Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-10-24
INDIANAPOLIS, OCTOBER 10, 1850.



measures of concation adopted the late session of
Congress whilst the cry repeal raised by the North
ern Aboitonsts The Governor of Georgia has called
convenor the delegates be elected under the prov
sons law the expense paid the State Treasu-
ry. Gov. Quitman of Mississippi, has convened
traordnary session of the Legislature South Carroll
na-modest and unassuming South Carolna,-like
bashful damsel is standing back but ready to follow
her more bold leaders. Florida feeble infant in
its swadding clOhos in the hands of the Palmetto
seceders. Alabama Louisiana, North Carolina, Vir-
gina and Arkansas, are divided Maryland, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Texas, true to the Union but the
editor of the Mssissppan who has just returned from
a visit Virginia and Kentucky, says Of these although
professedy submssioniss yet should blow be struck
for Southern rights thousands of young men will rally
the standard of resistance. Mr.. Foote will
with cooreception in many parts of Mississippi. His
friends have advised him of his danger and regret
that he had remained Washington until the storm
had subsidized Madness rule the hour, and the
wild fury of excitement riot. The leading papers
in Georgia, at the head of which may be classed the
columbus Times" edited by John Forsythe takes the
ground in favor of secession This is the ground upon
which Mr.. Forsythe says, "sooner later all true
Southern men will meet" Mr. Woodward the member
Oh COuSfeSS lrOln tnc OOIuhDd DiSuict coutu
ma, in a recent speech to his constituents, said
''He was no dsunionist no dissolutionist Dissolu-
tion humiliation, in the accepaton of the
term. But he was for the Southern States standing
they are and the Northern they are each section
making its own laws. There solitary
son why they should remain united He said were
told that Institutions against nature-yet
always had them; that institution of slavery
was element of wcakness-yet all history lalsiied
the assertion He demonstrated clearly as he went on
that all our evils grew out of the Union; it our
enemy"
He is no disunionist vet she demonstrated clearly
that the Union their enemy;" that there no
why the North and the South should remain uni
ted. Now, whilst this whrlwnd is raging in the South
their coaborers the Aboonsts of the orth agi-
tating the same question for the same object. And if
these Northern fanatics could the repeal of the
fugitive slave awthe abolition of slavery in the Dis
trct of Columbia and the enactment of the Wlmot pro-
vso the Disunonsts of the South would shake them by
the hands in triumph at the accomplishment of OBJ
ect so dear their hearts. They disunonsts for
thc sake Of disunon and only wish carry
out their tratorous designs That the Northern
fanatics mean they shall have. Meetings every.
where held denounce the fugitive slave law These
meetings are attended by hundreds of fugitive slaves
who have sought shelter in the Northern States Min
listers whose churches have severed all connexon with
churches in the slave States have far forgotten them
selves denounce this law from the pulpit The u-
gltive slave bill the only in the cOmpro
mise favorable the South. Now appeal to all
did at the North to say whether should avail
ourselves of the measures favorable to us, and reject
those unfavorable. This would be compromise. 1t
would be the act of a majority debating their
TERMS and demanding submission of the minority. This
was not the spirit in which the constitution framed
But let us Quote the slave provision from the instrument
itself:
"Article a. section 2 clause 3-'No person held to
service or labor in State under the laws thereof
escaping another, SHALL in consequence of any law
regulation therein be discharged from such service
labor; but shall be DELIVERED UP claim of the party
to whom such service or labor is DUE"
Judge Story in his able and learned commentaries on
the Constitution, says:
'sThs clause 1.-THE providing for the recapture of
fugitive slaves introduced into the constitution
solely for the benefit of the savehodng States to
BILE them to reclaim their fugitive slaves who should
have escaped other States where slavery not
tolerated The want of such provision under the
federation felt as a grevous Inconvenience by the
savehoding States, since in many States aid what
would be allowed TO the owners and sometimes, In
deed they mctwh open resistance Ii Is obvious that
these provisions for the arrest and removal of ugtIves
of both classes contemplate summary ministerial pro-
ceedngs and the ordinary of judicial investi
cations TO ascertain whether the complaint De we'll
founded or the claim of ownership be established beyond
all legal controversy In of suspected crimes the
guilt innocence OF the party is to be made out at his
trial. and not upon the preliminary inquiry whether he
shall be delivered up. All that would in such
be necessary that there should he prna facie
evidence before the executive authority to satisfy its
judgment that there is probable to believe
the party guty-such as upon ordinary warrant,
would Justify his commitment for trial.
''And in the of fugitive slaves, there would
seem to be the same necessity OF requiring only Prta
acie proofs OF ownership, without putting the party to
formal assertion OF his rights by suit at the common
law Congress appear to have acted upon this opinion
and accordingly in the statute upon this subject, have
authorized summary proceedings before magistrate
upon which he may grant warrant Tor removal"
Whatever may be our feelings sympathes, we
have duty perform under this section of the Cons
tuition 1t is the supreme law of the land. We are
bound by every clause bound by none. There
many provisions of the law that stringent. But
they necessarily Process in the hands of the
Marshal would be useless unless he had the aid of the
posse to resist the mob The law would be dead let
ter unless it gave power to officers carry out its
provisions. This is subject upon which in
tend TO talk plain, and say to every friend Of
the Union, this law be observed. If il is be
pealed by Northern votes, its effects destroyed by
open resistance and the free States be made the
city OF refuge and hiding place for fugitive slaves then
disunon with all its horrors is upon us The South will
resist. They would then have just for complaint
The Union cannot be preserved, and the Constitution
destroyed. They live together they will die
gethcr To our Democratic friends we say, you can
preserve your identity national party if
upon slavery is to be part of your platform The
same remark will apply to the wings party, and
they have before them, in their President, bright
example of national wing. Let them follow him.