The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-01-31

population of the state; and whereas. ), :.
the duty Of the state to assume directo.
of all action involving her federal relation
with her sister states in whatever sbsr.
presented; therefore,
Be 1t resolved by the General Assernbl-
of Maryland, That the Attorney Gener.I
of the state of Maryland be and he :
hereby directed to take all necessary stsns
at the expense of the state, to have Il.
decision rendered by J. W. Edmonds
Justice of the Supreme court of The ,,.,a
of New York, in the matter of the ne,i,;oo
of Joseph Belt, claimed IS the slave os
John Lee, reviewed by the highes, iudici,i
tribunal i'll the state of New York. and r
necessary, TO prosecute further apne.I
on behalf Of the said John Lee, TO The Su.-
preme court of the United States, and tb,,
for his services in this behalf, the Treasn'
rer is directed to pay out of any unappro.
Prlated funds, TO the order of the At,orpev
General; such sum as the Governor oftb.
state in his jud dgment may allow.
And be II further resolved, That ths
Treasurer of the state of Maryland be and
he is hereby directed to refund to the said
John Lee such expense as he may have
incurred in consequence of the application
for discharge by the said Joseph Belt.
Which was read the first, and by a spe-
cial order the second time, and adopted
Whatever may be the feelings of tn.
people of the non-slaveholdin states, On
the subject of slavery, they are bound to
respect the obligations of the constitution
OF their country, in good faith. If this is
not done, but a constant irritation
kept up, by improper interference with the
rights OF the southern people, by the abo.
lItionists, the bonds of union will ineyi,,.
| bly, be weakened and may eventually BE-
severed. While we oppose the extension
| of slavery into free territories, we are
bound 10 do justice, and fulfil our cons,j.
tutlonal obligations TO the people of those
states where slavery has been recognised.
The decision of the Supreme court of the
! United States, which denies all legislative
jurisdiction over the subject to the states,
does not absolve the citizens from their
duty TO respect the government and laws
of their country. If the concientious
opinions and feelings of any citizen will
not allow him TO do any act against the
liberty of the slave, he ought, al least, 10
have regard enough for the laws of the
land, not to do anything that will leopard
the peace and safety of his country. It's
our opinion, that the masses of the people,
whose liberties and happiness are so deep.
I ly involved III the issue of this question,
should speak out on it, in manner that
will make their sentiments be respected
! and obeyed.
Since the decision of the Supreme court
OF the United States has abrogated all
state laws on the subject, i, is the impera
tive duty of Congress, to make some more
suitable and efficient provision than is con.
tanned IN the act of 1893, to enable the
southern people to enforce their rights by
law, and at the same time, 10 protect all
persons against unfounded claims Such
law is essential to the peace and safety
of our own community, to prevent riots
and bloodshed, and if we had vote in
Congress, we would most undoubtedly
vote for lsuch an act, properly guarded;
and we think the man who would refuse
to pass such law, is inimical to the exis-
tence of the Union itself, as well as care.
less OF the peace, the prosperity and the
lives of his fellow citizens.
/ AS to the case in Huntingdon county,
J alluded to by Gov. Thomas, we know
nothing, and we are unwilling TO believe
that our fellow citizens of that county
would treat, unnecess9 rily, any human
being with the cruelty alleged. We think.
however, that il is due to the character Of
the state, that the legislature should, at
once, institute an inquiry into the facts
and circumstances of the case, sol that if
the allegations made are incorrect, the
character of Pennsylvania and her citizens,
may be vindicated; and that, if wrong has
been perpetrated, a remedy and redress
should be afforded TO the aggrieved, and
such occurrences prevented, if possible,