The New York herald., 1850-12-09

turning to their seats in the capitol. that South
Carolina will agree 10 continue TO be represented
In Congress for the residue OF the session In
adopting steps for immediate secession, her with
drawal from Congress would necessarily be the
first; as the withdrawal Of a foreign ambassador
is the first step to a declaration of war. II her
The message Of ihe Governor Of Virginia, (the
old commonwealth which stands as the arbiter
between the North and South) il worthy of coa-
sideration. The people of Virginia are attached to
ton Bordering upon Pennsy lvauia and Ohio, and
their underground abolition railroads, for the spiT-
tng away Of slaves, the fugitive law il of especial
value to her. Every slave reclaimed under il is
coursges perhaps a dozen others to attempt
it. Very many southern slaves have Gu
rious ideas Of northern liberty to the black
man; and very exaggerated notions of the favor
and partiality with which he is regarded in
the North. Plenty of easy work, high wages, the
right TO vote, with even the privilege of intermar.
ryipg with the whites, are among the exaggerated
blessings attending the black man in the Northern
States The African is constitutionally la1y--asy
work and high wages are irresistible temptations
to him. II two or three days labor in the week will
support him in the North as comfortably as six days
with his southern imaster he will he apt, with a
fair chance. to abscond His sagacity and foresight
are limited. He does not choose always to take
probable sickness, and old age into the ac-
count. The decrePid and old slaves, even with
the fairest prospect of escape, have sense enough
mester, and that he is bound to support
them They remain. II is the able bodied and
pences of slipping from Virginia, under cover of
the night, into Ohio and PENNSYLVANIA, and the
facilities afforded for shelter and escape make the
Fugitive law practical measure Of the highest
importance to Virginia. It's flithful observance
will save her thousands of dollars in value. Its
non observance will necessarily incline her to
operate with South Carolina, in sece ssion or re-
taliation. The Governors me ssage r. ecommeuds
n me ofn infer
which, If they go on. will amo n, To the same
thing as direct secession, in the end-the dissolu-
tion of the Union
Will dissolution cf the Union give greater Sc
curty 10 southern slaves? Probably not. But
southern politicians, in separate confederacy,
count upon treaty siipulations which will give
ample sc curity, in exchange tor commercial prlvi
legfs. However absurd or impractica ole such
estimates they show that the subject has been
taken into account; and that there is something
omiuous in il when dissolution is thus consulted as
We have shown, however. the importance of the
Fugitive law TO Virginia and the border slave States
To the cotton States II is of no great practici Al
value. Slaves very seldom attempt to escape
Mort from Alabama or Georgia Yet the faithful
adherence TO the law by the northern States is OF
vital importance 10 the whole Souih as test Of
the fidelity of the North to the constitutional guar
rantees of ssuthem slavery. IL this clause OF the
constitution is disregardtd snd nuhfed, there is
no security to slavery in the Union. The oSject OF
the law was more TO test northern honesty, tn an to
secure fugitive SLAVES, ntTe were tOutneEu
advocating it, who expected that il would be
secuted, yet advocated its passage as test, end
likely 10 afford direct provocauoB for secession ia
northern resistance.
The paremopnt importance of the Fugitive act,
and Of its faithful observance, are thus tnfest md
conclusive OF the Danger Of had faith Hence the
wise resolutions among the le ,d,sg men of both
parties in both houses not 10 touch II, and not TO
have il touched. The suggestion of the Presi-
dents message is, doubtless with the full consent
of Mr. Webster, 10 the same end The President
did not personally approve the stringency
Of the law hut stringent only according TO
the constitution, his duty aud his conscience
20 together 10 sustain IL The constitution
is a compact between the several States IL
the North cannot adhere 10 their agreement,
there is end to it-there is provoc tion 10 quit
partnership which is false to us solemn pledges
em men expected, sought, and desired Now let
ue have a flood OF northern petlilons and res0lu-
tons against the Fugitive act brought into the
House or the Senate, and from the fact that this
law is the test question between the North and
South, we may anticipate an ugly re. agitation.
We confess that We are afraid of i've fear tn II
the present excellent temper of Congress is decep-
tive. II s not the fret week OF the session, nor
the second, which determines It's re suits The
Christmas holidays uniformly psss by betore any
ibing is done in the way of the actual business Of
the 9 ssion.f We are satisfied that the nulhiers
have not abandoned their design Of mischief; and
we fear that quite soon enough they will open the
whCle broad question Of slavery, notification, and
llsl,nIDn.