves should be lber
ated That such slaves should be delivered up to their
owners on claim being made. The prohibltory clause
clearly APPLIES TO the several States in their sovereign
character, and the mandatory clause TO both States and
their citizens Such was the view taken OF this subject
by Congress in the act of 1885, and SUCH Also has been
the uniform construction OF State and national judicial
tribunals.
II is historical fact, well known to those familiar
with the early annals of government, that guaranty
Of this nature was required SINE qua non by the
States interested in the existence OF slavery before
the constitution could be established at all Symptoms OF
repugnance 10 slavery began appear in some of the
northern States oil the eonederacy and the South very
Justly and naturally feared that if left unprotected their
slaves would be seuced away laws declaring them ree
or BY morbid public issiing such now see IN tu
operation Throughout, many portions of the savehos
ing States But this provision in the constitution
unanimously sanctioned by the federal convection II is
also fact equally we'll known that the constitution OF
the United States adopted by all the States without
any specific objection this fugtve-slave clause Its
Justice and necessity everywhere conceded and even
those who opposed to slavery admitted that where
it existed by law il must be respected and that the
ers OF slaves were entitled to protection.
The mode in which fugitive slaves should be demanded
was not prescribed in the constitution; and within four
years OF the time when that instrument into effect
Congress supplied this omission in the act of 1893. That
act passed without opposition, received the signature Of
President Washington, and deemed amply sufficient to
insure faithful execution of the constitution and So in
fact proved to be for many years In process OF time
circumstances changed slavery abolished in all the
northern States societies to extend that abolition TO all
other States sprang up; England had denounced it; the
horrors Of the African slave trade transferred the
condition Of slavery in this country by heated fanatics
They could nothing but whips racks and Unsuitable
cruelty the part of the masters and hear nothing but
cries and goans of agony the part of the slaves and
then violently began the sympathizng agitation
this subject which has at length brought country to
the verge OF dissolution and civil Nearly all this
evil has been the work Of the last twenty years Slaves
have been melted off, to rob and to murder their
owners and have found protection and asylum among
the abotionsts of the North. 1t is believed, from
careful examination of the subject that less than
sighteen thousand fugitive saues worth, al the usual
prices, eight millions of dollars harbored and lurking
in all the towns, villages, and bamles OF the North Mr.
Bayy calculates in his recent circular that fifteen hun
bred escape annually Thus is evident that the wles
and frauds OF the abolitoniss have distracted from the
people Of the South property worth the of
eight millions OF dollars and keep it, open defiance OF
the constitution and laws OF the United States Not only
do they in the most barefaced manner glory in this depr-
walton, but they denounce the thieves
"murderers," and !" bloody MONSTERS" for CON-
planning at the wrongs which they suffer.
The late fugitive slave law passed by Congress is
sailed if it establishment the bloody code
ofDnco; and public meetings emphatcay proclaim that
rather than il enforced they would dissolve the Union
and involve the country in all the caames of civil and
servile war. Renegade negroes, encouraged by white
allies who disgrace their black associates are aiding to in
hame the passions and appeal to mistaken humanity and
in this vocation deliver homes the constitution of the
United States and the laws Of God White persons attend
shout most Justify for the ebony Demoshenes, applaud
their spirit and their sentiments and side by side on the
roll Of glory, shine those African gems, Ward and Doug
lass, and those little less llustrous Names Senator Sew
ard and Gerriu Smith. Great is this " Diana OF the
Ephesians"-ths higher.law platform" MAJ, in
time, reach the skies, and tower above the gibbet its
present altitude seems not TO be exactly ascertaned
Now after all this fume and fog OF brawling denun.
ciahon cleared away what is this obnoxious fugitive
slave law What wrong does il nfict-what personal
right does IT invade few sober words will put these
fanatcs to the blush, it, indeed, they have not outved
that human weakness. This late law gives the owner
OF fugve slaves the right employ the marshal or his
deputy, other executive officer, armed with the
authority OF the federal government secure his prop
erty II is little stringent against rescues and re-
sstance and furnishes at best scarcely adequate
Of enforcing the constitutional guarantee Of the right
recaptue fugitive slaves This is, in fact and in SUBJ
stance, the only real point Of difference between this law
and that OF 1893 That law gave the hand OF the
no omcal support. 1t left him to bis chances and
the result was, that the slaves in most instances escaped
OF were rescued, the owner was imprisoned under
fass charges, or killed, he did not retreat These
minSs took place in thousand instances One single
fscf V overwhelming in proving the necessity for this
LIT A~l AkAt.~