Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-12-13

{ 10 Be sure, have for Yek been Pctsusses1 - -hieh
endeayored to personalities. Of The nanseIs -
heset our paths; tnt nj recently they 49,
much hesded The peedsFe Of the slavery 49, ~, A
lion attFaeied but lfa general notice dn1lhs -
n progress and yet the kory Of i presents 1ne y
: most remarkable ch5ers in The ehIonlcis, = -
rs shose familiar ith the peculiar form @ e, e,
eovernment-who Xiv that IN all maAeIs "a
directly embraced wikn The PROVISIONS =. s;s,;net
eFal constitution iheiiparate States are a. 49,
anf disunited the kgdo;ns OF FRANCE arS $50.
many-ibe gratuiiou preference ofthe IIee
with slavery must apear 70 be The most afrus
presumptuaus, unlusAnd iniquitous eut -
perpetraled by Que cifliEed people upon anYeie :;
All the authority giYn to Congress, dtfeelly u
II directly speak uPa he subject 81 siafeig =
/ single clause OF tn Conslntioa, whien III ,f
/ upon them The duty providing means lor u 80
/ ciamaiion OF slaves whp Ascending from then
masters, and their WV into free States Anu ~
the right has been claimed cy agiatofs IN m
abolish slavery 10 te District OF !, a.
the forts and acknowledgement The slaNehoiu.ns
States 10 prohibit the dtizen OF one State from sels
his slave TO the citzeto Of another Sials any 49,, ~
clare that no man owning slaves SHAH oe alloSea
to emigraie with then 80 territories, Inc conlioA
These movements q Congress are the result OF
hostility amongst lhe citizens OF the free Stales 70
siye even than that displayed in the halisof Con-
I press Some OF them have by law prohibited their
Officers of every kind, under heavy penalties from
rendering any assistance in arresting fugitive
slaves; fhey have refused the of their jails for
the confinement of Ascending slsvess though they
often imprison the master going in parsnit Of them.
They have passed laws, which put every master at
tempting 10 recaplulate his runaway negro within
their borders in imminent danger of being tried as
felon, and sentenced to imprisonment in their
penitentiaries.
The chief executive authorities of some Of these
States have in direct disObedence to the provisions
Of the United States Constitution refused to deliver
up fugitiyes from justice upon legal and proper
demand, because the offence with which they stood
charged was that of negro-stealing. Slaves them
selves charged with felony, and escaping into the
free States, have, upon demand being madeefor
their delivery as fugitives from Justice been refused
on the ground that our laws constituting certain
T offences felony, were not recognized by the free
States TO which the slave had fed. Ii is thing of
constant occurrence tp see the master, in pursuit
Of His slave openly insuted and outraged, treated
with more contumely and contempt than if he were
himself fugitive tromjustice, fleeing for the crime
Of murder
! Evets device which parliamentary law would al
low in the halls OF congress, and countless expedi
ens in The fteestaes hare been resorted TO- for the
purpose Of irritating, Insulting and inlurihg the
South Il is no longer matter OF surprise that ex
( citement and evaporation both now exist TO an
/ alarming extent amongst us in consequence OF
+ these acts. s..
