Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-10-29
THE REGISTER.
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Va.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER %, 1850.
Notification.


embraced in the term had been advocated,
and received the sanction and support oil
the people. Indeed South Carolina and
Modification have been treated almost as
SYNONYMOUS terms. Yet, strange to say,
during the whole period in which S. Car
DINA has been regarded as alone sanction
| ing the doctrine Of Notification, there have
been other States of this Confederacy, not
proclaiming the right Of State to nullify
law of Congress, but actually putting
the doctrine into practical operation, multi
flying law of the land, provision of the
Constitution, so plain that "he who runs
may read" provision without the Inser-
ton of which in the compact between the
States, the confederacy would not at this
moment exist.
We alluGe to the clause in the Constitu-
ton relating to fugitives from labour, and
the law of 1893 more plainly, if possible,
defining the duties of the non-slavehoIdlng
States, imposed upon them by it.
There has never been, SO far as we
know, any doubt as TO the construction OF
this clause, for if there is any portion OF
that instrument clearer to the comprehen-
sion than any other, it is the clause TO
which we refer. Ii makes it imperative
upon the State to deliver the fugitive to
the owner. The most hypocritical of the
aboltioni.ts admit Island only get around
its provisions by appealing to The "high-
er laU" of Mr.. Stewards manufacture.
thus "stealing the livery Of heaven TO
serve the devil in"
This provision of the Constitution, as
clear as the sun at midday, has been VIC
lated, nullifed, year after year, by every
State norlh Of Mason's & Dixon's line.
| IF there have been cases in which the mas
ter has recovered his property, they have
been "like angels visits, few and far be-
tween," so rare that they only prove the
generality Of the rule.
Ii were almost useless to offer any evil
dence to prove the truth Of this statement,
so notorious is it to every one who has
been an observer of passing events, but
we cannot resist the temptation Of quoting
a few passages from letter recently writ
ten by Josiah Quincy Sr., of Boston, in an
swer to an invitation to attend meeting
held for the purpose Of denouncing the
Fugitive Slave Bill. lie states as his
torical fact, that:
"M the Sia'e of Massachusetts. no
person has euer been dstioeredto his mass
ter under the LaW of 1893"
Repeated attempts have been made by
slave-owners TO recover their property i'll
that State, but they have all been fruitless.
He is assured
"From the above fact, that, in the State
| of Massachusetts,, the law of 1850 will be
Just as imperative for 60 years to come,
as the law of 1893 has been for nearly 80
years past"
Again, he says:
Il have been intimately acquainted
with, and close observer of. the charac-
ter of that people (of Mass for go years,
and do not believe there has been mo-
ment in which, within any poPulons dis
trict of Massachusetts, the law of 1893
could have been openly enforced. And
without pretension 10 the spirit OF prophe-
CIV, foIetell that TIE same will be the fate
Of The law of 1850"
Here then is an open avowal by man
than whom few have been more honored
in his State, that fundamental law Of the
land has been violated for period of 60
years past, and prophecy that it will be
violated in all time. If this be not multi
fication, palpable notification, we misun-
derstand the Specification of the term. 10
greater or less degree, the same might
be said Of all the non-slaveholding states.
Er ,no disco omnes.
lfit be the purpose Of the Northern
States 10 resist the provisions of this just
law, the sooner 'twere done, the better.
We Of the South wish to know our true
position; we wish to know whether we
are TO enjoy unmolested the right of pro-
perty, or to become the prey of practical
freebooters. As great as is our devotion TO
the Union, we are not willing to live with
in it, save on terms of the most perfect
equality, terms alike honorable to all
|