The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-26
From De Be,o's R<pisr.
EDITORIAL AND LITERARY.
FUGITIVE SLAVES

Several Of the Southern States are about con-
vening in solemn form to deliberate upon the pro-
per course to be pursued by them in reference to
the late action of Congress on the various phases
of the slave question. We have no doubt that
these assemblies will be guided by high and
lofty devotion to the principles which have sus-
tanned us in every period ofperil; and that their
wisdom will not be of that kind which looks only
to the day or the hour, but will have reference
to the remotest times to come after us. The
rights OF the South, and the full and unlimited
rights ofthe South under the Constitution, with
out compromise of any sort, must be preserved,
or the Union will become a snare rather than a
blessing We are not children to be frightened
by painted devils" nor madmen, to provoke or
invite a danger, which may with honor be avoided;
but we are men cognizant Of our rights and
duties, and brave enough to defend the one and
Just enough to observe the other. In our fel-
citizens We have an abiding trust, that they
will instgated by no passion nor excitement,
take full and impartial view of the whole sub
ect of our slave relations, which are to us, coun-
try, life death-eyerything and if there be found
safety under the late adjustments, safety pre-
sent and future to the South, they will accede to
these adjustments, and rejoice over them But
if, on the contrary, danger still lowers in the
horizon, and the "cry ofpeace, peace" be heard,
"hSiS hhSiS 10 Nv pCttCC, VIC DCilSNt our
countrymen will act as patriots ever should act,
doing and daring, and leaving the consequences
| to God. We await the Judgment of the people
on issues so momentous, and when that is given,
are prepared to stand by it at every hazard.
| God grant that the verdict be peace, and that
some measure shall be devised for the preserva-
ton of this glorious Union, in manner that
may cause no section of it to blush. The South
has done too much for the Union not to regard
it fondly, as the artist who has just elaborated
some stupendous piece of mechanism. Yet no
son of hers, however moderate in his views con-
ciatory and meek beyond all other men upon
the face of the earth, can hesitate moment, that
the progress of neutrality-suspicious. are
creating fearful breakers for us and our institu-
tons ahead, if we have not our eyes wide about
us; and that il we sleep for a single moment,
the hand of the mailman, ever brandishng his
torch, will spring the magazine which shall de-
stroy not us only, but whelm friends and foes
alike in one wide rnin. 1t is no time yet, watch
man, to cry salts ,oeH' upon the wall.
The late fugitive slave iaw-one of the mea-
sures Of adjustments which the South had
| to purchase at much expense, though it should
never have been necessary ut all, contradicts, as
is evident enough now, the whole public senti-
lnent of the North. Though one arrest that we
know of has been made under it, no one is blind
to the fact that that arrest was made without
much publicity. From circumstances since trans
PRED, there is reason to believe, had the affair
been generally known, there would have been
resistance, and without doubt rescue. Ii the
intelligent people of the North be willing 10 carry
out the law in.good faith, there are ignorant or
bad men enough to defeat its action, il they will
Already have meetings been held, not fugitive
slaves and free negroes only, but of white men,
in many parts, who have solemnly pledged them
selves the runa,cay shall be protected al erery
hazard 1t will be found practically impossible
for the Southerner we apprehend, even with
this law, to reclaim his fugitive slave, us public
sentiment will compel the commissioner, it is
said, to resign, if ,rowdyism does not peril the
masters life in the attempt. There is no other
country under Hearen where a man can only re-
gain his property aohen ou Of his possession, by
braping dangers, far beyond those that erist in a
state Of nature, uhen each man, uih his s,cord or
his rifle, is lar unto himself! We have no faith
in this fugitive slave bill, though we shall be
joiced, if time prove us in error. If efficient it
cannot be concealed that the great state of New
York has practically approved the course of the
man who has already proclaimed its repeal.