The southern press., 1851-09-20
The chrIsfiana Tragedy,

ln6 SaA hohA0n" AAo6SNyS
We have read with some attention the CON-
mentaries of the Northern press, on the recent
murder OF Southern citizens whilst attempting
to recover their property under law Of the
land. We have also seen the proceedings of
the Baltimore and Philadelphia meetings. But
we have been for some time, nauseated with res
outions and party scribblngs, and we no longer
attach any consequence to them whatever. We
insert to-day, however, an article on this transac-
ton because it presents the actual sentiment on
this subject, of the Northern masses. Nay, it
presents the legitimate conclusion that results
from the premises of all the Northern people
and papers, aud from the late compromise in
Cor gress. We suppose there is no man in the
South, however remote, obscure or unlettered'
who does not know that the South was excluded
from the new territories because Of the sin Of
slavery. After all the resolutions and declama
ton of the North, after all the clustering and
shutfling and stampeding of the South, we sup
pose there is no man of common sense aud or
binary information, who does not know that
the South has been spurned fiom the new ter.
ritory on account Of slavery: and that slavery
has thus been virtually pronounced by Con
gress an evil, sin, wrong, and fraud. 1t is
on this sentiment alone, that the compromise
can DO palliated, much less justified.
Well, the compromise was Inconsistent. IL
virtually excluded slavery from the new terrific
ries because it was sinful and yet by the Fug-
tve-slave law, allowed slavery certain rights in
the Northern States. This has excited the ire
of the North. Accordingly the Fugitve-slave law
has been considered an aggression on the North.
Accor dinghy, it has been denounced and resisted
to such an extent, that of about twenty thousand
fugitives there, only about dozen cases have
occurred, where the owners have had the te-
merity or the folly to attempt recovery. Ia this
dozen of cases, the cost has been at least az
many thousand dollars. In Massachusetts, the
result has been that one slave was rescued by a
mob in the Courthouse, two Others were sent
off on European tour in triumph, and third
was taken after a large muster Of the govern.
ment forces, under cover Of night. In New
York, Judge of United States court release )
nm acknowledged fugitive on habeas corpus,
and he escaped to Canada. ..
All these things had been done, and some
twenty thousand fugitive slaves yet remained in
the North, in contempt Of this law, and confd,
Ing in the sympathy and power Of the North
whilst Southern subm issionisis had the hard.
hood to proclaim daily that the Fugitive-slave
law was faithfully executed, and that the South
might submit with rejoicing 10 the compromise
Alabama voted for a msjority of submission
members of Congress. And soon the news
came from Mississippi that submission was vic
torious in the conventional election. As II in
bitter mockery Of all these pretences and results,
the tidings burst upon us that in Pennsylvania,
q central, border, and conservative State, South
ern citizens had been shot down and murdered
in % act Of reclaiming property under this law.
Of course town meetings have been held, and
n great amount Of Indignation professec But
we publish to-day an article from the New York
Tribune, which defends this murder-and de-
feuds II on the very principle on which the prin.
cipal measures of the compromise were adopted
Nay, this murder is defended on the entire sys.
TEN of Northern principles. The doctrine of
universal equality, Of the sin and tyranny Of
slavery, of the right of revoution-amount to
defence of this murder. What is the authority
of mere statute law against n law Of nature,
against religion and morality, according to North.
|ern notions!
The Tribune is the leading paper Of the pre-
dominant party in the great State Of New York.
|It has about seven times the circulation Of any
other paper Of the same party. The Tribune
represents the views OF The rulirg section Of
kae Wing party in that State. 4
Now we are promised again, as we have been
promised by the compromise papers, on all pre-.
kious outrages, that The offenders will be sig-
kay puDished--and that the law will bevindi.
ated-and that in future, there will be no diiii.
|ulty ia executing this law. Itis our duty on
he contrary TO assure the South, as we have
uniformly done before, that the reverse Of all
his is the truth. This outrage produces great
ensation. The perpetrators will be arrested
md probably punished. But by the great body
|f the Northern people, these culprits will be
egarded as martyrs to libcrty--to equality, to
human rights. The Northern mind will be
reused aud arrested by their fate. Bot accord.
bg 10 all the princiI les Of The North on this
ubject, these negroes and their white allies will
land not only justified but ennobled
Talk Of the laws--of the Constitution! Why,
rcordlng TO Northern doctrines, these men
ave coniended for rights and principles more
Dc-ed than the Constitution and laws,