The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-19
Tho chrIstlana Traxedx.

Tho ChrIstiana Tragedy.
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
Olutions and party scribblings, and we no longer
attach any consequence TO them whatever. We
insert to-day, however, 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, and 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 decama.
ton of the North, after all the clustering and
shutting aud stampedng of the South, we sup
pose there is no man of common sense and or
binary information, who does not know that
the South has been spurned from 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 1t
virtually excluded slavery from the new terrific
ries because it was sinful, and yet by the Fug-
tive-slave law, allowed slavery certain rights in
the Northern States. This has excited the ire
Of the North. Accordingly the Fugtiveslave law
has been considered an aggression on the North
Accordingly, 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 In this
dozen of cases, the cost has been at least as
many thousand dollars. In Massachusetts, the
result has been that one slave was rescued by
mob in the Courthouse, two others were sent
off on European tour in triumph, and third
was taken after large muster of the govern.
ment forces, under cover Of night. In New
York, judge of United States court release
an 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 snbmissionists had the hardi-
hood to proclaim daily that the Fugitve-slave
law was faithfully executed and that the South
might submit with rejoicing to the compromise
Alabama voted for a majority of submission
members Of Congress- And soon the news
came from Mississippi that submission was vic.
torious in the conventional election. As if in
bitter mockery of all these pretences and results.
the tidings burst upon us that in Pennsylvania,
central, border, and conservative State, South
srn citizens had been shot down and murdered
in the act of retaining property under this law
OF course town meetings have been held, and
. great amount of Indignation professec. But
We publish to-day an article from the New York |
Tribune, which defends this murder-and de-
fends il on the very principle on which the prin.
cipal measures of the compromise were adopted
Nay, this murder is defended on the entire sys-
tenn of Northern principles. The doctrine of
universal equality, of the sin and tyranny of
slavery, of the right of revolution-amount to
defence Of this murder. What is the authority
of mere statute law against 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
1t has about seven times the circulation of any
other paper of the same party. The Tribune
represents the views OF the ruling section of
the Wing party in that State.
Now we are promised again, ms we have been
promised by the compromise papers, on all pre- |
vious outrnges, that the offenders will be sig
nally punshed--and that the law will be vindi- |
cated--snd that in future, there will be no diff
Guilty in executing this law. II is our duty on
the contrary TO assure the South, as we have
uniformly done before, that the reverse of all
this is the truth. This outrage produces great
sensation. The perpetrators will be arrested
and probably punished But by the great body
Of the Northern people, these culprts will be
regarded As martyrs to lberty---lo equality, TO |
human rights. The Northern mind will be
aroused and arrested by their fate. But accord
ing to all the princil les of the North on this
subject these negroes and their white allies will
stard NOT only justified but ennobled
fafk Of the Iaws-of the Constitution Why,
according 10 Northern doctrines, these men
have c"nfcnded for rights and principles more
sacred than tho Constitution and laws.