The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-12-04
The Fugitive Slave Law.

The Fugitive Slave Law.
| We have not as yet, taken ground either
for or against this late law of Congress,
and one reason is that we have seen no
particular necessity for so doing, and an
other is that our business engagements
have been such that we could not devote
as much time to an explanation as we
could desire. We shall, before many days,
give our opinion of the law at length. We
are not like some editors who think their
opinions are of vast Importance to the well
fare Of the people, and that the wheels of
government would stop unless their views
OF every law were heralded to the world.
In the meantime we publish below the
opinion of Judge MCLEAN, OF the Supreme
Court fthe United States, which we think,
pretty forcibly points out the duty of the
citizen under this law, and an article from
the Western Christian Advocate which de-
fines the Christians duty.
Judge Mclean says:
"Society has claim upon all its citi.
zens. General rules have been adopted,
in the form Of laws, for the protection of
the rights of persons and things. These
laws lie at the foundation of the social
compact, and their observance is essen.
tial to the maintenance Of civilization. In
these matters The iaw, and not the con-.
science constitutes the rule OF action
You are sworn to decide the case accord.
ing to the law and the testimony And
you become unfaithful to the solemn in
functions you have taken upon yourselves,
when you yield to the influence which you
call conscience, that places you above the
law and the testimony. Such rule can
apply only to individuals, and when as
sumed as basis Of action on the rights
of others, it is utterly destructive of all
law. What may be deemed conscien.
tious act by one individual, may be held
criminal by another. In view Of one, the
act is meritorious, in view of the other, it
should be punished as crime.
Sand each has the same right, acting
under the dictates of his conscience, to
carry out his own. This aoould operturn
the very basis of society. We must stand
by the law. We have sworn to maintain
it. 1t is supposed that the citizens of the
free States should be opposed to slavery.
But with the abstract principles of slavery
we have nothing to do. As political
question there could be no difference Of
opinion among us on the subject. But
our duty is found in the Constitution Of the
Union, as construed by The Supreme Court.
The .fugitives from labor aoe are bound, by
ihe highest obligations, to deliver up on
claim of the master being made; and there
is no State power which can release the
slave from the legal custody of their mas
ter. The chief glory and excellence Of
our institution consists in the supremacy
of the laws. We are instructed to reyer-
ence and obey them from our earliest
years. And il is this, connected with a
faithful administration of the laws which
has given security to persons and property,
throughout the wide extent of our country
In this consists, in great degree, the
strength of government. And we should
be careful MOTTO weaken its power. There
ii enough in the general aspect of our af-
| fairs If not to alarm. at least to admonish
as that every cord achich binds us together
should be strengthened.
| In regard to the arrest Of fugitives from
labor the law does not impose actipe duties
on our citizens generally. They are not
prohibited from exercising the ordinary
charities Of life toward the fugitive. To
secrete him or to convey him from the
reach of his master, orto rescue him when
in legal custody, is forbidden; and for do
ing this, liability is incurred. This
gives to none a just ground Of complaint
He is only to refrain from an express vic.
lation Of the law. which operates to the in
Jury of his neighbor. Is this hardshipl
No law abiding man can SO consider it
He cannot claim right to do that which
1.-The law forbids without striking at the base
of society. Ifthe law be unwise or impoli;
tic. let ii be changed in the mode prescrib.
ed, but so long as il remains the law, eve
Try good citizen will conform to it. And
every one icho arrays himself against IL
and endeapors BY open or secret means d
j bring it into contempt so that IL may be Vi.