Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-01


ton but sent back nevertheless chained and manacled
slavery and stripes. And the latter refresh themselves
from daily toll by orgies of the night devoted to the out
pourings of philanthropy mnglng all the while their
at what they call catching with the most
hod and prone otugaons of the Christian Sabbath and
indeed OF the whole Divine Revelation They sanciy their
philanthropy by nelgion and profanity they manifest their
charity by contempt of God and his commandments.
II is well inquire what foundation there is for all this
rhapsody opinion and all this violence in conduct What
and how many the instances of the seizure Of fugitive
which these have seen which have happen
ed in New England in their time And what have been
the circumstances Of injustice cruelty, and atrociy attending
themi To ascertain the truth in this respect have made
digent inquiry of members of Congress from the six New
England States On subject general cannot be sure,
course that the information received is entirely accurate
and, therefore, do not say that the statement which
about present may be relied altogether correct
suppose cannot be materially The result then,
of all learn is this No seizure of alleged slave has
ever been made in Maine No seizure of alleged fugitive
slave has been made in New Hampshire. No seizure
alleged fugitive slave has been made in Vermont
No seizure of alleged fugitive slave has been made in
Rhode Island within the last thirty years No seizure of an
alleged fugitive slave is known have been made in Con-
neccu except about twenty five years ago. and in that
the negro Immediately discharged want Of proof
Of identity Some instances of the seizure of alleged fugitive
known TO have occurred in this generation Mas
sachuet; but except one, their number and their history
is uncertain that took place in Boston twelve fifteen
years ago and in that charaby disposed
offered the Of money which he regarded less
than half the Of the slave but which he agreed to ac
cept and the negro discharged few cases. suppose
may have occurred in New Bedford, but they attracted little
notice, nor far as learn, caused any complaint In
deed do not know that there than single
two arising in that place. Be it remembered that
speaking of eclamatons Of slaves made by their
under the law Of Congress not speaking Of instances
of violent abduction and kidnapping made by persons not
protesting to be reclaiming their slaves.
If this be true of all that has happened in New
England within the last thirty years. respecting the Of
fugitive slaves and believe it substantially what there
70
camaons the wild and fantastic conduct of both and
women, which have long disturbed and much dsgaced
the commonwealth and the country What is there espe-
cay that should induce public to break loose from all just
restraint fall themselves into the meres vagares and ian
with what they call eoquence, the es ready knd
of popular prejudice and popular excitement suspect all
this to be the effect of that wandering and vagrant phan
thropy which dsurbs and annoys all that present. in time
place by heating the Imagination subjects distant,
mote, and uncertain.
It is admitted on all hands, that the necessity for any legal
provision for the recaiming of fugitive slaves misfortune
and evil is admitted by nearly all that slavery itself
misfortune and evil And there States in which
the evil attending these reclamatons practically felt But
where the evil really exists there comparatively little
pant and excitement. Maryland and Pennsylvania for
example, lie, the the slave side Of the ne the other
the free side. Slaves escape from Maryland, flee into
Pennsylvania and there arrested These instances
not unfrequent and usually create disturbance and
excite exasperaed feeling. In instance, indeed
mob assembled the fugitive, violence ensued, and
life lost This of course created popular resentment
for considerable time agitated the neghborhood But in
general the people OF Pennsy understand their neghbos
rights and willing that they should be secured and
oyed Massachusetts grows rvid Pennsylvania wrongs
while Pennsy herself excited any of
wrongs and complains of injustice. The abolitonsts Of
Massachusetts, both the and the quasi rend the
welkn with sympahies for Pennsylvania while Pennsylva
mia would quite willingly be left her care of herself
Massachusetts, fall abundany for Pennsylvania suffer
ngs; but which suerngs, Pennsylvania herself knows little
nothing Of No people opposed slavery than
We thatth hat
great and respectable part of her population, the Friends
have borne their testimony against from tine first Yet they
create excemenf they seek not to overthrow under
mine the constitution OF their country They know that firm
ness steadness of principle just nodeation and
querabe perseverance, the vues the practice of which
most likely to correct whatever is wrong the constitution
of the social system. No doubt there sometimes be
found Friends subject the alty Of desiring become
spicuous the influence of false sentmen,aty borne
away into atmosphere tkerng between light and dark
ness by the pus Of the ancendena philosophy But that
maady of the great body They remain of sound
and Opposing minds and memories l msed by au,hori-
y which ought not misiead lift be true that great
body approves the sentiments which have given
on the floor of the Senate ..
Between Kentucky and Ohio complaints have arisen occa
sonay the subject of fugitive slaves but by
to the which has been represented by the Abolition
cees Shareholders in Kentucky complain Of the difcul
ties which they encounter in recag fugitives and the
people Of Ohio complain, Of the execution of the
Cospe and recamations under it. but Of the conduct of
saveaoders, in coming into the State, taking and carrying
back their slaves by force, and without legal process The
State Of Ohio has had the discretion not to prohibit her Off
and magistrates from performing the duties enjohed
them by the Of Congress- Such perform when
occasion requires yet they may be prohibited by the Lee
gisatue and the Supreme Court has decided that it is in
the power Of Congress- to make complete provision by law for
the whole subject aud to give the power of executing such
law to officers Of the United States; and the prohiboy
acts of of the States make appropriate and suitable
law of the United States indispensable, such law passed.
would of b. general and would comprehend Ohio with
other States trss -t s7t@
The act of 1898 gives right Of action to the of
fugitive slave against any who shall harbor conceal
him. Such actions have teen brought in Ohio, and have
heard eminent judicial authority say that he has found
cases than in others. Ohio uries try them with much
imParaity and calmness as they try other causes. II
Gentlemen, from what know of the subject and of the
public and of the people Of those two States fully be-
eve that if left entirely to them, law might be passed per
ec,y satisfactory 10 every body except hoss whose business
agitation, and whose objects any thing bat the promo
ton Of peace, harmony, patriotic good will and the love of
UNION among the people Of the United States. $
And now, gentlemen does MT every sober minded and
patriotic the necessity and feel the duty Of rebukng
that spirit Of faction and disunon, that spirit of dscord and
controversy and loves il especially, when evils
agnay and dangers unreal. which has been actively
ployed in doing mischief and which, is TO be amened
received counenance and quarters whence
better things were looked for
We the cioee of the sixth month Of the
sion or Congress What important has been adopt
ed Tor the of the geat interests Of the country
Fer one hardly dare expec any progress in useful legs
laton unit, spirit shall prevail, both in Congress and the
coun ry, which shall look to things import ami real
and less things ideal and abstract That there serious
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