New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-09-15

\ citizen of MARYLAND went on Thursday
night last TO ChrIstIana, near Lancaster, Pa,
accompanied by an officer with 4 proper
warrant according to the act OF Congress,
to reclaim two fugitive slaves. Their com
ing WIS expected by the negroes, who as
scmbled to resist the law and defend the
freedom Of their brethren \ bloody ARRAY
en>ued IN which Mr. GorSuch. the master,
was killed and his son. who was with him,
seriously wounded The slaves were not
taken, but since then several arrests have
been made on the charge If murder
Il has been asserted that the AbohtionlstS
in that vicinity, when consulted before
hand. advised the negroes TO arm themselves
and shoot down the slave catcherS. This.
however, is denied on the best authority.
\ letter which We published on Saturday,
from source sure to be accurately inform
ed In this respect. says that exactly the
contrary advice was given them. and that
they were explicitly told that it was better
TO flee than fight. We have no doubt this
Is the truth. especially as the AbolitonIsts
thereabout are Friends 1t was good coun-
SCI and it is to he deplored that the negroes
did not follow it.
Ii Is also asserted that the blacks were
the first to FIRE, As If that rendered their act
more heinous but this Is also denied on their
part. At any rate, it appears certain that
Mr. Gorsuch was bent on getting them at
whatever cost, and warned that refusal TO
surrender would be attended by bloodShed.
Accordingly, if he did not fire first, 1t was
lot from any intention to spare life on his
palt and the negroes IN firing did no more
than they knew would be done to them.
4 great deal of horror is expressed at
the result. because white men persisted at
tempting to execute 4 law of the United
States Had two Of the resisting negroes
fallen instead, comparatively little would
have been thought of it, and we presume no
arrests would have been deemed necessary.
For our part we are as deeply shocked at
the bioodshed which has taken place as any
one. but We cannot hold the negroes guilty
of the crime of murder. They acted against
one law it Is tue. but they had another on
their side. aud that law august and divine
in origin, namely, the law of Nature They
defended an inallenable right, namely, the
night to their own persons When that right
Is assaIed,n no human decree or enactment can
annul the authority OF the individual to de-
fcnd il. and TO defend 1t, If he think advlsa-
ble, to the last. No act OF Congress can
make t r7ght for one man to convert anOth-
er into his personal property, or Crong for
that other t. refuse t. be so treated. y"
statute of nan making can abrogate the
first and manifest instinct of mans nature,
for thai Is the creation of the Higher Power
Il IS not sufficient for a legislature to de-
clare that certain individuals are and ought
to be the slaves OF certain others, for
Slavery Is not matter of Law IN the pure
and elevated sense OF that term, but Of
violence, ana by violence they that 1t lays
hands on are, IN the eye OF impartial
and unsophlsticated justice, authorized to
eesist it. Would il not IN truth have been
a worse murder had the negroes been shot
down Ia defending their freedom!
But whatever be the absolute natural
r1eht in this case, it Is plain that the blacks
tell into lamentable error. They ought
10 have followed the advice Of their friends
and escaped from the country No doubt
that might have been done even after the
warrant was out for their arrest, Tor on all
sides they would have found aid and com
fort "a they fed Even those who are now
loud in Procla.mlng the necessity OF sus-
tanning the Odous, the Infamous law for
,laye-catchiug. would then have ped
them in their strait. Now. by their act,
tAey have changed the case and made them
-elyes to be regarded as aggressors instead
oi sufferers IL Is out u the question iOr
lugit.yes 10 iiin1 Of forcib.y resisting the
authorities, and being 50, il Is wrong for
them TO undertake IT, 1t Is wrong to seek
ara defy martyrdom, whore nothing IS to
be gained thereby. The only safety for
such persons Is TO get out OF this had Of
l.. erty as tlst IS they can.
We uustthat his melancholy event may
H. be thout Is use in ixing apon this
ens .mert among US the character that Il
hears % othe- civilized countries. Let it
be seen as it j.. shameful and iuEuman. For,
a. VT have SAID before, this ARRAY Is one
Vi is legitimate fruits. In the Southern