Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-12-05
The Fugitive Slave Law.

This law 10 the great topic Of discourse. We
sympathize and 90 with those who hold to obeyins
it, because it Is law. We have before said TINS,
but those who wish to do 80 have misrepresen'ed
our position. While we say this, we say also tna'
we do not sympathize with those who declare II TO
be reasonable to advocate its repeal or mod'nea-
ton. The one course 10 just as consntus'onaiy
granted to US as right a. the other. Many VINO
profess to believe in the immaculacy OF the Fusi-
tive Slave Law are driven into the advocacy OF the
vital pro- slavery principle. We need not 60 far to
see an illustration. Its upholders already begin to
,anctify American Slavery, with all its adultery,
fornication and abominable traits IN ordination
Of the pure and holy Jehovah. Is this the public
sentiment Of Iowa9 Some say it is, but we do not
believe it. The Union meeting 10, from al appear
ances, to take this turn and uphold this idea. II
slavery is such blessing as some say 1t ''' let US
1t once have Convention and make Iowa slave
state. We signed the cali for the preliminary
meeting, not TO deity the fugitive slave law and
thus throw our influence into the scale OF slavery'
but to show our attachment to the Union and our
willingness to obey the laws-yes, all the laws.
There seems to DO = hope, on the part Of some,
that the old parties will b broken up, and that
Union party will be formed out of such elements.
We see no prospect of this, notwithstanding Mr.
Clay himself has endorsed the sentiment. The
Democratic party has now every thing its own way
and it, accretons and wish to perpetuate its pow
er, without any necessity Of sharing 1t with o'iap'
dated politicians, will be sufficient for 1t to pause
long before giving up either its name or its stand
ing. II such = sentiment emanated from leading
men In the Democratic party, then We might look
At this question moro seriously. But they have
not even whispered such \ thing. We don't be-
leve any such party will be formed with the acqu-
essence Of the democratic party.
To prove the prospect Of the organization OF
such party, some say that there is even now dan.
ger of the Dissolution Of the Union. They even
60 so far as to show how the Union can be dis
solved a. in moment. In their own language,
slt is only necessary they say ssfor the Southern
members in Congress to take their hats and march
out OF their respective Halls and the Union Is dis
solved. This is pretty busaboo, wherewith TO
frighten sensible men into worshipping the fugi-
tive slave law. Indeed, does our existence hang
on 90 frail 4 tenure as thi.9 Mono. These are
only the servants of the Masses. The bone and
sinew folks-who have something to say in the
matter, easily appoint other. in the place OF
these ssput-on- their-hat" folks and from what we
hear of the sentiments Of the Of the South,
this course win be pursued, should any such con-
tingency occur a. is imagined might, under GER
tain circumstances.
We speak 40 we have done, because we think
many are beginning to narrow down this holy pur-
pose Of honoring the Union, into the question
whether freeman, In free state, has the right to
Say that he does not wish to be compelled to be-
come slave catcher, and to avoid it, he wishes
the law to be repealed or 20 far modified as to re-
move this compulsion, as far as he is Concerned.
For the action OF others he is not responsible
The same kind Of modification that exonerates
Quakers in many Of the states from bearing arms
or being enrolled in the militia is asked for and
more. The question 10 narrowed down TO this:-
IL it treason to say that the law should DO repealed
OF nodi6ed9 We say it 10 our right to say so, il
We choose. Others deny Us this right. They are
not numerous, but they are endeavoring, BY mis-
representation to influence others to adopt this
sentiment, and thus muzzle the voice and the press
Of American-born freemen. Notwithstanding the
sophistry which 10 thrown around this subject,
many begin to see the sentiment in its native and
denationsiixing dcformity, and they will soon see
that justice is done. A reaction will surely
take place in favor Of freemen's rights and free
mems privileges.