The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-12

noon almost 10 suffocation, on the occasion OF
the anniversary Of this society. There were
over two thousand persons present, more than
two-thrds Of whom were ladies'. AT 8 o'clock
the meeting was organized by the appointment
Of Mr.. Arthur Tappan us president, and Mr.
Lewis Tappan as secretary. Rev. Mr.. Gardiner
coored clergyman, pronounced an appropriate
prayer, after which the secretary read the fol-
lowing report which was, on notion accepted
and referred to the executive committee for pub
llcaton:
The report expresses the belief that the great
question of the day will only be settled by the
emancipation of every slave Jei1erson's remark
is referred to, who said Nothing is more GER
tainly written in the book of fate Than that these
people are to be free" The compromise meas
ures are examined; while it is acknowledged
that their enactment was triumph Of the slave
power, it is shown that ii has not as was pre-
dcted, put an eud to agitation. The most in
sulting part Of the compromise Is the Fugitive
slave bill. The only point gained to freedom
by the compromise, was the prohibition of the
future importation Of slaves in the District of
Columbia. President Fillmore's defamation
against the encroachments of slavery, and his
letter approving anti-slavery principles, are
mentioned in connection with his signature to
the Infamous bill.
The Union League" formed by forty-four
members of Congress of different political par
ties, North and South, is alluded to, and it is
stated that New England furnished but one
sgner to the pledge, who also voted for the Flu
gitve slave bill, but lost his reelection. Only
eight Of the New York members signed it--less
than one-fourth of her delegates only two of
whom have been reelected. Pennsylvania fur
nisbed but one signer, and there were only
eleven OF these persons in all the free States
A review is taken Of the motives which n-
duced the passage of the Fugitive slave bill,
and it is stated that the South designed to hum
bic the North, and by making her territory a
hunting ground, and Northern citizens her slave
catchers, to render them co-operators in sup
porting American slavery, and sharers of its
disgrace
Notice is taken of the principal cases of
seizure and reinstatement under the Fugitive
slave bill, the employment of George Wood,
and other feed attorneys, by the Union Safety
Committee, to aid the shareholders in accom-.
plishing their Objects and the peaceable and e-
gal resistance made by the people of color and
their friends to the iniqutous law. 1t is made
evident that in the case Of Henry Long, he
would have been set at liberty had Judge
Campbell retained possession of Long, adiudi-
Gated the case, and decided upon the iegaity
of the proceedings before the. sham commits
sioner
The action of numerous ecclesiastical bodies
against the Fugitive slave bill, is mentioned in
terms OF decided appreciation. On no former
occasion has the voice of the religious commu-
nifty from the pulpit and the press, with some
melancholy exceptions, been more decided in IA
vor of liberty and humanity and it is men,
toned rs one of the most cheering signs of the
times that so many young men in the ministry,
theological seminaries, and in the legal and
other professions, have thought and spoken for
themselves, in tones of indignant rebuke and in
a way to shame many of their seniors and in
structors who have been considered the Prophets
and Gamalies of the land.
The patriotic course taken by several gov
ernors and State legislatures on the subject of
the law of $780, is gratefully acknowledged
The acts of Vermont and Ohio are deemed
worthy of all praise, and il is believed that Mos
sachusetts and other free States will follow their
example.
The constitutional question is reviewed.
Many editors and others have attempted TO prove
the constitutionality Of the law of 1850, by say
ing il was but little if any more stringent than
that of 1898, forgetting that one reason alleged
for the new law was, the fact that the Supreme
Court of the United States had decided that one
part of the old law was unconstitutional, viz
that part that enjoins upon State officers to exc
cute law of Congress. Ii is shown also, that
eminent jurists and distinguished lawyers have
for years denied the constitutonalty of the law
of 1893 In other respects and that among them
are the names OF Walworth ard Webster The
law of 1850 is shown to be unconstitutional by
various extracts from men learned in the law
and by its obvious denial of the trial by jury
and the use of the habeas corpus. The query
is also raised, how fugitive slaves can be re-
manded to slavery under the Constitution, when
Mr. Mason of Virginia, and others, have con-
fessed that there is no statute law subjecting
men to slavery, end when of course no slaves
can be said to be held in slave States under
the laws thereof"
Notice is taken of the extraordinary charges
made by judges to grand juries in anticipation
Of judgments rendered after full hearing, and
hey are commented on with much severity
Some of them are spoken of as in part political
and as inculcating novel and danger
BUS principles in ethics.
The confusion in the public mind on the dis
.nction between disobeying n law and Offering
orcible resistance TO it, is pointed out, and the
remark of Judge Mclean is quoted that " an
act of Congress imposes no OBJ.
legation on State or the people Of State, apd
nay be resisted by an individual or a commu-
nifty" 1t is shown also, by the acts of presi- |
lents Jefferson and Jackson, that acts of Con
yress deemed unconstitutional have been tram
oled upon by them
The distribution of Bibles TO slaves is men
toned in connection with the remark of Hon.
Abbott Lawrence at the anniversary Of the
British Bible Society 81 say that it is duty
% place this book in the hands Of every human
being, who can read it; and if there are those
who cannot read it, it is our duty to teach them
10 read and understand is Inspirations IL is !
that the American Bible Society keeps
20 special fund for supplying Bibles to slaves,
but money for this purpose is received and dis
bursed by the American Missionary Associa-
ton. Favorable mention is made of this So
ciety; all whose missionaries and teachers, up
wards of 80 in number, at home and abroad, are
of anti-slavery sentiments, and teach accordingly
with great fearlessness and success. Reference
is had to the general association Of Illinois, TO
Christian Anti Slavery Convention in Ohio, TO
similar convention of New England Baptists
and to other religious bodies who have taken or