Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-11-14
our POSITION.

,nison on important collateral Subjects which, 70
superficial observer, might indicate positive
Of sentiment with its opposite, anu
IN entire forgetfulness Of oil past beiligcrency.-
This is emphatically 50 in relation to the late en-
lctment of Congress -the Fugitive Slave Law.
In the general. this union has for its foundation
and cement moral, and not q political, basis.- |
While il NAV be actual, II should be no more infer
rod that member, Of this union had thus volunta-
ry reliuoui.hed their separate political identity,
than would be the case if men Of various political
creed, should as they often do, attach themselves
to the same religious, moral, or literary society,"
To be sure they may consider the attainment ofthe
measure which is now attracting so much asten-
ton, as Of vas,er importance, for the time being,
than the maintenance of their mere party organize
TONS but they win probably 50 view it only for the
time being. The late Congressional election In
Michigan, wherein clear democratic state is said
to have elected al entire whis delegation, may ap-
pear antagonistical to this idea; still, We are OF
opinion that in the event ofa Presidential election
or the attainment Of their mann object, they would
generally be precipitated back TO their original ele'
mcnts.
If what we have said be true; If the Fugitive Slave
Law Is neither whis or q democratic measure,
then to assume an independent course in ito discus
sion can neither be considered Inconsistent or i'm
proper, in view ofparty obligation It Is our inten-
ton to occupy such position. 1t will place US
on .vantage ground which we desire to occupy
We can see and point out the evil counsels and the
evil acts Of the fanatica extremists, both at the
South and the North. Be il our province then to
point out to those who have the power to ext'n-
guish the flames Of iiscord, the frehrands that ore
already kindling. and if notput out, will produce
such coniiag alton as may burn UP the last YES
tige ofliberty.
1t is not to be disguised that many who are now
foremost in advising resistance to this law and are
loudly calling the negroes to arm themselves for
this purpose, are among those who have brought
ON the present crisis. The annexation Of Texas
and the Mexican war, with oil their subsequent
evils were the result Of their action. Some ofthem
are candid enough to acknowledge this, and they
seemingly rejoice in having produced such an ex.
element on the subject Of slavery probably hoping
that the end they aim at will come the sooner
Were there no better way to rid the country ofthis
s.incubus,' such action might deserve an apology.
But when they show an unwiiiingness to try any
other mode than one which involves the nullifica-
ton and the dismemberment Of the Union, it is
time for the lovers Of their country and Of law and
order, to show such men that the remedy is worse
than the disease. That there exists no patriotism
among these lovers Of the slave, we dare not say.
There are men among them who are patriots, but
their vision has been confined to the individually do
mestic and social horrors Of slavery with such ex-
clusveness and intensity, that they have lost sight
of the higher Obligations they owed to their coun
try.
The fault Of the present excitement is not wholly
theirs. The leading spirits of the South, whose
sscraf is in danger" must take large share Of the
blame in this matter. Their threats of disunion
for the last twenty years have provoked the men OF
the north to organize. The suppression of free
| discnssion--the imprisonment Of Mr. Hoar-the re.
fusal to receive petitions from free staesand 9TH
er manifestations OF hostility to freedom ofthough,
! and opinion-have turned whole northern states
| against them and their sspecuiar Institutions
| without any attempt TO remove this mutual hos.
tilty on both sides, the law which is obnoxious
| to the North-and which We must here say in its
very title 10 misnoncr, inasmuch IS the consti'
tuition does not recognize the epithet slove--wa'
passed. Az might have been expected, 1t re-awa
kened all the latent fires OF opposition to human
slavery, and has already led to acts of resistance
which, if persisted in may produce all the horror
of civil war.
For the past few weeks We have been in the mids
Of this tremendous excitement. Many view thi
law as their fathers did the stamp act and the la
: on tea, and they look upon il as being as much
virtue to resist the one as the other. But we hop
1 | ole will and hat
. sive measures in MULTIPLYING the law may be lai
aside and that they may only bestir themselves il
securing either the repeal Of the law such mod
ifcation OF as will be consistent with the en-
lighened age in which we live.
This 10 boosted age of progress. Well may er
vious foreigners as we'll as the friends OF freedo,
+. every where point to our growing greatness, tn
extension Of our territory railroads and cana
and our Advancement in arts and sciences, and di
: cover and acknowledge in them all wonderful pr.
gress; but at the same time they may taunt US wit
the fact that no progress has been achieved in b.
| half OF f-eedom-no progress has been made
blotting out the Of slavery, which stl clnl
and still spreads canker and which 10 even no
gnawing at the very heart Of the nation and thres
ems literally to undermine aad destroy its constt
tion.
9 We have nothing to say against theCons titutio
- Atty Of the Fugitive Slave Law. Able jurists ha
. pronounced il constitutional. Were it only 4 7
enactment Of its prototype Of 1893, the friends
u progressive liberty would not have so much
'r complain Of; but when see the features of Ii
law so marred as to compel freemen to become sla
catchers, and to create officers and offer thu
&c rewards for hunting up poor fugitives, some
ne whom have lived in free States long enough to raj
Nc up large families and accumulate by their indust
va ahandsomc property, and drag them back to sla,
" ~, the bright hope that this will ever be
nd moved grows fainter and fainter every day. @
so only ground Of hope is that God has purposes
r. mercy in store Tor q nation, and that athou
K, those engaged in the perpetuation Of slavery m
suffer, He will, in his own good time, raise up sol
or deliverer, or inuse such spirit into the southe
body polite as to influence the Pharaohs there
at break every chain and let their slaves 90 free.
TO We do not approve Of multiplying the law or Of {
ae couraging the blacks to arm themselves. The
ur we emphatically repudiate. But we do 20 for su
modification Of the law as will coincide with I
progress of the age and be alike honorable to
as manity. lfany sentiments contrary to the abo
en- have appeared in the editorial columns of this
w per during our late absence, We of course are
ng responsible for them.
he,
cd The Seat 81 Government.
Nv we have received the COPY of petition for I
| fA.lOCotiOn cft hA seo< nc .