The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-18

We could make other inquiries Of consequence,
but the answers to these will do for the present"
The Union (Democra) and Republican
(Whig) Of ST. Louis are at issue on the Fugi-
tive Slave Law. The Union declines to re-
capitulate its objections, and alleges that the
bill was drawn up by Some of the disunionists,"
and of course to his own satisfaction and that
Of his party. The Republican presents its
views of the law in the following clear and de
clded manner
,"The Fugitive Slave Law ia in strict accordance
with the commands of the Constitution II has
been pronounced by the best legal minds and
the soundest statesmen in the country. II is not
stringent in its provisions, further than the
sity of the will warrant; there is not pro-
vision in it which ought not to be obeyed by every
good citizen in any State Of this Union. 1t formed
one of a series Of measures intended to give quiet
to and unite the several sections of the country
in brotherly feeling. All the other measures have
passed before the ordeal of public opinion in this
country without objection. But this law has been
seized upon by the fomenters of discord through
out the North-by the demagogues who can only
live in a sea of agitation, by men who openly
avow design to dissolve the Union Of these States
by traitors in speech and heart the country, and
by such adjuncts may be fonnd in the Union
and the party which il Representative law has
been seized upon again to convulse Congress-, and
if possible still more to distract and divide the
people of the Confederacy. Reverend clergymen,
we are sorry to say it-avowed Abolitonists
otherwise Of good repute-runaway negroes,
socating with these classes in public meetings
reckless politicians, and ignorant and misguided
people, have combined to resist the execution Of
& Mo In htyn a.,
with threats Of violence, even unto death, against
any officer who shall dare to enforce the law.
This is the issue before the country it is to be
tried in Chicago, and Boston, and New York. and
wherever the owner of a slave attempts, by means
8 OF the law, to reclaim his property On the one
hand, there is deliberate proclamation of de-
sign to violate the Constitution, and to resist law
enacted under its acquisitions, to the shedding
OF blood On the other, the people Of the South and
OF the slavehodng States only insist that the pro-
visions of the Constitution shall be observed and
the law enacted under it executed. If there is a
failure TO do this then can be at no loss to know
9 where Modification exists and Disunion begins
There will be no difficulty in determining who is
responsible for the dissolution of the Union for it
will be virtually dissolved whenever the people of
Boston, or of Chicago, attempt open resistance
with arms, to the execution of this law. They will
De the Dsunionlss, and upon them and their aiders
and abettors, here and elsewhere, will be visited
the anathemas af having destroyed the best fabric
OF government which has ever existed. The South
and the slavcholding States will be free from this
reproach; for, whatever errors they may have
committed heretofore, they right now ; they
are acting under the Constitution, and they will
be untrue to themselves and to their children
If, on this question of the enforcement of the law
they yield single hairs breadth. If they yield
now, other demands will be made upon their pa
triotism, until, finally, the rights which the Con-
stituton guarantees to them will be 80 FILTERED
away as not to be worth preserving.
GA few weeks must put end to this struggle"