The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-12


article on the subject Of our fuguvsslavs law which
abounds with the strangsst mistakes and msappehen-
sons The respectable standing Of this paper. and the
general accuracy Of its editorial information. have in
duced to correct them lest is circulation abroad and
its uncontradiced republication here, might produce
unfavorable and unjust impression respecting the charac
Ter and objects Of the law OF the last session This a
Gle 10 inserted in several Of our American papers without
correction OF its errors; and the supposon will thus be
confirmed that the facts stated according the truth
special reference TO its statements
The first material error in stating that previous TO the
passage Of the late law fugitive slaves entitled to
jury trial in the States where they found. It is
well known that under the act Of 1893 they were no
favored in this respect than under the existing law
In fact, that feature OF the law is unaltered.
The second error is in stating that juries invariably
decided against the claimant and ignored his demand
As there such ures and such trials OF course
there were no such verdics. The Post was doubtless
led into this misappehenson by the belief that as there
were numerous fugitive slaves in the free States who
could not be recovered, this fact proved the hostility
OF the tribunals to whom the owners must resort Some
instances certainly occurred in which fugitives
captured and retained but the great difficulty arose from
the want of proper tribunals whose aid TO be invoked
and adequate officers execute the process Of seizure and
delivery To supply these wants was the chief purpose
Of the late law. The proof Of the right Of the claimant
and the identity Of the fugitive has not BEEN a. the Post
imsgines essentially changed. II is now particularly
specified in the late law what this proof shall be and
how authenticated but all this substantially re-
qured 10 be done in practice under the old law. The
proof now is to be made satisfactory to the Judge or COM
mssoners so was under the act of 1893 They are,
in effect, the same The only difference is in the more
mode Of authorization.
The Post 10 equally misinformed when Il fancies that
the late law has been vigorously efectuay, and tr-
umphanily executed. II has. to be sure in few in
stances, proved successful but it has failed been
evaded in more. At the same time we will add. that
we do not doubt the present law will be vigorously and
successfully executed and will answer the great end Of
its adopton--the recovery Of fugitive slaves.
The Post falls into singular confusion OF ideas in
hazarding the statement that slaves were accounted
among the "leas regarded kind Of cattle" Upon the
theory Of the Post ITSELF slaves but chaelsaricles
Of prop ery-and estimated only their price in money
Now might have been known to the editor that one
negro slave is worth as much twenty fve oxen or
cows or seven horses and yet told they the
"ieast recorded of all these cattle We beg leave to
assure the journals Of England that whatever the slave
owners are they least not fools They know the
value of their slaves and they estimate them accord
ingly; and If we may be allowed remark, for the in
formation of these sublime, theoretical phanthropists
these sgmatized owners entertain for their slaves feel
ings OF humanity and kindness as.warm and as gene
rous as ever animated benevolent heart
II is not purpose to carp at the tone Of this ar
ce or to censure Its somewhat iliberal spirit These
characteristics il borrows from the abolition orators and
organs on this side OF the Atlantic. with the productions
Of which the writer is evidently familiar; and to them,
too is he indebted for the errors into which he has fall
lem The cry has been universally raised by them that
the late fugitive slave law suspends the writ Of habeas
corpus destroys the right OF trial by jury and perpe-
tracs other grievous enormes too shocking for human
patience to endure. These imputaons are laughed at
here as the mere coinage Of the abolition and "higher
law mint and such base coin, too, and bunglngly
manu- lacured that il can deceive but abroad it
is not carefully scrutnzed, and perhaps not thoroughly
known and as we by the Post. passes current for
rue We have nailed two to the counter there
let them remain.
The editor OF the Post must for suggesting
10 h that the abolition organs in this country. both
ppen and covert are not very high authority Their We
raey their honesty, their sound judgment, all CUES.
oned and there IL nothing in their characters 10 fur
nsh the least presumption in their behalf The frisnds
and cronies Of negroes free and fugitive, and OF those
who preach up equality with them-who entice away.
or in other words. steal slaves from their owners-
would not command very especial regard anywhere but
In colony Of transported convic,s "who bad left their
country for their countrys good" Such are these abo
~ >oI
to SOW the seeds Of dssenson between the different
tons OF the country and destroy the constitution and
the Union. These are the men who caumniate Wash
ngton and nearly all the other great revolutionary
in our history, and likewise teaching foreign Jour-
nails defane and to decry the living generation There
is scarcely bright in our nation on which their
harry claws have not sought TO cast filth and odium
We appeal to the Of justice and Of serespect of
hghtoned journals in foreign countries, whether they
will estimate anything in this country by these mems
standard commit the national incivy OF assisting
them to propagate the falsehoods and calumnies with
which their presses, their speeches. and their homes
are daily teeming We cannot for q moment believe
that respectable abroad would give heed to the false
facts and frohy defamation OF these Inminaa and
demagogues hey knew their real characters and their
reasonable designs Pretending to be the jealous cham
pions OF reform. humanity, charity, and frssdom. they
gain ready access to the attention Of the generous and
the benevolent Of al natons and it 10 only when their
q