The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-18

not v ithhold the fugitves--wlthout lncurring
responsibility which can be as readily enforced as
any other right can ~ court OF Jasace; or, 4
that should fail, she will incur the awful response
bilty of sacri6cing the Consultation and pcstrat-
ing the Union ITSELF Shall the Scuth, then, taniely
Weld, when she has the right, the law, and the
redress in her own hands, As 10 the North, If
the disgrace of violating the Constitution and the
law be not motive enough To be honest, the penal
ty inflicted by the laws may quicken her sense Of
duty and of justice. If her citizens should fail 20
do their duty--if they will not assist in the en-
forcement of its provisions-still more. It they
should actively resist it-theh 1t becomes the SOL
emn duty OF the President TO call out the military
force of the country TO support the civil process
As things even now stand, IL becomes his duty to
issue proclamation warning the whole country of
the danger which threatens us, of the duty OF
obeying the laws, and of his own solemn obliga-
tons TO enforce 1t. .. w.t..
We repeat that there were great difficulties
thrown IN the way of the claimant In the case OF
Crafts and his wife. In that case, although we
do not think as much energy was displayed as
might have been exerted, yet the first steps appear
to have been regular and conformable TO law and,
as far as are advised, the fault of not execut,
ing the process placed in the hands of the marshal
was almost entirely his. He appears not to have
exerted the proper vigor in the discharge OF his
duty, but to what degree is not known. Ii he
could have executed the process, and did not he
seems TO be responsible for the value OF the ne
groes to the owner if he could not, and failed to
apprise the President the Judge Of the fact, he
| is alike culpable and ansTerabie. On tina point
il does not appear how far Knight and Hughes
participated in the want of energy, or with what
zenI they Insisted on the execution Of the law.
| They should have not fed the marshal to pro-
ceed aud If he did mol, or faded TO take proper
ssps 10 succeed, then he should have been lmme-
diateIy sued for his onfeasance. BY assuming
this course, and at once Informing the President
IN proper manner, under oath, az by applying 10
the Judge of the federal court To certify the fact,
that high executive offirer would have been com
PEELED to interfere. lie could not have pleaded
even the Ssmbiancc Of grouse that Is HoW set mp for
him, that h. had no information on the subject.
| We therefore regard the conduct OF the marshal
| as most eXceptionable, and we respectfully ask
that his removal should take piac6 forthwith,
whilst his responsibility to the owners should be
rgidIy enforced. This will teach those Officers of
Justice that the law cannot be tr,1ed with with I'M
punity. We ask further, has the President dis
charged his whole duty in hls AFFAIR." Has he
shown thar energy in seeing that the laws be fath=
fully executed that becomes his high station when
such important interests are involved:
The cases 10 WHICH we have referred in the fore
| going remarks, are those ~ which nothing has
been done to carry out the law, and THAR !sllure
is quoted the fault of the law, and not of those
who failed to do their duty themselves.
WAS THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW PART OF THE
| ApJusrMENT?--W We confess this 10 a somewhat
singular question TO ask at this particular time !;
ami until we read the letter of "lon, IN the Balti.
| more Sun, dated the l4th instant, we never should
| have dreamed that human being in the whole
| Union could ever have doubted the truth Of the
proposition. We must express our surprise at
| this letter and the views il contains.
W do not conceive that il is incumbent on US TO
say another word on this subject. 1t is too clear
to he controverted. In fact, the common sense Of
| ~ rchINx ltNyfh he
press, by the resolutions of public meetings, and
tn arguments of public speakers, attests that the
| Fugitive slave law an essential part OF the
Compromise. Weare surprised thatan intelligent
man should dispute the proposition.
The second point we will notice is, whether the
North passed. or acguiesced in the passage Of, the
Fugitive slave law. Had the Northern members
voted against it, it would have been defeated. II
they had chosen defeat it, they had it an their
power to do so , aud by not exertins that power
they assented to its passage. A portion OF the
Northern votes was given for the bill, and a por-
ton declined to vote. Is it not mere play upon
words to say that the North are not just as much
bound by this law and responsible for Its enact
men ferery rote had been giren tora that rds mol
given against ii. This is too plain to be argued.
The letterof /" Ion" further states that the North
were uslncere in the passage Of this bill, and tina
they contend they not parties 10 1t. 1T such
lie the fact, it Is as plain rs the sun at MONDAY
that such insitcerty would be most disgracettll to
those who were guilty Of 1t, and that the denial OF
being parties is too ridiculous for any other reply
than our silent contempt. Ii is worthy OF n" other.
But We do not know who or what persons at the
North have mace such denials as sion" refers
to- We have seen and heard of none. i he North
do not deny that they parties TO It, but that II
Is constitutional and binding on their consc ences.
Even this denial is made only by the Abolition
lists and fanatics. The great mass at the North
admit their obligations to obey it as readily as
they do any other law.
| The South, saws "Ion," should have taken a
bond from the North that they would execute the
law! This is almost 90 much for gravity to bear.
Is " Ion" in earnest, or only INDUCING IN little
fgurative amusement The bond that the laws
shall be executed is the judiciary Have they
failed to discharge their duty orare the difficult
ties that have occurred in two three 10 be
taken as proof that they arr corrupt, dishonest,
and insincere? We condemn the misconduct Of q
few demagugues and fanatics in Boston and other
places as much as " lon" does, but we would
correct it in a very different mode. He would
| surrender all things into the hands OF the Adolf
tioniss-repeal Of the law and ALL We would try
IL, and resort to the courts for redress, or take
such other measures the occasion demands.
Such sentiments as those of g Ion" are calculated
., to operae in the most unfortunate and fatal man
| ner to the rights Of the South. They incite the
! Abolitonists to renewed e8eItIons; they lend to
cool and ALLEVIATE those friends of the Constitution
| and of he law at the North on whom the South
can rely; ana they ehSender eeiln%s OF luminosity
at The South towards the whole people of the
North. If the Southern people abandon their
own cause by committing it entirely to the hands
of the North, they break up the Compromise; they
desert their post nd their friends; trey betray a
suIky and querulous disposition, as unbecomng
their dignity as it would he destructive to their
interests Is this what sion" advises Is this
course that any enlightened at the South
will pursue;
The idle rumor about the repeal movement Of
| Thaddeus Stevens is beneath notice. What can
this man do more than he has done already A
worthy champion, indeed, is this representative
for the Office which he assumes We would
rather that such a blow should come from his
hand than from any other man in Congress. But
does he or does " Ion" believe that Southern men
will remain quietly in their seats and see such
frebrand thrown again into the halls Of Congress-
Such subjects no longer debatabIe; and ii is to
be hoped that no Southern man, and indeed no
! American patriot. will permit anX such definite to