The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-26

from his family, torn from MS adopted cOunT ,anu
forciblyremoyed beyond seas for trial because he
is suspected of an offence-and this under voun-
tary engagement entered into by the President
and Senate with foreign country} Shall this
be done without complaint-and yet heaven
and earth be moved to prevent the surrender of
a black man TO the master from whom he has
fled, when this surrender is enjoined by an ex-
press provision Of the Constitution of our coun-
try, and cannot be refused without violation
of the highest duty of citizen, and the solemn
oath of every public ofiicer2 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 negrol
or does that which is right, and just, and fair,
when applied to free white man, become
wrong, unfair, and wicked when applied to
runaway slave2
Away, we say, with this one-sided and par
tial sympathy, this special pleading and disin-
genuous humanity. If trial by jury be neces-
sary 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 of hypocritical outcry by
political Abolitionists because that is not eX-
tended to black slaves which they themselves
admit may be rightfully withheld from free
white men.
Let no man be deceived as to the purpose and
motives of these agitators. 1t is not fear fnjus
tce to free black men of the North it isnot solicit
tude for impartial trials and just decisions, which
raises the shout for uries and for wris of habeaS
corpus. 1t is justice which is feared; it is an
la,,
which prompts the denuncation and stimulates
the threat of resistance. Isadditional proof want
ed Of this2 1t is at hand. In all the Indignation
meetings held upon the passage of the law,
who is melted to resistance who recommended
| to take arms; who assured OF assistance and
sympathy? 1t is the fugitive slave-not the
free black; it is the known runaway from
| Southern master-not the cOlored citizen Of
Northern State-who has taken flight upon the
passage of the law, and sought refuge in Canada
beyond its authority. Not the colored free man.
but the runaway slave. He has fled not be-
cause of his color, but because of his social
dtion; and it is undeniabe that of the whole
free black population of the North no one has
absconded, because no one has felt insecure. To
|
protection and assistance, or exhortations to arm
for his defence, for none of them was supposed
to be in danger
Thus then stands the case: The law of 1850
for the restoration of fugitive slaves is in all re-
spects consistent with the Constitution il pro-
vides a fair and impartial tribunal, such as is
| afforded in analogous cases to white men, whe-
/ hui cit IF he
United States tribunal liable to no suspicion
Of wrong, and not in fact suspected Of any and
| this law is passed in obedience to positive
provision of the Constitution, binding upon
the consciences not only of members Of Con-
gress and national and State officers, but
of every citizen of the republic. 1t is impos-
sible, therefore, to resist the conclusion, that
the whole opposition TO this law grows out of
the conviction that in its execution the duty of
Congress will be fulflled-the constitutional
injunction be complied with-and runaway
slaves be surrendered to their masters. The
trial by jury is demanded, not to protect free
men, but to harbor slaves-is sought, not a
fair means Of executing the law, but as a safe
and specious, legal and orderly mode of de-
| eating the law. The demand for il is tub
to the whale, a watchword for party, rally
ing shout for sedition, the battle-cry 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 denounced because, and only be-
cause, it carries out the Constitution. The OPP
position is, therefore, seditious and reasonable
in its character and tendency, and needs only to
show itself with armed bands and hostile array,
in resistance TO the execution Of the law, to in
volve all its a~erents in the formal guilt of
treason against the United States.
| We repeat, therefore, our warning to all
good citizens; to all aw-abiding men; to all
who are free from seditious and reasonable de-
signs, to beware Of these opposers Of se Con
stitution and the law-these disturbers of the
peace and the order Of society.
| singular and appalling spectacle is now
presented by our country At the South, dis
union is openly taught and urged by some, and
supported and desired by more. There the ad-
mission Of the free State Of California into the
Union by an unquestionable act Of constitutional
power; there the abolition of the slave trade in
this District, a.measure Of police and domestic
regulation clearly within the just authority Of
Congress-are made the grounds Of incipient
measures for a dissolution Of the Union At the
North a rupture Of our constitutional Union,
though not 50 boldly avowed, is yet as truly
sought, because Of the passage Of law for re-
storing slaves 20 their masters according TO
positive command Of the Constitution. Thus
men ofopinions extreme in opposite directions
men who agree in nothing else-secm engaged,
for reasons the most opposite and contradictory,
n a common effort 10 unsetilo the Government,
to set at defiance its authority, and either di-
rectly overthrow or secretly undermine that
fabric Of national Union which our wiser fathers,
with so much toll and care, built up for them
selves and their posterity. From considering
this strange spectacle, let the great mass Of pa
triotic and Union loving men, both North and
South, learn the true lesson Of duty and Of