Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-10-11


ton it originally caused That seemed, and still does
seem, to me, the turning point of my destiny-the
dividing line between light and darkness, in my ca
reer upon earth for it my first actual recogni-
ton of my usefulness to my fellow men.
Such, then, were the events coupled with the very
dawn of steam nayigation-a dawn so recent as to
be still recollected by many--and such as Fulton
there related Them were the early approximations by
the world, Of discovery which has invaded all wa
ter, causing revolution in navigation which has al
most literally brought the very ends of the earth in
contact.-Bufalo Com. Adv.
First Arrest under the New Fugitive Slave BILL
Great Excitement.
Our readers will find in another column full ac-
count of the arrest examination, and reclamation of
negro named James Hamlet, fugitive slave from
the State of Maryland. About two years ago, Ham
let ran away from his owner, and fed to New York,
where he resided we learn, for the past two years
Under the Fugitive Slave bill he taken into GUS
tody, at the instance of his His identity and
the fact that he the property of the claimant,
were proved and an order issued by the United
States Commissioner directing him to be given up to
the attorney of the owner The proceedings occu-
pied but very few hours-the legal demands of the
plaintiff were granted, and the provisions of the bill
recently PASSED by Congress complied with.
This is the first arrest that has taken place under
the Fugitive Slave BILL and We have no doubt that
it will not be the last. The bill will be taken advan
tage of by many other Southern people, whose ne
ployers within few years. AS might have beer
expected, the recapture and arrest in this
ed great commoton throug hout the city, especially
among the colored population, and the ultra aboli
ton fanatics who set all laws at defiance, and Whose
existence would be void if slavery did not exist
There is reason to believe that the former will com
bine for the purpose of resisting the law and is
improbable that some of the latter will co-operat
with them. Serious disturbances may therefore b
the result, but the law must be INDICATED, and
will be INDICATED and upheld by all good citizens
Our colored population may attempt breach of tn
peace but if they do they know full we'll the pen
atty which they will incur and the punishment
which will assuredly be melted out to them.
While we regret the necessity which existed 70
the passage of the Fugitive Slave bill, pleas
ed to see the promptness with which it carrie
out in the to which We refer, because it is a
earnest to Southern citizens that the comprom
ses of the constitution and the laws enacted unde
Them will be respected by all good men in the North
ern States, especially in New York. Notwithstanc
ing the bad name, fame, and credit attaching to tn
Van Burens, Greeleys, Stewards, and Weeds of th
, State, the mass of the people sound as the
ever the question of slavery, and are as de
termined as they that justice shall be don
, to the South whenever occasion requires it. The
are law and order loving people, and devotedly a
tached to the union of these States as it is. The
, wish to preserve harmony with the South and i
their endeavors to do So they will that the Sout
shall have reason to complain of their non-fulf
| ment of their duty
We see by our exchanges that the passage of tn
l Fugitive Slave bill created great excitement
Pittsburgh in which city it has always been unde
stood there is large number of fugitive slaves, an
that many of them made forced marches to Canad
/ in consequence. We understand that there are VI
wards of hundred in this city, the majority of who
will doubt follow the wake of those of Pittsburg
AS the law is Imperative and must be obeyed by OF
judicial officers, may expect to hear of some e
, citing news in different Northern and New Englar
States in the reclamation of fugitive slaves It's O
GRAFTON will tend, in great measure to quiet Il
abolition fanatics of Boston and other places in Ne
e England We allude to the gentlemen and to tt
8 philanthropsts in petticoats who once year ena
the farce of tramplng upon the constitution, and
e solving a dissolution of the Union. Those perso
r have opportunity of resisting the Fugiti
Slave BILL and of carrying portion at least, of the
many threats into execution.
We shall whether they will be true to the
word. On another occasion we will take the trout
t of defining the penalty and punishment provided
law for such persons interfere with United Stat
officers in the discharge Of their duties for the info
nation and edifcaton OF those ultra phianthropis
n Y Herald