The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-06

States, to slavery rs it exists amongst us-one
which has exhibited itself in them in a manner
much more offensive even than that displayed in
the halls of Congress. Some of them have by
law prohibited their officers of every kind, under
heavy penalties, from rendering any assistance
in arresting fugitive $ ayes they have refused
the use of their ails for the confinement of alb
sconding slaves, though they often mPrison the
master going in pursuit Of them. They have
passed laws, which put every master attempting
: TO recaptulate his runaway negro within their
borders, in imminent danger of being tried as IL
felon, and sentenced to Imprisonment in their
pententiaries.
The chief executive authorities Of some Of
these States have, in direct disobedience to the
provisions of the United States Constitution, re-
fused to deliver up fugitves from justice upon
a legal and proper demand because the o1ience
with which they stood charged, was that OF ne
GRO stealinp. Slaves themselves charged with
felony. and escaping into the free States, have,
unon demand being made for their delivery rs
fuoitives from Justice, been refused, on the
ground that our laws, constituting certain OIL
fences felony, were not recognized by the free
States to which the slave had fled. 1t is thing
of constant occurrence, to see the master, III
pursuit of his slave, openly insuted and out
rared Gated with more contumely and con-
tempt than if he were himself II fugitive from
Every device which parliamentary law would
allow, in the halls of Congress, and countless
eyneden's in the tree States, have been resorted
TO for the purpose of irritating, insulting and
iniurng the South. 1t is no longer matter of
surprise that excitement and evaporation both
now exist to an alarming extent amongst us in
consequence OF these acts.
But the spirit in which the law for the reca-
nation of fugitive slaves has been met III Inc
free States, is emminently calculated to embitter
still more the feeling of ennty between the free
and slave States This act ! s the only one or
congress for many years, directly or remotely
bearing upon the subject of slavery, when ms
even Appropriated towards justice to the SCUM
and it has been met there rs we would meet
disoryanizing proclamation Of an invading Toe
Public meetings have been called to denounce IT.;
the newspaper press has assailed it with unus-
usual bitterness the preachers Oft the gospel have
inyeiyhed against it from the pulpit; opposition
: TO it has in many places, obterated party lines,
! and men Of every rank and condition OF HE, OF
; every degree of Intelligence and Influence have
, landed themselves together with the avowed
, determination of resisting the law whilst upon
| the statute book, and Of ultimately e1ectng It's
. repeal. ,,..u...
Vircinia,aud think all the slaveholdlng States,
can, and ought, calmly but explicitly to declare
if essential modification of it, is virtual repeal oil
e. the Union. The faithful execution OF this law
r. which the Union can be preserved with honoi
$, to ourselves and peace to the country. Such
IF declaration on the part Of the South Will give
" STRENGTH and great moral weight to the c"nser
I'd is in INV Judgment, the only means now lell, ny
H. vatiye PATRIOTS at the North, now struggling to
the constitution and the supremacy of the laws
or who are, in TRUTH fighting the battle OF the Union
he in the bosom of the non-savchodlng otates'-
" There were never more important trusts com
IL mittcd to the hands of any men. 1hcr TRIUMPH
IN is the victory of order over anarchy, or peace
i. over bloodshed and fire. Their defeat is TIT
ID knell of the Union; for if the fanatics of tn,
C. North come into the halls Of Congress Will
il power TO control the action Of il, Il few years
r. only will clapse before they Will throw aa!d'
t. every appearance of restraint, and abolish slavery
n in the Staa-.. With the alternative presented
IL to us, of submission to this action, or dlssolu
&c sion of the Union, there would not be one voic,
IL raised in favor of that Union, for which there
IS are now SO many thousands who would she'
ng their blood.
Nv Surely. after the sacrifices the South la
II. made, it is asking little when she demands G
re-. CONGRESS- to be faithful to the pledges 1t mn
ed pvcn, and ofthe slaveholding States to abid
bv by the Constitution Of the country, and the law
on made dcclaraory of its obligations.
-, If however, no consideration Of prudence 0
is patriotism can restrain the majority from tn
ne non-slaveholding States in their hcadlong caree
Ill of usurpation and wrong; and should they repen
1y or essentially modify the Fugitive slave law, tn
1T most prompt and decisive action will be requi'
or ed at Your hands In either event, would carr
be estlv recommend that Il convention of the peopl
n be called at once, to take into consideration tn
nd mode and measure of redress rs well rs tn
of means of providing for our future security an
TIC peace.
US Nirginia, in this event will have nothing to re
e. proach herself WITH however much she may hay
ID. to regret She has advocated the principles o
rd free and constitutional government with unwav
RI erlng firmncss. Neither the menaces nor TIT
a arms of Great Britain could extinguish the low
o. Of liberty in her BOSOM and when the Fedora
OF Government usurped an authority, which threat
I'd encd our independence, she stood the champion
10 of popular supremacy and saved the Consttu
ID ton Let not the advocates of freedom tea
e that Virginia will ever falter in her support o.
y the great cardinal principles Of repubIicansm
p liberty and equality: these she will maintain, al
n though she stood alone amongst the nations o
r the earth. The time she may select, and the
is manner she may adopt, will be marked by acau
tious crcumspection, not the less resoluc OF
At firm, because the more deliberate. Virginia
o feels an especial interest in the Union Of these
IL States; upon the brightest pages OF It's history
her name is written in letters that can never fade
e We know its gcatness, and feel that no euloglsi
G is needed to proclaim its glory.
u From the frozen SUBMITS of Norway to the
! crowded plains of China, the denizens Of that
:. '. vast region come hockng to our shores; and
~ from Old Point Comfort to the Bay of San Fran
- cisco, they are welcomed to the fraternity of
" counties populations happy, prosperous and free
" 1t is hallowcd in its associations for Washing
:" ton stood godfather for it at the baptisma fon
IL Of the nation, whilst the sstcrhood of State
= were around, still clad in the habliments o
-. mourning for their children, who had died a 81
crilce for the blessed boon. All that is cnnobn!
~ in the bosom Of men, all that is pure and cleva
ted in the character of patriot, all that is cher
VI ishcd and dear to the affections of the either
l., plead for the preservation of that Constitution
~ and that Union, which the sacregious hand
', of tanatcal abotiouSm attempting to lcve
80 with the dust. Should these attempts succrc,
~ in DESTROYING the equilibrium now established