Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-06-28

If these authorities do not enforce the
requirements of the Constitution, and aid
in the recapture and recovery of fugitive
slaves, Congress can do but little to en-
force them The bill providing for the
cooperation of the few officers of the
United States Government in State is
practically quite insufficient to accomplish
its aim. What can they do ia such a
State as Pennsylvania to recover fugitive
slaves? Yet if Congress does all that
it can do by legislation to enforce the
Constitution, it only does its duty TO the
South There can be no concession or
favor TO the South, in giving her only
what she has right to have under the
ConStitution--unless, indeed, the Consi-
tuition for her has no existence. The bill
then, is, in the Grst place, quite made
quate to restore to us our fugitive slaves,
and in the second place, gives the South
nothing but what she is entitled to. If
this was all, there would be nothing in
the bill for which we should concede
anything to the north But it is not all.
Under the preteXt of bestowing on us
benefit, it perpetrates usurpation on the
reserved rights of the States. 1t pro-
vides that a slave may arraign his master,
by the authority of laws made by Con.
gress the courts Of tie States and the
United States, to try his right TO his free
dom. If Congress can iegislate at all
between the master and slave in State,
where can its power be stayed? 1t can
abolish slavery in the States. Thus a
power is assumed in the bill which virtu-
ally extends the jurisdiction of Congress
over slavery in the States. And this is a
benefit to the south! Under guise of a
benefit, the bill is useless as a remedy
and worse than uselessin It's usurpations.
Such are the various measures which con-
shtute this compromise
We do no believe that those in the
south who. at an early day, expressed a
willingness to support it, had we'll con-
sldc'ed its import or even contemplated
supporting it without material amend
men,s, We fully appreciate and duly
honor the motives of those who would
restore tranquility to the country, nor
shall we impugn in any form those who
have assisted TO frame or who have yield
cd a support 10 the measures. Why the
non slavcholding States do not support
these measures we are unable to under
stand, unless it be that naughty fanati-
cism, inflated with success, dsdains ac-
complishing its objects by indrection. If
these measures, however, were really a
compromise in which the south had equal
gains with the north, it would be of
doubtful expcdiencv for the south to pro-
pose it, Three times in Congress, du-
ring this controversy, tie south has pro-
posed the Missouri compromise. which
has been three times rejected by the
North Twice she has proposed COM
promise by which she consented to leave
it to the courts Of the United States to
determine her rights. Instead OF re-
quiring stenly their recognition by Con.
gress, fifteen sovereign States have con-
scented to be carried into the courts of the
country, and there to submit their sove-
reign rights in territory belonging to
them to their final arbitrament. Their
humiliation did not win the respect or con-
fidcncc of the north, and proposition was
twice rejected.
The south, in our opinion, might accept
one other compromise, not because it is
coextensive with our rights, but because
it has been twice sanctioned by those
who have gone before. If the north Of
fer2 the Missouri Compromise, to extend
to the Pacific Ocean, the south cannot
reject it, provided distinct recognition
of our right to enter the territory south
of SO deg. 80 min. north latitude is ex-
pressed in the compromise. We should
take this line as partition line between
the two sections of the Union; and be-
side this, nothing but what the Constitu-
tion bestows. Although the northern
States would acquire by this compro-
mise three fourths of our vacant terrific
ry, they will have renounced thcinsufer-
able prctension of restricting and pre-
venting the extension of the south, whilst
they should extend indefinitely.
Having thus, fellow citizens, laid be.
fore You statement of your condition
your rights-and the remedy which, un.
der present circumstances, you should
accept. we leave you for brief space o
time. 1t is proper to state to you that
while we are unanimous in approving the
| resolutions which accomnony thio ad