Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-01


ton but back, nevertheless chsined ana msuacled 10
slavery and stripes. And the latter refresh themselves
from daily toll by orgies Of the night devoted the same
pourngs Of philanthropy; minging a the while their
anahemas what they call catching" with the most
hod and prone otjugaons Of the Christian Sabbath and
indeed Of the whole Divine Revelation They sanc,ify their
philanthropy by iregion and profanity they manifest their
charity by contempt of God and his commandments.
II well to inquire what foundation there is for ali this
rhapsody of opinion, and oil this violence in conduct What
and how many the instances Of the seizure Of fugitive
which these have seen which have happen
ed in New England in their time And what have been
the circumstances Of nusce cruelty, and atrociy attending
hem To ascertain the truth in this respect have made
dgent inquiry of members Of Congress from the six New
England States On subject general cannot be sure
course that the information received entirely accurate
and, therefore, do not say that the statement which am
present may be relied altogether correct but
suppose cannot be materially The result then
of all learn this: No seizure of alleged slave has
been made in Maine No seizure Of alleged fugitive
has been made in New Hampshire No seizure Of
alleged fugitive slave has been made in Vermont
No seizure Of alleged fugitive slave has been made ia
Rhode Island within the last thirty years No seizure of an
alleged fugitive slave is known have been made in Con-
nectcu except about twenty five years ago. and in that
the negro Immediately discharged want Of proof
of Identity Some instances Of the seizure of alleged fugitive
slaves known have occurred in this generation in Mas
sachuets; but except one, their number and their history
is uncertain that took place in Boston twelve fifteen
years and in that charaby disposed persons
offered the OF money which he regarded less
than half the value Of the slave, but which he agreed to ac-
cep and the negro discharged few cases. suppose
may have occurred in New Bedford but they attracted little
notice. nor SO far as can earn caused any complaint In
deed, do not know that there than single
two arising in that place. Be it remembered that
speaking of recamaons Of slaves made by their
under the law Of Congress. speaking of instances
of violent abduction and kidnapping made by persons not
protesting to be reclaiming their own slaves.
II this be true account Of all that has happened in New
England within the last thirty years, respecting the
fugitive slaves and believe substantially what there
thava
camaons the wild and fantastic conduct Of both and
women which have long disturbed and much disgaced
the commonwealth and the country What is there espe-
cay that should induce public break from all lust
restraint fall themselves into the vagaes and fan,
with what they call eloquence the res ready knde
Of popular prejudice and popular excitement suspect all
this to be the effect of that wandering and vagrant phan
throPy which dstubs and annoys all that present. in time
or place, by heating the Imagination subjects Distant
mote, and uncertain.
is admitted, all hands, that the necessity for any legal
provision for the reclaimng of fugitive slaves misfortune
and evil II is admitted by nearly all that slavery itself
misfortune and evil And there States which
the evil attending these recamaons is practically felt But
where the evil really exists, there is comparatively little
pant and no excitement. Maryland and Pennsylvania for
example, lie, the the slave side Of the line the other
on the free sde Slaves escape from Maryland flee into
Pennsylvania and there arrested These instances are
not unirequen and usually create disturbance and
excite no exasPeraed feeling In instance indeed
mob assembled the fugitive, violence ensued and
life was lost This cf course created popular resentment and
for considerable time agitated the neghbohood But in
general the people Of understand their neghbo
rights and are willing that they should be secured and en-
oyed Massachusetts grows ervid Pennsylvania wrongs
while Pennsy herself excited any such
wrongs, and complains Of injustice. The aboonists Of
Massachusetts, both the and and the gns rend the
welkin with sympahies for Pennsy while Pennsyva
mia would quite willingly be left her herself
Massachusetts, tears fall abundany for Pennsylvania suffer
ings but which suerngs, Pennsylvania herself knows little
or nothing Of No people opposed slavery than
We KIM that that
great and respectable part Of her population, the Friends
have borne their testimony against from the first Yet they
create no excemenf they seek not to overthrow under
mine the constitution of their country They know that
ness, sieadness of principle just moderation and uncon
luerabe the vues the practice of which
most likely to correct whatever wrong the constitution
of the social system. No doubt there sometimes to be
ound Friends subject the alty Of desiring become CON
picuous TO the influence of false sentmen,aty borne
away into atmosphere f,kerng between light and dark
ness by the pus of The transcendena philosophy
malady of the great body They remain of sound
md Opposing minds and memories am msed by au,hori
which ought not to mislead If be rue that that great
body approves the sentiments which have given ueance
IN the floor Of the Senate
Between Kentucky and Ohio complaints have arisen occa
onay the subject Of fugitive slaves but by
the extent which has been represented by the Abolition
:ees Shareholders in Kentucky complain Of the Difficult
les which they encounter in reclang fugitve and the
people of Ohio complain, not of the execution of the
cospes and eclamatons under it, but of the conduct of
avcaoliers, in coming into the State, taking and carrying
pack their slaves by force and without legal process The
State of Ohio has had the discretion not TO prohibit her Off
ers and magistrates from performing the duties enjohed
hem by the Of Congress- Such duties they perform when
occasion requires yet they may be prohibited by the Lee
,saure aud the Supreme Court has decided that it is in
he power Of Congress to make complete provision by law for
he whole subject aud give the power Of executing such
to officers Of the United States and the prohbitory
cts of Of the States make appropriate and suitable
aw of the United States indispensable, such law, passed.
would Of course b. general and would comprehend Ohio with
,her States. ls tl."s-s ssss@s aefE H sAs# t#fta
The act Of 1898 gives right Of acton the owner of
ugve slave against any person who shall harbor conceal
him. Such actions have teen brought in Ohio and have
,ead eminent judicial authority say that he has found
obstruction the judicial proceedings in these
ases than in others. Ohio juries try them with much
mpartiality and csmness as they try other 4
Gentlemen from what know Of the subject, and Of the
'ubc men, and Of the people Of those two States fully be-
ieve that il left entirely hem law might be passed per-
ec satisfactory to every body except those whose business
agitation, and whose objects any thing but the promo
ion Of peace, harmony, patriotic good will and the love of
,sIos among the people Of the United States. a g II.
And now, gentlemen, does MT every sober minded and
patriotic the necessity and feel the duty rebukng
hat spirit Of faction and dsunon, that spirit of dscod and
elimination and recrmnaton, that spirit that loves angry
and loves espscia ly when evils
ginary and dangers unreal which has been actively en-
oyed in doing mischief and which, il is be amented has
eceved counenance and encouragement quarters whence
etter things were looked for
We are now the cose Of the sixth month Of the scs
Ion or Congress. What important has been adopt
for the advancement of the geat interests Of the country
alton, until spirit shall prevail both in Congress and the
oun ry, which shall look things importn, AMI real,
md less TO things ideal and abstract That there serious
icues n present condition. growing the acuu