Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-08
An Inquiry into the Nature and Results of the
Anti-Slayery Agitation, &c.-C Continued.
STATE LEGISLATURES.

Anfi-SlaSery Agitation, &c. Continued
STATE LEGISLATURES
The action of State legislatures has been princi-
pally concerned IN rendering nugatorv the act fol
the recovery of fugitive slaves The rule adopted
IN Great Britain, that slave became free by re-
moval beyond the jurisdiction of the law which
maintained the relation, brought wildly to the
public, by abolition discussions and is enforced bv
Northern courts Fugitive slaves, the Constitu-
ton provides. shaH be delicered' on the claim OF
the master. There is no room for equivocation or
ambiguity The act of 1898 looked to the agen-
cies of State officers and tribunals for its execution
New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut
and Pennsylvania, at different periods provided
jury trials to ascertain the fact of servitude The
acts of the first mentioned States contrived to
render the process of recovery of fugitive slaves
slow, costly and embarrassing. Ample provisions
were made for costs, continuances, DC.
These laws were highly esteemed by the anti
slavery party, and strongly supported. GA trial
by jury" says DR.. Claiming, Fought to be grant
ed to the suspected fugitive, as being the most eff
tectual provision for innocence known to our laws
1t said, that under such process, the slave will
not be restored to his master. Undoubtedly the
jury is an imperfect tribunal and may often fail of
a wise and just administration of the laws. But
as We have seen, the first question to be asked is
How shall the free man be preserved from being
sentenced to slavery? This is an infinitely great
er evil than the escape of the fugitive and to avert
this, trial by jury should be granted. 1t is OBJ
vlouS that DR.. Claiming was pressed for argu-
ment to vindicate the aboltionists' demand, being
unwilling to adopt the one they put forward.
The abolitionists said ''Give the painting fugitive
this inestimabe right, in every Northern State he
Is safe-for where can you find twelve impartial
men among us, who will decide, their oahs, that
a man has not a better right to himself, than ano-
ther has to him-that the blood which runs in his
veins is not his own-that the right to liberty is not
inaenable. Secure this right to fugtves, and all
the Northern States of the Southern part of the
federaey will be drained of their slaves
The principles which these State laws were
formed, declared to be in conflict with the
Constitution of the United States by the Supreme
Court. The same States Immediately after passed
forbidding their officers and citizens to aid in
the recapture of fugitive, and imposing heavy pc
nalties upon the master for any interruption of the
peace, in the recapture ola slave. Thus, systema-
ticaly, did the States, in their corporate action,
set at naught their confederate and constitutional
obligations
The States North have employed, to the content
of the abotionists, their powers of passing resou-
tions condemnatory ofslavery, and in advancing the
progress of their measures before Congress.
We recollect but State, which did not en-
force the adoption of the Wilmot provso and which
does not countenance, directly, the agitation of 9TH
case of this kind, is that of Massachusetts,
adopting the motion to amend the Constitution,
aboshing slave representation in Congress-a mo-
ton which received the stern rebuke of own
General Assembly.
The refusals of the Governors of New 1ork and
Maine to render felons accused of stealing slaves,
is another instance of subservency to the abo-
ition ideas.
PARTIES.
We have shown the agencies employed by the
abotionists The control over the political parties
of the country was another prominent feature IN
their mode of action. In 1887, the American An
t-Slayery Society adopted the resolution to interro
gate candidates to their opinions. Are you in
favor of the right of petition Are you IN favor of
the exclusion of Texas from the Union? Do you
favor the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in
the District of Columbia? Do you favor the abo-
lition of the slave trade between the States
questions submitted to candidates for Congress by
the auxiliary societies. under the direction of their
principal President Fillmore, it may be recolect-
ed, answered these questions satisfactorily to the
Abolition Society of Erie county, in 1885, The
same questions were propounded, at that time, to
the candidates for Governor and Lieut.. Governor
of New York. The Abolition Report says, ''Of
the Wing candidates, Mr.. Bradish for Lieut.. Go
vernorf answered fully and satisfactorily, in eve
ry point; Mr.. Seward, for Governor, was, all
points, the reverse, though with much effort to
make it appear he was at heart the friend of free
dom. The Democratic candidates, both, answer
ed fully and promptly in the negative" Govern
or Marcy has, from the beginning, been a faithful
opponent of the aboitonists, and for that reason,
perhaps, has been totally overthrown in New FORK.
The conduct of the other politicians we have men
toned, furnishes matter for reflection. The course
of proceeding have referred to has produced the
most powerful changes through the Northern States
The old friends of the South, have either been dri
ven to obscurity, have surrendered their OPT
MONS. Marcy, Dickinson, Beardsey, of N. York
Vroom and Wall, of New Jersey Woodbury. and
Pearce, of New Hampshire Hannegan, Allen
Buchanan and Dallas, have made room for the Sc
wards, Hales, Coopers, Daytons, Millers, Chases,
Ewings. The great parties os the Union hold to-
gether by the cohesion of old connection and pub
lie office. Mr.. Clay, however, announces that the
contest has finally come to be whether the agita-
ton slavery shall destroy the Union the Union
shall suppress the slavery agitation This declara-
ton, too, is made within three months from the
time peace was announced, through one hundred
guns, at the Capital.
CHURCHES.
The Church has been the chosen object of aboli-
ton proselytsm from the inception of their enter
prise. To enlist the .Pulpit and the Press, and
TO purify the church from the contamination of sla
very, was proclaimed as primary point in their
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