But the spirit in which The law for the reclama-
ton of might've slaves has been met in thesree states
i is emineny calculated 10 embitter still more the
| feeling Of enny between The free and the slave
I states This act is the emily one ofeongress for ma
4 ny years, directly orIrfmotely bearing upon the
1 subject Of slavery, which has even Appropriated
| towards Justice 10 the South, and il has been met
| there as we would meet disorg anizing proclama
tiun ofan invading foe Public meetings have been
called to denounce ii, the newspaper press has as
/ saedi with unusual bitterness the preachers of
i The gospel have inpeghed against il from the pal
pit; opposition to il has in many places oblitera-
/ led party lines and men OF every rank and condl-
lono life, oil every degree Of Intelligence ant in
/ duence have banded themselves together with the
| avowed determination bf resisting The law whilst
upon the statue book, and OF ultimately affecting It's
| repeal. Ugh M ri
Virginia. and think all the saveholding states,
I can, and ought calmly but explicitly TO declare,
that the repeal OF the fugitive slave law or any es
/ sentia modification Of H. is Virtual repeal OF the
Union. The faithful execution Of This law is, in
I nv judgement, the only means now left, by which
the Union can be preserved with honor to ourselves
and peace to The country Such declaration on
the part Of the South will give strength and great
North, Struggling or fhsi CONSTITUTION and lie
supremacytof the laws, who are in truth, fighting
the battle Of the Union in the BOSOM Of the
slayeholding states. There were never more impor-
tant trusts committed 10 the hands of any men
Their triumph rs the victory of order over anarchy,
| OF peace over bloodshed and fire. Their defeat is
the knell of The Union for if the fanatics of the
North come into The halls Of congress with power to
control the action of i'll few years only will ella pse
before they will throw aside every appearance of
the alternative presented 10 us, Of submission ID this
/ action or dissolution pt the Union, there weud
not be one voice in favor OF that Union for which
there are now 50 many thousands who would shed
/ their blood.
Surely, af!er the sacrifices the South has made
tits asking little when she demands Of congress 10
be faithful 70 the pledges il has given and OF the
ayeAoding states To abide by the constitution
I Of The country, and The laws made declaratoFy Of
its obligations.
~ If however No consi1aration If nr,,dsnce or nat
riotsm can restrain the majority from the mons ave
holding states in their heaaong of usurpation
and wrong; and sholld they repeal or essentially
modify the fugitive slave law, the most prompt and
i decisive action will be required al your hands In
either event, would earnestly recommend thai
convention of The people be called at once to take
into consideration The mode and measure OF redress
! as well as ting means ct providing for our future
security and peace.
Virginia, in:this event will have nothing to re-
proach herself with however much she NAV have
10 regret She has advocated the principles of free
| and constitutional government, with unwayering
| hrmness. Neither the menaces the arms of
! Great Britain could extagush the love Of liberty
in her bosom and when the federal government
! nsurped an authority, which threatened our fhde-
pendence she stood the champion of popular supre-
macy and saved the constitution Let not the ad-
vocates of freedom fear that Virginia will ever fall
ter in her support Of the great cardinal principles IL
republicanisIn, liberty and equality there she y III
maintain although she stood aloGe amongst the
BdtlOHS tilDG she may SeIect, anu
The manner She may ADOPT will be marked by a
cautious eirquscspectons not the less resSlute or
\ hrm, because the more deliberate. Virginia feeds
an especial interest in the Union of these states
nron the brightest pageso its history her name is
written in letters that can never fade. We know
its greatness and feel thai no euogist is needed 10
proclaim It's glory.
From the frozen summiis of Norway to- the
crowded plains Of China the denizens Of that vast
region come hockng 10 our shores; and from Old
Point COmforfto the Bay OF San Francisco, they
welcomed 70 the fraternity of countless popu-
lation, happy, prosperous and free is hallowed
ia its associations; for Washington stood godfather
for il at the baplsna fonl OF the nation whilst the
sisterhood of states were around stils clad in the
hahiiiments Of mourning for their children, who
had died sacrifice for the blessed boon. All that
is ennobIiDg in the bosom of men, all that is pure
and elevated in the character OF patriot all that is
cherished and dear to the affections of the citizen
plead for the preservation of that constitution and
that Union which the sacTilegious hands OF anati-
cal abolitionism attempting TO level with the
dust Should these attempts succeed in destroying
The equilibrium now established. the fabric itself
must fall prostfae TO the+earth Il will no longer
be the agissof our defence, but the spear for our
destruction i
Nothing, however venerable from It's antiquity,
or halloWed by The sacred Fememhrances Of the past
can commend itself 10 the support OF any people
when, instead of benefits il! brings along with il
injustice. oppression and wrong.
That Union which, Washington invoked his
countrymen 10 preserve there is patriot who
would not die 10 defend The union which fanati-
eism would establish 10 its stead, there is true
. I a hflrai1 r..fd HAT nf1tspr rOVT +