The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-09
WWe extract the following from the Wash
ington Union of Yesterday, Sunday.

ER we eAtract the loiloWlhg ifoni bno " ash-
ington Union of yesterday, Sunday.
EXTREMES MEEr.-The world is full of
strange contradictions Among them, few are
so curious as the meeting and mingling of OPT
MONS in opposite extremes Hence it has been
truly said that the extremes are often nearer
than the means" We frequently see this pecu-
liarity illustrated in the theories and notions of
sects and fanatics
On Thursday last the Southern Press con-
tanned an article which we read with much sur
prise. Several papers and persons have, il ap-
pears, been charging the senior editor with hav-
ing not long ago been an Aboitionist. This he
denies and, to disprove it, quotes the following
article from the indianapolis Sentinel, (imputing
to him the charge of abolitionism,) and COM
ments on it in the strain that follows:
From the Southern Press.
The following, from the Indianapolis Sentinel
give, in order to do justice to the senior editor
Of the Southern Press:
"a family, bearing the outward appearance Of
much responsibility, reached the city of lndianap-
oils from Boston, bringing with them testimonials
of their good standing. The family consisted Of a
widow and her two daughters. The daughters
were well educated, and professed TO teach music.
Attached to the family was a negro man, who
drove team. Shortly after the advent Of this
Boston family, the orderly and quiet citizens ofIn-
dianapolis were aroused by tie unnatural and
startling intelligence that one OF the accomplished
and highly educated girls had been married to this
negro man. The fury of the popuace knew no
bounds. The negro and his bride fled for safety.
They were followed some two or three miles into
the country and when the chase became too hot,
the negro left his beloved, and in the darkness Of
the night, made his escape. The wife was placed
upon horse, and returned to her mother in shame
and disgrace. The statutes were searched for the
purpose Of prosecuting the clerk who granted the
license, the magistrate who married the parties,
but there was no law to be found. On the meet
ing Of the legislature next morning, bill was in
troduced making it a penal offence, punishable by
fine and imprisonment, for white persons and ne
groes, mulattoes having one-eigth negro blood,
to intermarry, &c. The passage of this bill was
violently opposed by Mr.. Fisher-urging, among
other reasons, that public opinion, and not law.
must regulate and control such marriages. The
passed the bill by large majority-Mr Fisher
end FIVE six others voting against it, This,
happening in a time of much excitement, gave rise
to the impression that he was an Abolitionist, as
all the Abolitioniss in the legislature and the citi
zens Of that political faith, occupied the same POI
sition of opposition to this law. Whatever were
the opinions of Ellwood Fisher at that time, it ia
certain they have since undergone change This
was since 1892.
We recolIect full we'll the circumstance. The
preventative of Switzerland county, Indiana, where
he then resided, twenty miles from Cincinnati
The principal objection to his election was, that
h., was a nullfer-a character that he never de-
med, but avowed and defended. He opposed the
bill TO prohibit intermarriage beipeen ,ohiies and
bLacks, solely on the ground that po,oer
rred the legislature 10 pass such ia,o; for TO de-
terne ,oho can contract marriage is 10 exercise
7ore arbitrary porer than claimed by the
TUTORS. Nor is the senior editor satisfied Of the
erpedieney efsuch lao, spen il the po,rer ExIsTED
for if Boston or New England white fanatics,
Yo,aa Ist IN mar we
are not quite sure that they should be prevented
by law Such connexion would, we think, be
about as efectual of their fanaticism any
thing that could be done, and as destructive of
their influence.
We desire not to be misunderstood. We do
not quote or refer to this article to prove that
the senior editor of the Press is an Abolitonst.
That is a subject which we know nothing about,
and care as little. Our purpose is TO shoW that
| he aro,cS opinions repugnam TO common sense,
II public dscency and 10 The codes Of laD Of most
Of the STATES of The Union, and nf The ciriii.ed
governments Of The ,oorM. OF all the institutions
existing among men, that of marriage is one of
the most ancient and universal. It began, in
fact, with our first parents in Paradise, and has
been in all ages either sanctifed by religion or
made binding by the civil laws 1t has also been
in all ages subject to the control Of religion or
the law. NJ doubt occasionally sects of fanat-
policy and the validity OF the marriage insttu-
ton, or denied that any religious or legal sane
tions could regulate or control it. They have
always been Of short duration, and sunk under
| the universal condemnation of mankind. The
editor If the Press ,DOuld seem to be q conrert 10
The doctrine that marriage is alb re all contract,
Adore all la,o, end may be contracted ,chen and
,chere and by such parties as choose TO eater into
ii, in defiance Of public opinion. He thinks, too,
that to seek to restrain it is a worse degree of
tyranny than that of the Tudors Then, accord
ing to this notion, the law given by God to the
Jews was most arbitrary and unj lust that of all
countries, regulating marriage contracts, is
equally so and all the laws of similar import in
force in the States of this Union belong to the
same arbitrary class. Why may not brothers
and sisters and other relations intermarry Why
may not persons of unsound minds, possessed
of wealth, ntermarry with the designing, who
are free from this infiru.ity! Why may not
shares marry their masters, and mistresses, and
their children, as well as others! Surely, it
must be an arbitrary law, worthy only the age
of the Tudors, that could prohibit these indul
gences of free and unrestrained affection
The passage quoted by the Union from the
So1uhern Pre- is itacised and capitalized in
the Union. The passage italicised in our quo
tltlDn OF the mon CONlIueulS 10 ny
us.
A mind capable of making such a common
tary as the Union has made, must have reached
the lowest abyss of stupidity and derravity
The sentiment we avowed against the regua-
ton of marriage by law, is the sentiment always
entertained by the Quakcrs-and it is precisely
because they hold the institution of marriage in
the highest esteem, as religious institution,
that they deny the right of Government to inter-
fere with it among themselves. They will not
permit their members to apply for license nnder
the laws, nor to be married by magistrate
or any other civil functonary. Yet VIC believe
they are excelled by no people for the purity
and fidelity of their conjugl relations. And
most, if not all governments where Quakers
reside, have excepted them from the obligations