The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-11-21
welcome 10 Dangers Hour"

run up the Unionjack al its masthead
and taken its station by our side Ii ha
( deserted some danger, after sweeping tn
horizon with Its night-glass, and begins t,
think 1t is not quite all 'sfume, foam, anC
stuff that we have for some time been
uttering. The article from which we take
The following extract is conceived in the
right spirit, and expressed with becoming
energy. We arc entirely satisfied tina
the editor should light his torch at ouI
waich-fire; and then we trust his path o
| duty may not hereafter be covered with
darkness. Follow us in this contest, anc
( your feet shall not stumble.-Washingt gton
( Union.
'Are the negroes better than the Irish
the Scotch, the French, or the English !
Is wrong-if there be wrong-only to be
resisted when it touches a negro Or
does that which is right, and Just, and
fair, when applied to a free white man,
become wrong, unfair, and wicked, when
applied to runaway siave2
away, we say, with this one sided
and partial sympathy, this special plead
ing, and disingenuous humanity If trial
by jury be necessary or expedient in one
case, 1t is SO in the other. Let it, then,
be demanded in both, or else let there be
no more hypocritical outcry by political
abolltlonists because that is not extended
TO black slaves which they themselves
admit may be rightfully withheld from
free white men.
"Let no man be deceived as 10 the pur-
pose and motives of these agitators. 1t is
not fear of injustice TO free black men of
the North; it is not solicitude for impartial
trials and just decisions, which raises the
shout for juries and for writs of habeas
corpus. 1t is justice which is feared; il
is an impartial trial, offered and secured
by this law, which prompt the denuncia-
ton and stimulates the threat of resistance.
Is additional proof wanted of this 1t is
at hand. In all the Indignation meetings
held upon the passage of the law, who
has melted TO resistance? who recon-
mended TO take arms ? who assured of
assistance and sympathy? 1t is the fugi-
tive slave-not the free black; il is the
known runaway from a southern master
not the colored citizen of a northern
State-who has taken flight upon the
passage of the law, and sought refuge in
Canada, beyond its authority; not the col
ored free man, but the runaway slave.
He has fed, not because Of his color, but
because of his social condition; and it is
undenIable that of the whole free black
population of the North no one has alb
seconded, because no one has felt insecure.
10 none of them have been offered assu-
RANGES OF protection and assistance, or ex-
hortatlons TO arm for his defence, for none
OF them was supposed TO be in danger.
SlhuS. then. stands the oaSa Tho 10
of 1850 for the restoration of fugitive
slaves is in all respects consistent with
the constitutions; ii provides a fair and
Impartial trial, such as is afforded in anal
ogous cases 10 white men, whether for
eIgners by native citizens of the United
States-a tribunal liable to no suspicion
of wrong, and not in fact suspected of
any; and this law is passed in obedience
10 positive provision of the constitution,
binding upon the consciences not only of
members of Congress and national and
State officers, but of every citizen of the
republic. 1t is impossible, therefore, TO
resIs: the conclusion that the whole oppo-
sltIon 10 this law grows out of the convic-
ton that IN lis execution the duty of
Congress will be fulfilled, the constiiu-
tional injunction be complied with, and
runaway slaves be surrendered to their
masters. The trial by jury is demanded,
not 10 protect free men, but to harbor
slaves-Is sought, not as fair means Of
executing the law, but as a safe and spe-
cious, legal and orderly mode of defeat
ing the law. The demand for it is tub
to the whale, watchword for a party,
rallying shout for sedition, the battle-crv
with which tumultuary violence may rush
to conflict with the law and the magistracy
of the country. The whole opposition is
to the CONSTITUTION, and the law is de-
nounced because, and only because, it
carries out the constitution. The oppo-
sition is, therefore, seditious and treason
able IN It's character and tendency, and
needs only to show itself with armed
bands and hostile array, in resistance TO
the execution of the law, TO involve all its
adherents in the formal guilt of treason
against the United States.
''We repeat, therefore, our warning to
all good citiZens-to all law abiding men
10 all who are free from sedltious and
reasonable designs, to beware of these
opposers of the constitution and the law
these disturbers of the peace and the order
oi society,