The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-13

The FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW AND FASATIcAI
STATE LEeIsLA1IoN.-The operation of the com
promise measures Of last Congress, since they be-
came laws, has, on the WHOLE been satisfactory
The South are assured that the North is deter
mined, in 20 I'd faith, to abide by them and to carry
Hem all into efect-especally the Fugitive Slave
NIL Hence We see the triumph of Union candidates
md Union principles, aud the overthrow of dsunion
sts and seoessonists, in that part of the country
Is exhibited by the recent elections. Even South
Carolina has fallen into the Union track-or, at
least has decided that she will not secede, unless
she is joined by other Southern States, of which,
according to present appearances, there is not the
most remote probability. We are happy, also, to
be abe to state that, notwithstanding an occasional
Unrest in the organ Of VIM. H. Seward and the
abo,hionists in this city, abolition fanaticsm in
theNorth has been, to very great extent, pros
traed; and that the people who were misled by
denagogues, have returned to sense of their con.
stiutonal duties and oblig ations American citi-
zNs
This is all very pleasant to conte mplate, and is
rfreshng to the hearts of all patriots and friends
q true liberty. l. shows that our people, if tenn
prarily led away, by INDUCING in an abstract
telling of philanthropy, and boundless, though
hey dis ,over their error, and will return to their
allegiance and their duty But this reaction in the
Northern States is not yet complete. There is
yet to be done; and until it is done, the good
work will not be finished, and the aboltionists will
still have platform which they can stand, and
q rampant from which they can still assail the
South, The Union and the constitution. We allude
to the laws which were passed ia a time of frenzy
L. A. Al
Northern States, and which remain their statute
books to this day, prohibiting the Of their ails
for the confinement Of fugitive slaves arrested under
due process of law Both Pennsylvania and Yer
mont passed such a law, and they are unrepealed
to this day. 1t is manifestly the duty of these
States to wipe off this stain from their otherwise
fair escucheons, at the earliest possible moment.
There are also enactments making it felony for
State officers to assist in the capture OF said
fugitives. This latter enactment, or clause, We
need hardly say is unconstitutional, and there
fore void for no State legislature has the power
to pass a law which conflicts with the consttu-
ton of the United States, or with the laws of
Congress. No attemp., consequently, could be
made to enforce such laws, for they are null and
void, and not worth the value of the paper
on which they are enrolled. They only serve to
prove the extent to which fanaticism will carry
people, when it takes possession of their minds In
this view of the case, If there were no other
for the repeal of such laws, the sooner they
plunged the more cIedtabe it will be to the reputa
ton and character of the States which passed them
But if the laws prohibiting to the United States
authorities the Of their as by the States which
passed them, be not repealed at an early day, the
duty of the next Congress in the premises is clear
An appropriation should be made by that body, for
the purchase of Sites and the erection of ails for
the wants of the general government in these States
and in which, when occasion required, fugitive
slaves might be confined. No one could object to
this, unless it were the Northern abolitionsts, who
would in 1t the destruction Of the last plank of
their crazy craft, and determination on the part
of the representatives of the people of the whole
country to carry the laws of the general govern
ment into effect, in opposition to what State legis-
latures might do to prevent it. We hope this sub.
ject will engage the attention Of Congress, at an
early day after their assembly