The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
NORTHERN MiJORITIES."

Councils. Georgia and the States further South
had little pecuniary interest in the Fugitive bill
still they regarded it as of vital Importance, as it
would furnish test Of the fidelity Of this North
ern majority" TO the Compromises of the Con-
stitution.
II is no new thing for the South to impose tests
upon the Northern majority" 1t has always
been distrusting its fidelity, always exciting new
pledges Of its faith. For fear Northern men
should not rule well it has so contryed as to sub
ject them to its own rule The will ola minority,
united by, and acting for, a single Interest, has
made the majority subservient.
Onewould have thought that with Southerner
for President Southern Chief ustce a South
ern majority on the Supreme Bench Southern
Speaker, and Southern Cbairmen and Majorities
on all the important Committees of both Houses,
the South, the e" minority" as Shareholders always
style themselves when they are putting forth
their most extravagant pretensons, might have
been satisfied But, by adroit management-ap-
peals to the vanity magnanimity good feeling, pc
cunjary and political interest and the fears OF
members of the Northern majority the South
secured the rejection of the Wilmot Provso the
favorite principle of that majority and forced the
passage of a scandaously ubiquitous law to enable
it to catch runaway slaves. "The Northern ma
iortyo now revolts at this measure, but is cooly
told that adherence to it is required as proof OF
its fidelity to the Compromises Of the Constltu"
ton repeal il, and the South will repeal the
Union for the proof would then be complete that
the majority was bent on subverting the Compro-
misses of the Constitution
There may be q few Southern men deluded
with this idea, but the majority of them harp
upon it for purpose They charge the North
with disposition to abuse its power, simply to
cloak their own ambition, and excuse or justify
their own abuses Of power
Nothing in the history Of the country for the
last sixty years can authorize this miserable dis
trust of the North What has it done? What
compromises of the Constitution have its State
Governments violated? Has any attempt ever
been made to strip the shareholders Of the repre-
sentation allowed for slaves? Did Congress in
terfere with the foreign slave trade before it was
expressly atVnOrized TO do til Hasn't evtr pre-
tended to authority to legslate upon the subject
of slavery in the States Have the representa-
tives of the North set up such pretcnsion, or
manifested any such disposition Did not Con-
gress legisate in 1893 to give effect to the provi
sion of the Constitution relating TO fugitive slaves,
and punish any one who may harbor or conceal
them, and did not the law continue to be in ope-
ration down to the time when the atrocious bill
Of the last session was passed When did Con-
gress, in which there was a Northern majority.
prove delinquent in its adherence to this so-called
Compromise What State Government of the
North has passed any laws in contravention of it?
1t is easy to declam and indulge in violent gene
ralities, but what law or regulation Of any State
at the North can be pointed out, releasing from
service or labor the fugitive from any other
State?
In all points, the "Northern majority" 80 far
its representatives in Congress, or its consti-
tutcd State authorities are concerned, has OBJ
served good faith towards the South, never vio-
lating single guaranty of the Constitution, or
betraying the slightest disposition to do So
But it is said, the North has attempted to pre-
vent the extension of slavery into free territory.
Well; nothing is said or intimated against this
in "thc compact" No guaranty was ever de-
mandcd or yielded of the extension Of Slavery
but the spirit OF the compact was against it. The
Wilmot Proviso is not therefore an attack upon
the letter or shirt of any compromise, nor does
the support Of it furnish ground for the wretched
imputaton of design to abolish Slavery in the
States.
1t is said that the North has aimed at the
Abolition of Slavery in the District Of Column
ba! Some of its State Legislatures have passed
resolutions in favor Of it some of its Representa-
tives in Congress have voted for it. Wells
there anything in the bondn against this Did
the North ever make any bargain about it? la
doing what it has done, it has violated no guar
anty and no matter how offensive the slavehold-
ers may regard its wishes or acts in the premises
they have no right to argue that, because it has
aimed or may aim at what is strictly constitu
tional, it has aimed or will aim at what is uncon-
sttutional The North has just as good right
to seek the abolition of slavery at the seat of the
Federal Government as the South has to seek
its perpetuaton and no more violates good faith,
than does the latter.
1t is again said that "the North" will discuss
the merits and dement's of the system of Slavery.
Whose business is it At this age Of the world,
People discuss what they please. All things in
Heaven and in earth are subjected TO rigid in
yestigaton what 8 ecal holiness exempts the
- institution Of sayeryW What is there in HUI
man Bondage so sacred that it must not be talked
about2 The question belongs to Humanity-it
has been undergoing discussion all over the civil
lied world for the last century. England and
France have abolished the system, but the slave
trade, which is incidental to it, continues to be,
with them and our country, grave subject of de-
liberation and action
So far as the question Is moral one, human ma
ture must be changed and Gods laws reversed,
before thought, and tongue, and pen, shall cease
inquiry and argument upon it, Whatever con-
Germs human rights and welfare will enlist human
thoughts and sympathies, which will find express
sion in speech and through the press God says,
there be Light Slavery says, let there be Dark
meas. The result of such conflict cannot be
doubtful. Light will break forth, and the sys-
TEN OF law that cannot stand the light must dis
appear.
And so far as the question is political one 1t
will continue to be agitatcd until 1t shall cease to
be political 1t is not the fault of the North that
slavery is made political question. Its support
ers insist that Congressional laws shall uphold it
in the District of Columbia, provide for 1t in the
Territories, impose severe pains and penalties for
its support in certain contingencies in the free
States If they will nationalne slavery, they must
take the consequences If Congress may uphold,
it may subvert; if may promote, it may discOun-
tenauce if it may protect, it may withhold protec