Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-10-10
A New Attempt at Excitement.

a New Attempt at Excitement.
Some of the public journals, Just now, arr
endeayoring TO fan anew the slumbering EN-
bers of fanaticism, by aiding in getting up
feeling of Indignation on account of alleged at
tempts to recover fugitivcs from Justice undel
the recent fugitive slave bill One real case
that of slave by the name of James Hamlet
who absconded from his owner, Mr.. Brown. O
Baltimore, about two years ago, and who was
recently arrested in New York and given into
the custody of the U. S. Marshal, is made
the basis for a thousand groundless rumors
which have produced considerable excitement
In certain portions of Massachusetts, 1t would
be much more commendable in these over zeal
Gus philanthropists to put their hands into THEN
pockets and contribute something to purchase
the freedom Of such fugitives as may be ares
ted, than to aid by advice or otherwise, in de-
fraudlng fellow countryman Of his property,
or by openly resisting the laws Of their coun-
try.
Some Of our readers may allow their svmpa-
'AANS ~ 81 DCttCI VI iIltlI luuHlltnl. anu
may go so far as to consider themselves iusti-
fed In resisting the operation of the fugitive
slave law-to such, if any such there be- we
would commend the following sound reasoning
of Judge Mclean, which occurs in his recent
charge to the jury in the United States Court for
the district of Indiana, in slave case for the
recovery of damages by citizen of Kentucky
agalnts certain persons in Indiana, who resisted
his attempts to arrest them.
The Judge says:
"No earthly power has right TO interpose
between mans conscience and his Maker.
lie has right, in inalienable right 10 wor-
ship God according TO the dictates of his own
conscience. For this he alone must answer,
and he is entirely free from all restraint 10
think and act for himself
But this is not the case when his acts af.
fects the rights Of others. Society has
claim on ali lis citizens. General rules have
been adopted in The form or laws, tor the
protection of the rights of persons and things.
These lie al the foundation of the social com
pact, and their observance is essential TO the
maintenance of civilization. In these mat
tiers, the law, and not conscience, constitutes
the rule of action. You are sworn to decide
this case according to the law and testimony
and you become unfaithfu to the solemn in,
functions you have taken upon yourselves,
when you yield 10 an influence which YOU
call conscience, that places you above the law
and the testimony.
Such rule can apply only to individuals
and when assumed as basis of action on
the rights of Others it is utterly destructive OF
all law. What may be deemed a conscien-
tious act by one individual, may be held
criminal by another. In view of one. the act
is merliorious; in the view of the other. il
should be punished as crime. And each
has the same right, acting under the dictates
OF his conscience, 10 carry out his own view.
This would overturn the basis of society,"
We must stand by the law. We have sworn
to maintain il. 1t is expected thar the ciri-
Zens OF free states should be opposed 10 slav-
cry. But with the abstract principles Of
slavery we have nothing to do. As politi-
cal question there could be no difference of
opinion among US on the subject. But our
duty is found in the constitution of the I'm
ion, as constructed by the Supreme Court
The fugitves fiom labor We are bound. bv
the highest obligations. 10 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 his master.
In regard TO The arrest of fugilives from la
Dor, the law does not impose active duties on
our citizens, generally. They are not prohib-
lied from exercising the ordinary charities of
life toward the fugitive. To secrete him, or
to convey him from the reach of his master
or to rescue him when in legal custoGy,is for
oldden; and for doing this liability is incur
leu. ms gives TO no one just ground Of
sonpia'nt. He has only to refrain from an
.Hpsess violation of the law, which operates
10 the injury of his neighbor'